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Job Description

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Leicester Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA

Salary: £28,605 - £39,165 per annum (Pro rata for part time) Pay award pending

Working Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours per week, Monday - Friday

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 2nd August 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

Are you interested in a career in Finance? Are you positive, motivated, and keen to learn? Can you use your initiative to solve problems and make effective decisions?

We are looking for up to two individuals to join the Strategic Finance Function as a Graduate Trainee Accountant, to assist in providing and supporting an efficient and effective accounting service.

About the Role

As a Graduate Trainee Accountant, you will have the opportunity to develop as a future finance manager and leader. Whilst completing your CIPFA Professional Accounting Qualification (PAQ), you will rotate through substantive roles across the Strategic Finance Function in a positive and supportive working environment. By gaining exposure to the key areas of financial control, financial planning, and year end closedown, you will be given an excellent springboard from which to launch into a successful financial career.
This post is career graded (Grade 8 -10), starting at grade 8 with progression dependent upon successfully completing the PAQ examinations and displaying the required competencies and skills acquired in each rotation. All graduates are supported by a Training Manager who will provide dedicated advice and mentorship throughout the training process.

This role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for sponsorship; therefore you must already have the right to work in the UK in order to apply.

About You

To apply for this post, you must hold, or be on track to obtain, an Honours degree (min. 2:1) or NVQ level 6 in a relevant subject.

You must also demonstrate using examples that you have a proven ability to:

• An Honours degree (min. 2:1) or NVQ level 6 in a relevant subject.
• Tailor communications to meet different and diverse needs, maintaining the consistency of key messages. Consistently take responsibility for organising your own workload to achieve objectives in order of priority.
• Confidently take action to implement new ideas within your area of responsibility to solve problems
• Persuade and encourage others to seek opportunities for improvements and increased efficiency
• Work effectively in teams, alongside ensuring individuals understand their contribution to the overall team performance. Demonstrate a flexible approach to meet changing demands
• Exercise strong IT skills using Microsoft Office products such as Word & Excel (or equivalent) in a professional environment

It would be desirable if you can also demonstrate that you can:

Show some experience of finance related work such as cash handling, recording transactions and income and expenditure accounts. Show knowledge of current developments in Local Government & Public sector finance, particularly in relation to Leicestershire County Council. Show you can interpret and use financial information to inform decisions and manage risks. Show that you have previously secured the commitment of others and obtain acceptance of change within your own team and work areas. Show that you can use customer feedback and consultation to guide service improvements.

To apply for this job, please click ‘Apply Now’. You will need to upload a CV alongside a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet all the bullet point criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section. The supporting statement should draw from relevant professional or academic/personal experiences.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Gurpreet Kooner, Strategic Finance Manager

Telephone: 0116 305 5433

Email: gurpreet.kooner@leics.gov.uk

Antony Russell, Senior Finance Business Partner

Telephone: 0116 305 1175

Email: Antony.Russell@leics.gov.uk

How to Apply

At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About us

About Leicestershire County Council

At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.

Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose.

For further information on what it’s like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following:

Our Recruitment Process
Our Organisational Values
Our Employee Benefits
Working for Us