Financial Accountant

Financial Accountant

Permanent

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£49,908 to £58,715.00 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 4th May 2026

The opportunity

As a Financial Accountant, you will play an important role in helping to protect and strengthen the Council’s financial governance. Working as part of a high‑performing team of finance specialists, and reporting to the Chief Accountant, you will help ensure the Council meets its statutory financial reporting, treasury management and tax obligations with accuracy, integrity and confidence.

You will apply your technical knowledge to interpret complex accounting standards, codes of practice and regulatory requirements, turning them into practical advice that supports strong decision‑making.

Alongside your technical responsibilities, you will contribute to projects and improvement initiatives, share knowledge and guidance with finance colleagues, and build credibility with stakeholders, auditors and partners.

This is a role for a motivated professional who enjoys applying technical skill in a way that delivers real public value.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Full CCAB qualification, with current membership to a CCAB body and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Good level of knowledge and understanding of the accounting codes, standards and regulations (including those related to taxes and duties) that apply to local authorities (and, where appropriate, to entities within the Council’s ‘group’ boundary).
• Experience of interpreting technical guidance and of applying this in a practical setting, and of communicating the requirements to stakeholders and other interested parties.
• Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams and an ability to contribute in a large and complex organisation.
• Ability to establish credibility with finance and other professionals, the external auditor and other key stakeholders.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills and a strong delivery / performance focus.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

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.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found here pay and reward

To view our Organisational Behaviours information please follow this link .

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 here .

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

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