Interim Head of Finance: Close Down

INTERIM HEAD OF FINANCE: CLOSE DOWN / DEPUTY CHIEF ACCOUNTANT /

Local Authority | Hybrid Working

Immediate Start

Initial Contract with Potential Extension

Excellent Daily Rate

Morgan Law is supporting a local authority client seeking an experienced and highly hands-on finance professional to help lead a complex financial reporting and audit programme.

This is a critical assignment requiring someone who can quickly take ownership of external audit relationships, drive year-end accounts production and help navigate multiple years of audit activity.

Key responsibilities include:

Managing the external audit process end-to-end, including requests, evidence gathering and stakeholder coordination

Liaising with auditors across:

Current year audit (2025/26)

Historical audit backlog (2021/22 to 2024/25)

Value for Money (VfM) audits* Preparing and posting audit adjustments across the general ledger, CIES, MiRS, reserves and balance sheet areas

Updating and finalising the Statement of Accounts, including primary statements and disclosures

Leading year-end closedown activities and coordinating deadlines across the wider finance team

*Managing and developing a small team, including graduate trainees and a Principal Finance Officer

Strengthening working papers and ensuring audit-ready financial reporting throughout

We are keen to speak with candidates who have operated as:

Chief Accountant

Deputy Chief Accountant

Technical Accountant

Head of Technical Accounting

Financial Reporting Manager

Corporate Accounting Manager

Essential experience:

Strong local government finance background

Extensive Statement of Accounts experience

Detailed knowledge of CIPFA Code, IFRS, CIES, MiRS and reserves accounting

Significant experience managing external audit relationships

Experience dealing with audit backlogs and complex year-end processes

Hands-on delivery approach rather than purely strategic oversight

If you're interested, or know someone who may be suitable, please get in touch for a confidential discussion, messaging me at (url removed)