Capital Strategy & Reporting Accountant - #2123020

Capital Strategy and Reporting Accountant

Salary: £81,138 - £87,826 pa

Organisation: Greater London Authority

Function: Financial Services, Chief Finance Officer Directorate

Reporting to: Senior Finance Business Partner

The Greater London Authority is looking for an experienced capital finance professional to take a lead role in shaping its capital strategy, strengthening capital reporting and providing expert technical advice on major investment decisions. Sitting at the heart of London government, the GLA plays a central role in setting priorities for the capital and supporting investment that delivers long-term value for Londoners.

This is a senior, specialist role within the GLA’s Financial Services function, working in a matrix structure across Finance Business Partnering, Financial Accounting and Treasury. The post will focus exclusively on the GLA itself and will not cover Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade or the other functional bodies.

For someone with strong local authority capital accounting experience, this is an opportunity to combine technical depth with strategic influence. You will help shape how the GLA plans, finances and accounts for significant capital investment, ensuring funding, financing and accounting decisions support the organisation’s priorities and long-term financial sustainability.

This is a matrix role, with approximately 60% of the focus on capital strategy and business partnering and 40% on technical accounting.

You will lead the development, implementation and annual review of the GLA’s Capital Strategy, ensuring investment priorities, funding requirements and financing decisions are aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives.

Working closely with Finance Business Partners, Financial Accounting and Treasury colleagues, you will bring together the technical and strategic elements of capital finance to ensure a joined-up approach to capital planning, monitoring, financing and reporting.

A significant part of the role will involve supporting investment into capital programmes. You will provide expert advice on the accounting, financial and strategic implications of proposed investment, helping senior stakeholders understand capital treatment, funding implications and the longer-term impact of their decisions.

You will also take ownership of key areas of capital accounting and reporting, including year-end closure, statutory reporting, fixed assets and capital financing.

• Lead the development and annual review of the GLA Capital Strategy.
• Support the planning and monitoring of the capital programme alongside Finance Business Partners.
• Provide expert advice on capital investment, financing and accounting treatment.
• Advise on the distinction between capital and revenue expenditure across complex projects.
• Support senior stakeholders with the financial implications of major investment decisions.
• Lead the capital elements of year-end accounts, working with external auditors, valuers and shared-service partners.
• Oversee capital reporting and the accuracy of the fixed asset register.
• Develop and maintain capital accounting guidance across the organisation.
• Improve capital accounting, reconciliation and reporting processes.
• Oversee reporting of the Capital Financing Requirement and relevant prudential indicators.
• Deliver high-quality capital statutory returns.

This is not simply a year-end capital accounting post. The role sits at the point where technical accounting, strategic financial planning and investment decision-making come together.

You will have the opportunity to influence the GLA’s approach to capital investment while retaining ownership of significant technical responsibilities. The role offers exposure to major investment decisions, senior stakeholders, capital programme monitoring, statutory reporting and process improvement.

For a capital finance professional, this is a chance to apply your expertise within an organisation whose investment decisions have a significant and visible impact on London.

You will be a CCAB-qualified accountant, or equivalent, with substantial experience of capital accounting within a large and complex local authority environment.

You will bring strong technical knowledge of local government capital accounting together with the credibility to advise, influence and challenge senior stakeholders.

The successful candidate is likely to have:

• CCAB qualification or equivalent, with up-to-date CPD.
• Significant local authority capital accounting experience.
• Strong knowledge of the CIPFA/LASAAC Code of Practice, CIPFA Prudential Framework and relevant capital finance regulations.
• Experience of delivering published financial statements.
• Experience of working with external auditors.
• The ability to interpret accounting standards and legislation and apply them to complex capital projects.
• Experience providing credible advice and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders.
• A track record of improving finance systems, processes or reporting.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel and financial systems.

You will also need to be comfortable working across organisational boundaries, translating complex technical issues into clear advice and building effective relationships across finance and the wider GLA.

The GLA is looking for someone who can combine technical authority with pragmatism: somebody able to challenge assumptions, solve complex problems and ensure sound capital accounting supports better strategic investment decisions.