Accountant

Join our Schools Finance & Support Team in Children’s Services and play a key role in shaping how education is funded across Dorset. You’ll work in a supportive environment where professional development is encouraged, with the flexibility of a part-time role that helps balance work and life commitments. This is an opportunity to use your expertise to directly support schools, ensuring they are well-funded and financially secure.

What you’ll be doing
As the team’s Accountant, you’ll lead on setting and monitoring funding for schools in Dorset, making sure we meet the national funding formula and local priorities. Each autumn, you’ll manage the annual budget process for the Schools Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant, consulting with schools and working closely with the Dorset Schools’ Forum.

 You’ll design budget-setting tools for maintained schools, review submitted budgets and forecasts, and carry out detailed monitoring to keep schools on track. The role also involves regular meetings with schools and delivering tailored financial training. Alongside this, you’ll manage Finance Officers who support school budgets.

About you

• qualified Accountant (such as CCAB) with strong technical skills
• experienced in working through complex financial issues with internal and external partners
• an excellent communicator, confident presenting, training and engaging with different audiences
• able to balance multiple priorities under pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
• experienced in managing or supporting a team, fostering collaboration and development
• up-to-date with education funding, or willing to quickly learn Department for Education requirements and share updates

If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact by supporting Dorset’s schools to thrive financially, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information, please contact Vanessa Eddey, Team Manager – Schools, Finance & Support on 01305 225918 or by email:  [email protected]

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We: 

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents 
• work in partnership to make a real difference 
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities 
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive 

You will: 

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset 
• have access to a range of benefits and support 
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. 

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. 

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. 

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. 

Find out more about how to apply.