Interim HRA Finance Manager (Local Government)

Location: London
Rate: £500 - £550 per day Inside IR35
Office Attendance: 3 days per week

A local government client is seeking an experienced HRA Finance Manager to join their team on an interim basis. This is a fantastic opportunity for a CCAB-qualified accountant with significant relevant experience in housing finance to contribute to the ongoing success of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage the preparation of the HRA Annual Statement of Accounts and notes, ensuring timely resolution of audit queries.
Oversee and support annual housing rent setting and tenant service charge reviews.
Maintain and update financial models for rent setting, service charge reviews, and the HRA Business Plan.
Contribute to the preparation of the HRA budget for the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) review.
Submit financial data for the annual core benchmarking exercise to ensure comparability with other housing bodies.
Prepare and submit statutory housing returns (LAHS, LADR, RO, RA).
Line management responsibility for 2 Finance Analysts
Monitor budgets to ensure accuracy, identifying potential overspends and implementing corrective actions where needed.
Participate in networking activities and collaborate with external parties and national partners.

Essential Requirements:

CCAB-qualified accountant with evidence of significant continuing professional development (CPD).
Strong experience in preparing HRA annual statements, setting housing rents, and managing service charge reviews.
Proven track record in managing budgets, financial reporting, and compliance with statutory returns.
Experience in providing financial advice to senior stakeholders and supporting project delivery in the public sector.
Line management experience, particularly with finance analysts and graduate trainees.
A collaborative approach to working with external partners and other housing organisations