Job details
Salary: £60,256 to £63,395 (including allowances)
Location: Civic Centre, Gravesend
Working Pattern: Full time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Closing Date: 29 December 2025
About the role
This is an exciting time to join Gravesham Borough Council. Based in the heart of North Kent with a vibrant community, a number of significant regeneration projects underway and a committed workforce, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional services that support our community and drive positive change.
We are currently seeking an exceptional candidate looking to take their next step to join us as a Principal Accountant within our dynamic Financial Services Team. If you are a finance professional who wants to make a tangible impact, this could be the role for you.
The postholder will be responsible for the provision of an effective and efficient customer-focused accountancy function relating to the council’s General Fund Services, delivering timely and accurate financial advice to budget managers with a focus on the key financial processes of budgeting, monitoring, preparation of final accounts and medium term financial planning. The post holder will be expected to foster a strong team culture which ensures active engagement with other teams within the council and our external partners and play a key part in managing resources, supporting decision-making, and ensuring financial sustainability for the borough.
About you
The successful candidate will:
- Be a qualified member of CIPFA or CCAB qualified and be able to provide evidence of working at a senior level since qualification.
- Have a good all round knowledge of Local Government operations and Local Government Accounting practice, specifically relating to the production of the statutory Statement of Accounts.
- Be able to demonstrate experience of working within a local government finance environment, working with and interrogating financial systems.
- Be able to demonstrate strong technical and problem solving skills.
- Be able to interpret, apply and explain technical policies procedures, guidance and legislation, such as SORP, BVACOP.
- Have strong communication skills both written and verbal and have the ability to present complex data in an understandable manner.
- Have experience of compiling and presenting financial reports to Senior Managers and other stakeholders.
- Have good interpersonal skills and proven experience of managing and developing staff.
- Be computer literate with working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.
Working for Gravesham
We are committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves. A range of services have been provided to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.
The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south east England. Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.
Read more information about working for us.
Benefits
- A minimum of 28 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
- Membership to Local Government Pension Scheme - Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to over 1000+ instant discounts from favourite retailers, restaurants, food delivery services and attractions via our benefits portal VivUp.
- Career development, training opportunities and access to e-learning
- Access to eye care vouchers and VDU Glasses
- External Occupational Health service
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to an employee assistance programme 24/7
- Hybrid Working (minimum two days in the office per week)
- Free parking
- Octopus Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Important Information
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile.
The proposed interview date for this role is 14 January 2026.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please email Sarah Parfitt on sarah.parfitt@gravesham.gov.uk.
How to apply
Please send your CV and supporting statement (max 2 pages of A4) which clearly outlines how you meet the person specification for this role to recruitment@gravesham.gov.uk by 29 December 2025.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Human Resources Team on 01474 337374.