Senior Financial Accountant - Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police

Job Introduction

Dorset Police Website

Devon & Cornwall Police Website

Senior Financial Accountant                                                                                                                                                  

Salary: Starts at £52,194 rising to £57,186 per annum + Excellent Benefits including Government Pension                               

Location: Hybrid Working/Police Headquarters Exeter, Devon or Winfrith, Dorset                                                                          

Closing Date: 28th August 2026, Midday                                                                                                                                          

Type of Employment: Permanent                                                                                                                                                           

 Hours per week: 37 per week. Part-time and flexible working patterns considered subject to business need. 

About the role

Join our Alliance Finance Department, a team of around 80 professionals delivering payroll, purchasing and exchequer, and accountancy services across both Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police. Based across our headquarters in Exeter or Winfrith, this hybrid role offers regular home working and the opportunity to work alongside colleagues located at your preferred headquarters. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within a supportive team serving two police forces.

We are seeking an experienced and qualified Senior Financial Accountant to play a key role in delivering high-quality financial accounting services across both forces and the respective Officers of the Police and Crime Commissioners.

Reporting to the Head of Financial Accounting, you will provide senior-level financial expertise, helping to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements while supporting the delivery of robust financial management. The role includes responsibility for supporting the production of annual statutory accounts, overseeing capital accounting and treasury-related activity, managing statutory returns, and working closely with auditors, actuaries, valuers and senior stakeholders.

You will lead financial accounting activities, drive continuous improvement, provide technical guidance to finance colleagues, and support strategic financial planning, including capital programmes and medium-term financial strategies. You will also deputise for the Head of Financial Accounting when required, providing senior leadership support.

This is a new and exciting opportunity for a qualified accountant who enjoys combining technical expertise with leadership, stakeholder engagement and service development within a complex and high-profile public sector environment.

About You

You will be a fully qualified CCAB accountant (or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience and a proven track record of producing and interpreting complex financial information. You will possess strong leadership and communication skills, experience of managing and developing teams, and the ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels. A proactive approach to problem-solving, continuous improvement and organisational change is essential.

Experience of public sector accounting and knowledge of the wider local government or policing finance landscape would be advantageous.

Key Highlights

• Senior leadership role within a collaborative Alliance Finance team.
• Opportunity to influence financial strategy and statutory reporting.
• Hybrid working arrangements available, subject to business needs.
• Work with a broad range of senior stakeholders, including Chief Financial Officers, auditors, and operational leaders.
• Contribute to the financial sustainability and governance of two Police Forces.

Want to know more about this role?

For further information about the role and to apply please follow this link: Senior Financial Accountant Advert 

If you think this may be the role for you and would like further information or to arrange a conversation, please contact: 

Hiring Line Manager: Lucinda Hines - Head of Technical Accounting 

Email Address: lucinda.hines@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk 

What you get if you join us:

If you work for us, you will get access to:

• A competitive salary with yearly increments.
• Access to heavily subsidised gym membership that will provide you access to police site gyms throughout the counties.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services (requires a one-off payment of £5).
• Company sick pay.
• Competitive local government pension scheme.
• Job related equipment supplied, as required.
• Free onsite parking at many police sites throughout the counties.
• Access to Group insurance scheme (via salary sacrifice scheme).
• Support networks, free Employees' Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.

Annual Leave Entitlement:

25 days a year leave entitlement, with an increase to 30 days after 5 years continuous employment, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time employees).

Job Description  2026.04.21 JD Senior Financial Accountant.docx – 205KB Opens in a new window

Converted File 2026.04.21 JD Senior Financial Accountant.docx.pdf – 241KB Opens in a new windowCompetency and Values Framework (CVF)Level 2: click this link for details of the CVF level for this specific role.

Additional Information

Dual working: This role will require the post holder to travel to alternative locations on an ad hoc basis to undertake the role, travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with force policy. Political Restrictions: None apply to this role.

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