Principal Accountant - Planning and Business Partnering

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a qualified accountant who can help managers turn financial information into well-founded decisions. This new role will lead financial planning and business partnering, helping the Service allocate resources to the risks and priorities in its Community Risk Management Plan.

You will lead a small planning team and work closely with budget holders, colleagues in reporting and control, and the Deputy Head of Finance. Your work will bring together monthly forecasts, pay and workforce plans, capital investment, the annual budget and the medium-term financial outlook.

We are looking for someone who will ask constructive questions, make assumptions visible and explain the choices available. You will strengthen business cases and benefits monitoring, improve the usefulness of financial reporting, and help managers take ownership of their forecasts and agreed actions.

Duties of this role will include:

• Leading the planning and monitoring calendar, including monthly forecasting, annual budget preparation and medium-term financial planning.

• Providing effective finance business partnering to senior managers and complex service portfolios, challenging assumptions and advising on corrective action.

• Consolidating revenue forecasts and clearly explaining movements, risks, opportunities and ownership of actions.

• Coordinating pay and establishment forecasting with People and payroll colleagues, using validated workforce information and avoiding double-counting of savings.

• Leading financial monitoring of the capital programme and connecting cost, timing, financing and revenue consequences.

• Assessing business cases, savings proposals and investment options using whole-life costing, risk analysis and sensitivity testing.

• Producing clear reports, briefings and advice for senior leaders and committee papers, including uncertainty and required actions.

• Line managing and developing the Assistant Accountant and coordinating agreed planning support across the Finance Department.

• Improving TechnologyOne and Power BI reporting requirements with finance systems and digital colleagues, ensuring reportseconcile to the ledger.

• Leading finance-literacy support for budget holders through induction, workshops, guidance and accessible advice.

What we are looking for

You must be a CCAB-qualified accountant with current professional membership and evidence of continuing professional development. You will have substantial experience of budget preparation, management accounting and forecasting in an organisation with multiple budget holders, together with evidence of constructive business partnering and influencing managers to address financial risks.

You will bring strong financial modelling, pay forecasting and scenario-analysis skills, the ability to connect revenue, capital and workforce implications, and confidence in explaining complex financial issues clearly. Public-sector finance experience, CIPFA development or knowledge of local government or fire authority funding would be advantageous. Experience of TechnologyOne, Power BI or governed financial reporting would also be useful.

Working with us

You will be part of a Finance Team supporting a public service with a direct impact on community safety. CFRS offers an excellent benefits package, including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, attractive holiday entitlement, training and development opportunities, free parking and access to an on-site gym.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the job application form and provide evidence of competency against the requirements of the attached job description and person specification. Please ensure you read the Application Guidance Notes before completing your application.

Further information, the full job description and application form can be found below. Alternatively, contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk.

Job description

Application guidance notes

Application form

Please return completed application forms by email to recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk.

Job reference: 37/26/PA

Closing date for applications: 9:00am Monday 9th November 

Selection date and format: Dates to be confirmed. The process is expected to include a technical written exercise, candidate presentation and structured competency and technical interview.

Workplace adjustments and accommodations

It is important that you consider at an early stage whether you would like to request arrangements to assist you in completing the selection process. This may include adjustments relating to disability, a neurodiverse condition such as dyslexia, pregnancy, religion or belief, or injury. Any requests for workplace adjustments will be treated with the utmost confidence. For support or further information, email recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk.

Applications for part-time and job-share working will be considered for this post, subject to any proposed arrangement providing full coverage, clear accountability, effective handovers and attendance at essential meetings and peak-period activities.

Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to keeping vulnerable adults, children and young people safe from harm in all of the work it undertakes. CFRS recognises its legal and moral safeguarding obligations and that protecting vulnerable adults, children and young people from harm is the responsibility of everyone within the organisation.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive leadership team and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from groups historically underrepresented in the fire and rescue service. We value a broad range of perspectives and experiences and welcome candidates who can demonstrate the strategic insight, leadership capability and commitment to excellence that this role requires.