As a Finance Accountant, you will provide senior strategic financial leadership across Luton Rising, supporting effective financial planning, governance and decision making. You will work closely with senior leaders, Directors and Members to ensure financial strategies align with corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities.

You will be responsible for:

Leading the preparation, monitoring and forecasting of revenue, capital and balance sheet budgets across Luton Rising.

Providing robust financial analysis, identifying risks, pressures and opportunities, and advising senior leadership accordingly.

Developing financial elements of business plans and business cases, including complex financial modelling, analysis and scenario testing.

Producing rolling five-year financial projections to support strategic planning and decision making.

Maintaining and monitoring the financial risk register, ensuring effective controls and mitigations are in place.

Preparing high-level financial reports and presenting financial information to Boards, Committees, Directors and elected Members.

Ensuring compliance with accounting standards, legislative requirements and financial governance arrangements.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About you

What we are looking for

We are looking for a qualified and experienced finance professional with strong technical accounting expertise and the ability to provide high-quality financial advice within a complex organisation.

You will have:

Substantial experience in budgeting, financial monitoring, year-end closure and financial planning.

Strong experience of financial modelling, analysis and scenario testing.

In-depth knowledge of accounting principles and financial practice within a company environment.

Experience of using financial management systems, preferably Sage, and advanced Excel skills for financial reporting and analysis.

The ability to interpret complex financial information and provide practical, evidence-based solutions and advice.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to managers, senior leaders and Members.

A strong understanding of equality legislation and the ability to embed equality considerations into service delivery and business planning.

A relevant professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA, with post-

About us

Join Us in Shaping Luton’s Future

Are you ready to play a key role in an organisation driving change and delivering Luton’s bold 2040 vision? Luton Rising, the Luton Council‑owned company that owns London Luton Airport, is seeking an experienced and strategic Commercial & Procurement Manager to lead our organisation‑wide commercial and procurement function.

In this influential role, you’ll work closely with senior leaders across the business, acting as Luton Rising’s intelligent client conscience. You’ll shape how we source, contract and manage suppliers, ensuring our commercial decisions balance value for money, risk, ESG and social value, while meeting the highest standards of governance and transparency.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior commercial professional who thrives on leadership, strategic influence and delivering meaningful outcomes, and who wants their work to support long‑term economic growth and community benefit for Luton.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application Process

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

Benefits

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade

- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave

- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area

- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant

- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)

- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home

- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns

- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways

- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons

- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel