Location: Aylesbury
Overview
Are you an ambitious finance professional ready to take the next step in your career? We’re looking for a motivated Financial Accountant to join our Finance team and play a key role in shaping high‑quality financial management across the Council. As part of this role, you’ll take ownership of our Tax function, ensuring these complex areas are managed with accuracy, insight, and robust financial control.
Buckinghamshire Council is the backbone of making our county the best place to live, raise a family, work, and do business. As the second largest council by population, we deliver thousands of services to our community. Join our fast-paced Financial Accounting and Control team, managing net assets of over £2bn and gross income of over £1bn annually. Our numbers are big, and our ambitions are even bigger.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure to a diverse range of technical accounting disciplines Treasury Management, Collection Fund, Taxation, External Audit, Capital Accounting, Fixed Assets, and more while working collaboratively across the organisation. With a clear career/linked grade pathway, this role is ideal for someone who wants to grow, develop, and make a meaningful impact.
About us
Our Financial Accounting and Control team ensures robust financial controls and compliance with regulatory, accounting, and auditing standards. We are proud of the services we deliver and the people who deliver them.
Why Join Us:
1. Culture: Experience a fair and inclusive culture that promotes a positive work-life balance.
2. Benefits: Enjoy generous leave entitlement, competitive pay aligned with our performance pay scheme, and a substantial employer pension contribution through the Local Government Pension Scheme.
3. Development: Opportunities for career growth and development, along with various discount schemes and more.
About the role
Reporting into the Senior Financial Accountant, you’ll become the trusted technical expert in Local Authority tax, supporting the delivery of accurate, compliant, and insightful financial information across the Council and providing necessary training across the organisation. You’ll work closely with colleagues in Finance and with service areas to maintain robust financial controls, ensure statutory compliance, and help drive continuous improvement in our processes and systems.
Your responsibilities will include:
4. Coordinating work programmes to ensure timely delivery of all technical accounting activities.
5. Developing, implementing and maintaining systems, policies, and procedures within your specialist areas.
6. Researching and assessing the impact of regulatory and accounting standards changes, ensuring the Council remains fully compliant.
7. Conducting detailed financial analysis, preparing high‑quality reports, and offering recommendations to senior management.
8. Supporting internal and external audit processes and ensuring effective implementation of audit recommendations.
9. Streamlining and automating processes, contributing to our wider continuous improvement agenda.
10. Building strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, representing the Finance service with professionalism and expertise.
11. Contributing to Council-wide projects, providing technical advice, and supporting the implementation of complex accounting standards and regulations.
This role is subject to rotation within the Financial Accounting and Control team, giving you exposure to different areas and supporting your long-term development.
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
Essential experience & skills:
12. Qualifications: Part-qualified/finalist CCAB or CIMA accountant, AAT qualified.
13. Experience: Experience in finance within a medium to large organisation, with a track record in supporting the delivery of statutory financial accounts and working with external auditors.
14. Skills: Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, attention to detail and a commitment to continual improvement.
15. Attributes: A desire to excel in technical areas of accounting and a collaborative approach to driving service change.
Please refer to the job summary attached for further information about the role.