Assistant Accountant
Fixed Term contract / Secondment opportunity, until March 2028
Full Time, 37 hours per week
£36,937 to £43,455 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 14th December 2025 (23:59)
The Role
The Assistant Accountant is responsible for the preparation of high-quality financial advice, information, analysis and challenge to a number of budget holders within Adult Social Care across the financial cycle.
You will be the Finance Contact as part of a team supporting a statutory service where you’ll need to deliver timely and accurate financial information and advice to front line budget holders to allow effective management of their budgets and assist them in carrying out their financial duties, constructively challenging where appropriate.
You will build strong relationships with finance colleagues, internal budget holders and external partners and be able to influence, contribute and challenge at budget holder meetings to ensure financial forecasts and future budget plans are based on robust financial information.
You will be an AAT qualified professional with strong technical and excel skills to actively contribute and provide financial support and advice to budget holders in accordance with financial regulations and accounting standards.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Minimum full AAT qualification or equivalent plus one years’ experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
- Knowledge and understanding of financial management, financial planning and budget management along with experience of providing financial advice to budget holders
- Experience of working with a range of financial systems, processes and complex excel spreadsheets
- Evidence of working collaboratively and engaging with Senior Managers and finance colleagues, together with good communication skills
To read more about us please visit: https://workingforessex.com/role/corporate-services
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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If you have queries or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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