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

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