Apprenticeship - Assistant Accountant
From April 2027, Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council will become part of the new West Surrey unitary council, following the government’s confirmed plans for local government reorganisation across Surrey. This change will see the current twelve councils replaced by two new authorities, East Surrey and West Surrey, with West Surrey taking responsibility for the areas currently served by Guildford, Waverley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking.
As we move towards this transition, our focus remains firmly on delivering high‑quality, value‑for‑money services and staying true to our shared organisational values of Collaboration, Wellbeing, Trusted, Value for Money and Professionalism.
We recognise that any period of organisational change can bring questions, particularly regarding future structures and working arrangements. Throughout this process, we are committed to supporting our colleagues with transparency and care prioritising wellbeing, maintaining a trusted and open dialogue, and ensuring continued access to learning and professional development opportunities.
While the exact shape of the new West Surrey Council beyond 2027 is still being developed, joining us now means becoming part of an organisation where collaboration thrives and where your contribution will directly influence one of the most significant local government transformations in decades. You’ll gain valuable experience, play an active role in shaping the future of public services across West Surrey, and work within a team committed to professionalism and delivering outstanding outcomes for our communities.
Together, we will ensure a smooth transition and continue to deliver exceptional services for residents both now and into the future.
To apply for this vacancy, click the “Apply Online” link.
If you are not already on Waverley Borough Council's website for this vacancy, you will be redirected to our website's jobs page. Either click "Apply Online" at the bottom of this page, or at the top left hand side under Waverley Borough Council click either the "Log in" button (if you are already registered) or the "Register" button.
You will be redirected to the JobsGoPublic system, which manages our online recruitment process. Once you have registered with JobsGoPublic (which is free to use) you can log in to your application at any time and keep track of where you are in the recruitment process.
If you are unable to use this service or would like assistance, please contact us via hr@waverley.gov.uk or call the Human Resources team on 01483 523388.
Apprentice Assistant Accountant
Location: Waverley
Contract: 18‑month Apprenticeship
A fantastic opportunity to begin your finance career within a supportive Local Government team. As an Apprentice Assistant Accountant, you’ll gain hands‑on experience in capital accounting, financial reporting, and budget management while working towards a recognised finance qualification.
What You’ll Do
- Support budget preparation, monthly monitoring, and year‑end processes
- Assist with capital accounting and maintaining the Council’s asset register
- Prepare financial reports, reconciliations and statutory returns
- Provide financial advice to service managers
- Produce data for benchmarking, FOI requests and internal reporting
What You’ll Learn
- Financial systems and processes used across Local Government
- Capital programme monitoring
- Budgeting, treasury management and statutory reporting
- Professional communication and customer service skills
- Dedicated study time and full support to complete your finance qualification
Who You’ll Work With
- Finance colleagues, service managers, external auditors and government bodies
Who We’re Looking For
- Motivated, organised and willing to learn
- Interested in a finance or accounting career
- Good with numbers and attention to detail
- No previous finance experience needed
Start building a professional career in finance with real responsibility and great development opportunities.
Apply now to join the team!
Salary range
- £24,669 per year