Jobs

Graduate Finance Trainee

Permanent, Full Time

£28,090 to £33,047 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

About Us:

Are you a Graduate, or will be graduating in 2026? Do you have an interest in Finance and looking to start a career in this sector? Would you like to become a crucial part of a friendly and high achieving team? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!

This is a permanent role. If a suitable opportunity is not available upon qualification you will continue to rotate to different Finance teams to build on your experience.

Owing to recent changes to the way apprenticeships are funded by central government, this apprenticeship opportunity has one role that is only open to those who will be aged twenty-one or under at the start of the apprenticeship or aged twenty-four or under if you are a care leaver or have an EHCP, alongside an additional opportunity open to all candidates including those who do not qualify under central government funding requirements. The apprenticeship is expected to start by September 2026.

The scheme involves targeted placements across different Finance Teams, gaining a broad base of financial experience, whilst studying for the CIPFA Level 7 Apprenticeship, which leads to the CIPFA professional qualification and CPFA designation. This is the key qualification for anyone pursuing a career in public finance. Further information can be found in our Graduate brochure - https://essexcc.pagetiger.com/finance-2026/graduate

Benefits:

• Competitive starting salary with incremental salary increases.
• Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options.
• Flexible working (location and time) as standard so that you can achieve the right work/life balance. Please note, there will sometimes be days that you are required to attend in person, such as team office days and away days.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied.
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + ability to buy further annual leave days should you wish to (subject to approval).
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards.
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group.
• Disability Confident Leader: we are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave.
• Full training & Level 7 CIPFA professional qualification paid for.
• Professional memberships (CPFA designation) and expenses paid for.

In addition:

• A mentor/study buddy to guide you through the scheme and your studies.
• Employee support networks, to ensure everyone in treated with dignity and respect.
• Our People Plan seeks to invest in our people, with a focus on diversity, equality and inclusion, collaboration and continuously understanding how to upskill our workforce.
• The opportunity to contribute to the Essex community and be proud of the impact of your work.

What our apprentices say:

"I joined Essex County Council on the Finance Graduate Scheme in July 2022 after completing my Accounting and Finance degree at the University of Essex. As my first job in finance since university, I couldn't have asked for a more welcoming, accommodating, and supportive workplace to begin my career in! I have gained experience in Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Business Partnering, and it is nice to put the theory I am learning in the CIPFA modules into my work at the Council." - Tom Mott

"I joined Essex County Council in August 2023 after studying Chemistry at the University of York. Even without a finance background, the Graduate Finance Scheme gave me the ideal way to start working while continuing to learn - something I wasn't ready to give up just yet. The rotation placements have helped me build a strong mix of practical finance skills using the analytical strengths from my degree. If you're a graduate looking for a supportive and rewarding route into the world of finance, I'd really encourage you to apply." - Leah Eade

The Role

Essex County Council has a turnover of over £2 billion, a £900 million supply chain and over a million transactions a year. We are responsible for the financial administration of these substantial budgets, and we do so with a strong customer focused approach in an increasingly complex supplier and market landscape.

As a Finance Graduate Trainee, you will join our graduate programme, which will equip you with a broad range of skills and tailored experiences, leading to the CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) accountancy qualification and a fantastic platform to grow your finance career with a clear path to the most senior roles in the public sector.

At Essex County Council, our Graduate Finance Trainees can make a very real and valuable impact to local communities in Essex, playing a part in some of the most ambitious and innovative national programmes. As well as working for one of the biggest local authorities in the Country, you will help contribute to Everyone's Essex - our plan for levelling up the county, which focuses on outcomes that really matter for our residents:

• The economy
• The environment
• Children and families
• Promoting health, care, and wellbeing for all the parts of the population who need our support.

What will you be doing?

• Building a strong understanding of all financial management and reporting systems and processes, ensuring clarity on financial systems and processes to maximise efficiency ensuring proper reconciliation and control procedures are in place.
• Developing a detailed knowledge of the Council's accounting policies, financial procedure rules, performance standards and working practices and propose changes as required.
• Contributing to the coordination of the delivery of information to support the annual accounts closure programme (including the external audit of the accounts), or other statutory reporting requirements, in accordance with the agreed timetable.
• Ensuring that the integrity of financial systems and accounting processes are maintained, including the General Ledger 'chart of account' and accounting and reporting structures and reconciliation and other control procedures, assisting on the implementation of requested changes.
• Supporting the financial management of the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme and help to ensure that appropriate links are in place between management and statutory financial reporting.
• Ensuring that timely and accurate information is prepared to facilitate the delivery of an effective treasury management function.
• Contributing to the accurate completion of government returns, benchmarking, and other questionnaires.
• Undertaking analysis of financial and performance data and providing financial advice to support effective decision making and meet financial governance requirements across the Council.
• Supporting the timely delivery and preparation of information for business case submissions from a financial perspective, quality assuring the information provided, to ensure that customer requirements are met.
• Building strong working relationships with finance colleagues and internal and external stakeholders to contribute to the delivery of a high performing customer focused finance service. This may include supporting front line services where your work contributes to improving the lives of residents across Essex.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Ideally, we are seeking applicants with a degree in a discipline with a strong numeracy and/or analytical bias, but we will consider strong applicants irrespective of the degree subject.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Ability to contribute to proposals and decisions.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others to successfully achieve tasks and deliver results.
• Willing to assist in developing solutions to tackle problems and achieving outcomes.
• Ability to build relationships with others, both internally and externally to the organisation.
• Working knowledge and understanding of Microsoft office packages.
• Willing to study toward CIPFA professional qualification and CPFA designation.

Essential Requirements for the role:

• Educated to RQF Level 6 (or expecting to graduate by Summer 2026) with a 2:2 in any subject AND
• A minimum of two A-Levels Grade A-C (or equivalent) AND
• Three GCSEs Grade A-C (4 and up) including English & Maths (or international equivalent)

Please note that any offer made is conditional to you being able to provide all your qualification certificates. If you have international equivalent qualifications a NARIC Statement of Comparability must be provided; if you do not already hold one you can purchase online Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk)

Why Essex County Council?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex County Council offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we are 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 County Council 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 2027. 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 are 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 are also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you have 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.

How to apply

Seize the day! Discover your future in the Finance Team by clicking the APPLY button now!

To be considered for this opportunity you must include a supporting statement as part of your application. Applications that are received without a supporting statement will be rejected immediately.

Please ensure your CV or cover letter includes details of your Degree, A Level and GCSEs (or equivalent) grades. We may not be able to consider your application if these details are not readily available.

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email sandra.middleton@essex.gov.uk

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Company: Essex County Council

Salary: £28090.00 - £33047.00 per annum

Location: Chelmsford, Essex

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: Finance