Salary range: Grade 14 (£53,172 to £55,323) plus fantastic benefits
Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Croydon
TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE , PLEASE APPLY THROUGH PENNA JOBS CLICK HERE. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE CROYDON COUNCIL WEBSITE AS APPLICATIONS MADE HERE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Principal Accountant (Chief Accountant’s Team)
Croydon Council has faced significant challenges in recent years in terms of its financial position. The financial challenge is steep, but the Government has noted our strong progress, with an Executive Mayor, Cabinet, Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team, who all share a commitment to the task ahead and putting Croydon’s people first.
This is a very exciting time to join Croydon as we move from the recovery and improvement phases to the transformational phase of our journey to bring the Council back to financial sustainability.
Croydon is a fantastic place; a vital part of London’s growth story with a strong identity in its own right and this is a rare chance to make genuine change in a place of great opportunity. What we do together over the next four years will help shape the future of one of London’s most diverse and exciting boroughs.
As the Principal Accountant in the Chief Accountant’s Team, you will be supporting the Head of Strategic Finance (Chief Accountant) and Finance Manager (Closing/Reporting), deputising when required. You will support ensuring that the Council’s annual accounts are produced on time and meet the
required legislative standards and maintain an open and positive relationship with the external auditor.
To be suitable for the role you need to hold a CCAB/CIMA accountancy qualification or senior finance relevant accounting experience. You should have evidence of knowledge and application of local government finance and an understanding of relevant financial legislation, professional accountancy codes and financial best practice.
To view the Principal Accountant role profile please click here.
About Us
Croydon Council’s priorities:
The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services.
Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable.
Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses.
Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors.
Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice; and
Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities.
Key business plan outcomes:
Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning.
Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential.
Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home.
People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer; and
Croydon Council’s new ways of working.
Our values
We are committed to excellence in all we do. Our values reflect the attitude and approach we take to working together to deliver services to our borough.
One team - Crossing boundaries to work together towards shared goals with colleagues, partners and communities.
Proud to serve - Striving to always do our best for the community, getting the most from limited resources and using taxpayers’ money wisely.
Honest and open - Working hard to build trust by treating everyone with honesty and integrity.
Taking responsibility - Encouraging and supporting each other to take responsibility and show what we can do, learning together and recognising all of our contributions.
Valuing diversity - We make the most of the many perspectives that make Croydon distinctive.
Staff Benefits
Benefits and personal development
We want Croydon Council to be a place where our staff enjoy their jobs and are proud to be here. We reward talent and excellence with our flagship benefits scheme, Croydon Options, allowing you to enjoy a healthy work life balance.
Generous paid Annual Leave of up to 31 days (eligibility criteria applies)
Provision to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave per year (eligibility criteria applies)
Flexible and Agile working
Generous sick leave, maternity leave and family leave provisions
Unbeatable benefits of being in the Local Government Pension Scheme; which includes employer contributions of 20% (average); “life assurance” (3 years’ salary) and benefit provisions for dependants
Discounted season tickets for parking in local car parks or an option to cap the daily cost to less than £6
Interest free travel loans for season tickets
Confidential and free employee assistance programme and access to staff network groups - BAME, Working Carers, LGBT+, Women’s and Mental Health & Wellbeing
Popular benefits
Discounted parking with NCP, Q-Park and Council Car Parks for Council Employees
The Council has negotiated various corporate rates with NCP and Q-Park. Employees can also avail a negotiated daily parking rate of £5 per day with these car parks.
Employee assistance programme
With ever increasing pressures at work and at home, there are times when we all need some extra support, this is why we have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place to support your total well-being.
Benefits of the EAP
Free of charge
Available24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Confidential
Accessible by phone, email, our website and via instant messaging
Information on a range of work, family and personal issues
Up to 6 face-to-face counselling sessions per issue. Topics need not be work related
Independent from your employer and completely unprejudiced
Your development
At Croydon we believe that a skilled and committed workforce is crucial to our future success. To deliver council outcomes successfully we need to equip our people with the knowledge and skills they need to operate in a fast paced, ever evolving environment.
We provide a range of learning activities including inductions for new colleagues, management skills development and personal effectiveness training. We continue to develop different options for you to access the learning you need, whether through face-to-face workshops, e-learning or online content.
Equal Opportunities Statement
Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
The successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.
Further Information
Strategic Structure Chart: Strategic Finance structure for recruitment
Executive Mayor’s Business Plan: Mayor's Business plan 2022 - 2026
2026-27 Budget agreed at Full Council: Agenda item - The Council's Budget 2026-27 | Croydon Council
2025-26 Period 9 Financial Performance Report: 2025-26-period-9-financial-performance-report.pdf
2024-25 Annual accounts: Financial accounts | Croydon Council
For a confidential discussion contact: andrew.barton@penna.com or 07922 386 432
Provisional Interview Date: 23rd June 2026
Closing Date: 8th June 2026
TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE , PLEASE APPLY THROUGH PENNA JOBS CLICK HERE. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE CROYDON COUNCIL WEBSITE AS APPLICATIONS MADE HERE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Croydon Council’s priorities
The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services
- Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
- Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses
- Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
- Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
- Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities
Key business plan outcomes:
- Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
- Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
- Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home
- People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
- Croydon Council’s new ways of working
Equal Opportunities Statement
Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.
