Description Salary: £49,282 - £51,356 per annum Hours per week: 37 hours Interview date: to be confirmed following shortlisting We are looking for an experienced and forward‑thinking Principal Accountant who can lead with confidence, provide expert financial insight, and drive high‑quality financial management across a complex and dynamic organisation. If you thrive on delivering excellence, influencing senior leaders, and solving complex financial challenges, this role offers the opportunity to make real impact. Joining our Finance Service means becoming part of a high‑performing team that supports strategic decision‑making across the council. You will work alongside talented professionals, gain exposure to major projects, and develop your career within an organisation committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and strong financial governance. With access to modern systems, development pathways and a supportive leadership environment, you’ll help shape long‑term financial planning and ensure the council delivers best value for its residents. In this role, you will be the strategic and professional lead for treasury and Taxation support and advice. Managing all aspects of tax planning, borrowing, VAT and cash reporting and compliance across the Council. You will be a fully qualified CCAB accountant with significant post‑qualification experience in budgeting, statutory accounting, and financial analysis. You will bring proven leadership skills, experience working with senior stakeholders, strong analytical ability, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to interpret legislation and guide financial decision‑making in a fast‑paced environment. If you are ready to take the next step and play a key role in shaping the future of our financial performance, we would love to hear from you. Why us? Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here. Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer‑facing roles work entirely from their service location. We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity. Contact details: Sarah Higgins, Director of Finance and Procurement, Sarah.Higgins@wiltshire.gov.uk or call 01225 712516 Please ensure to regularly check your spam or junk folder for any communication from us regarding the status of your application. Application criteria Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply. We understand that AI tools can support you in preparing job applications. However, we value authenticity and would encourage you to ensure your submission genuinely reflects your own experiences, skills, and motivations. While we welcome applications from job seekers who require skilled worker sponsorship, we are not able to issue a defined certificate of sponsorship due to limitations in our sponsorship capacity. We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services. Statement of commitment to equality and inclusion Disability Confident Employer Application process Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura). Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission. Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.