Assistant Financial Accountant

Overview

Are you a detail-driven finance professional looking to build your career in a large, ambitious organisation? Joining our Finance team as an Assistant Financial Accountant offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your technical expertise, broaden your experience through internal rotation, and contribute to high-quality financial stewardship that really makes a difference.

This role is career-graded, offering clear development and progression opportunities.

Contract: Fixed term contract/secondment until 30^th June 2027

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

About the role

As an Assistant Financial Accountant, you’ll play a key role in maintaining the integrity of our financial data and ensuring compliance with statutory, professional and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with the Financial Accountants and reporting into the Senior Financial Accountant, you’ll be responsible for a varied portfolio of core financial accounting activities, including:

• Performing monthly bank and balance sheet reconciliations, proactively resolving discrepancies
• Supporting day-to-day treasury operations, including cashflow forecasting and system maintenance
• Preparing and processing VAT transactions and returns in line with current regulations
• Supporting the closure of accounts and production of financial statements
• Contributing to internal and external audit activity, responding to queries and implementing improvements
• Maintaining key financial registers and systems, including Treasury Management, leasing databases and Options to Tax
• Assisting with Collection Fund activities, including reconciliations and year-end processes
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and financial process enhancements

At Grade 6 level, you’ll also have the opportunity to:

• Interpret and implement changes to accounting standards and regulations
• Lead or contribute to projects introducing new or complex accounting requirements
• Support the management of the Council’s banking arrangements
• Help streamline and automate processes and mentor new team members

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You will be a motivated and detail‑focused finance professional, AAT qualified (or working towards), with experience in a medium to large organisation and a strong foundation in financial accounting. Comfortable working with financial systems and Excel, you’re able to interpret and explain financial information clearly to both finance and non‑finance colleagues. You’ll be well organised, proactive and solution‑focused, able to manage competing deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance. Above all, you’re a collaborative team player who takes pride in your work, acts with integrity and is keen to progress your career within a supportive, forward‑thinking finance team.

Please refer to the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

For further information about the role please contact the Financial Accounting and Control team at [email protected]. One of the team will be happy to arrange an informal chat.

Closing date: Thursday 23rd April 2026

Interview date/process: Week commencing 18^th May 2026. Interviews to be conducted by the Senior Financial Accountant along with the Financial Accountant. The process will include an excel test which will be provided in advance.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

As a recently formed Unitary Council, we deliver the widest range of services within Local Government. These are exciting times as we are developing new ways of delivering many of our services, including Finance, and there are many opportunities to be part of change projects making a real difference for the residents of Buckinghamshire.  

The Council has a gross annual budget of over £1.2 billion and to support sound financial management the finance function is led by two Service Directors: Service Director (Corporate Finance) and Service Director (Service Finance).  

 Service Finance is responsible for providing support in financial management, financial reporting, business rates and council tax collection and housing benefits processing, accounts payable and receivable, collection fund accounting as well as support and advice to members and senior officers.

 The Service Finance and Corporate Finance teams work together closely to ensure the council works within a robust financial control framework and has a joint responsibility to make certain that remains effective. Together, the teams ensure strong and effective financial management and governance, and that decision-making guarantees that every pound of public money is spent in the best way to keep Buckinghamshire the thriving and vibrant community it is.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/