Trainee Accountant/Finance Business Partner

Vacancy Information

Starting Salary: £31,096 per annum.

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Flexi time is applicable, and starting and finishing times are flexible.
To start 1st December 2024.

East Lothian Council is seeking a graduate or equivalent to join the team. The post will be based in Service Accounting and will provide financial support to a range of services.

The successful candidate will undertake the CIPFA Accountancy Qualification and will receive full support to do so including leave to attend online seminars and exams as well as study leave and full financial support subject to the applicant agreeing to the conditions in the Learning at Work policy.

This is a critical post within the structure and there will be opportunities for the successful applicant to help shape the future direction of the team and this is an exciting time to join.

The council offers flexible working, including working from home and flexi time, generous annual leave entitlement and a career average earnings pension scheme.

If you wish to discuss the post further, please email your details to businessfinance@eastlothian.gov.uk  for the attention of the Service Manager (Service Accounting).

Home Working Consideration
Applications for homeworking or hybrid working will be considered for this post, subject to a trial period and in accordance with East Lothian Council’s Home Working and Worksmart Policies which can be found here. Home or Hybrid working options can be discussed with candidates invited for interview. All applicants must live in the UK and will be expected to attend Council offices from time to time as required.

Job Details

As a key member of the wider Finance Team, the Finance Business Partner will be expected to:

Actively contribute to the development of the Council’s annual strategic budget setting process;
To develop and prepare directorate service budgets aligned to the approved annual strategic budget;
Take a lead role in supporting the successful delivery of the Council’s statutory financial accounts and other key statutory returns;
Work collaboratively with Service Managers and Heads of Service to manage their resources effectively and as efficiently as possible, providing appropriate financial advice and guidance to support service delivery and facilitate any future transformational change agenda.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Applicants should hold a cognate degree level qualification (i.e. Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Statistics etc).

Disclosure
The preferred candidate for this position may be subject to a Standard Disclosure provided by Disclosure Scotland prior to a formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note:
If a Disclosure check is required and you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will also be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.