Principal Finance Officer (PO3)

Temporary – 18 weeks

Client: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Reference: OR120302
Hours: 36 per week
Dates: 9 November 2026 to 14 March 2027
Vacancies: 1
Location: Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JF
Hybrid: 2 days office, 3 days home
PAYE: £198.55 per day

Job Overview

Provide high-quality financial management, accountancy and advisory support to Council services, including budget planning, monitoring, forecasting, financial reporting and year-end accounting.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise managers and budget holders on finance and financial decision-making.
• Prepare, manage and monitor revenue and capital budgets, medium-term plans and forecasts.
• Produce financial reports, investigate variances and reconciliations, and make recommendations.
• Contribute to annual statement of accounts, year-end working papers and statutory returns.
• Apply applicable accounting standards, CIPFA guidance and financial procedures.
• Work with internal and external auditors, departments and partner organisations.
• Maintain robust financial systems, records, controls, governance and risk management.
• Support improvements, corporate initiatives and projects.

Essential Experience & Skills

Strong financial and technical accounting knowledge; financial management experience in a complex organisation; budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and analysis; excellent communication and stakeholder management; understanding of local government finance and regulatory requirements. AAT qualified or equivalent relevant experience and training.

Desirable

Local government finance business partnering, CIPFA guidance, year-end accounts preparation, statutory returns and financial systems improvements.

Important – Please Read Carefully

Standard DBS required. Occasional work at other Council locations or attendance at out-of-hours meetings may be necessary.

Additional Information

Candidate submission deadline: 6 November 2026. Maximum three CVs per agency. Online Microsoft Teams interview on 18 November 2026 (one stage, approximately 30 minutes). Right to work and Confidentiality Agreement required at submission; references/work history and other offer-stage documentation as specified by the client.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Strict Screening Questions

1. Do you have experience managing revenue or capital budgets and financial forecasts?
2. Have you supported budget holders or worked in finance business partnering?
3. Do you have local authority or public sector finance experience?
4. Have you prepared year-end accounts, reconciliations or statutory returns?
5. Are you AAT qualified or do you have equivalent relevant accounting experience?
6. Do you have knowledge of CIPFA guidance or local government financial controls?
7. Can you work 36 hours per week, including two office days in Walthamstow?
8. Are you available from 9 November and willing to complete a Standard DBS check?

Skills: Local Government Finance, Budget Monitoring, Financial Reporting, Forecasting, Management Accounting, CIPFA, Financial Controls, Statutory Accounts, Financial Analysis, Stakeholder Management