Interim Capital Accountant

Job Opportunity! – Interim Capital Accountant – South West England

A local government client of mine in the South West of England are currently on the lookout for a Capital Accountant to join their team on an interim basis.

Contract Duration: 6 Months +

Rate: £400 - £550 per day (depending on experience)

Hybrid: X1 day per week in office (may be room for some flexibility).

Start Date: Mid to Late January.

You will be expected to:

• Maintain and reconcile the Fixed Asset Register (FAR), ensuring accurate recording of additions, disposals, revaluations, and depreciation in line with CIPFA Code and IFRS requirements.
• Manage capital programme accounting, including monitoring expenditure, financing sources (grants, receipts, borrowing), and compliance with capitalisation rules and Prudential Framework.
• Prepare yearend capital accounting schedules and disclosures for the Statement of Accounts, including PPE notes, Capital Expenditure & Financing, and Movement in Reserves, ensuring audit-ready working papers.
• Coordinate valuations and impairment reviews with internal/external valuers and process related journals for property, plant, equipment, and investment assets.
• Provide financial advice and reporting on capital projects, slippage, and funding to budget holders and senior management, supporting accurate forecasting and decisionmaking.

Candidates must:

• Be a CCAB/CIMA qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIPFA) with strong technical knowledge of the CIPFA Code of Practice and IFRS adaptations for local government.
• Have proven experience in capital accounting within a UK local authority, including Fixed Asset Register maintenance, valuations, and impairment reviews.
• Have handson expertise in capital programme monitoring and financing, covering grants, capital receipts, borrowing, and compliance with Prudential Framework and MRP policy.
• Be able to demonstrate ability to deliver yearend closedown and prepare audit-ready working papers for capital disclosures in the Statement of Accounts.
• Have advanced Excel skills and familiarity with local authority finance systems (e.g., Oracle, Unit4, TechOne), plus strong stakeholder engagement and audit liaison experience.

If you match the above criteria and are interested then please don't hesitate to reach out and send me your CV or call me on (phone number removed).