London Borough of Barnet Hiring for Finance Graduate Trainee Job at London, England Full Time

At the London Borough of Barnet (LBB), a career in finance and accounting is not just about the numbers – it’s about making a difference. If you are passionate about working to support local communities, the LBB graduate programme might just be for you.

What can you expect?

The Finance Graduate Programme at the London Borough of Barnet allows you to have a positive impact on the community from day one. You will be managing budgets, preparing financial reports, performing financial analysis on borough-wide projects such as the Brent Cross regeneration, one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, and presenting regularly to senior management – all the while impacting the community you serve – throughout the scheme and for the rest of your public finance career.

Professional Development and Support

The LBB programme is unparalleled in the support and exposure that you receive from your training managers and senior management. You will have regular meetings with your training manager who will provide a structured approach to your development, and you will gain wider exposure to the council in areas such as project management, stakeholder relations and service engagement, all while improving your interpersonal skills, organisational awareness, and professional progression. You will have a qualified line manager in each placement who will prepare a detailed work plan to ensure you gain technical and practical accounting and finance experience. You will also be delegated a mentor who will guide you through the world of local government finance, provide you with impartial career advice, and help you see the big picture. You will have a CIPFA coach who will help structure and guide your apprenticeship and will also have regular meetings with the senior management team.

Professional CIPFA Qualification

You will train towards chartership from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accounting (CIPFA), a globally recognised member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB). This will teach you about how public money can be effectively and efficiently managed as well as highly transferable strategic skills. You will be a Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA) which means you will gain an understanding of a variety of Public Sector organisations.

The qualification will be fully funded by the council, and you will have time off for college and exams. Upon completion of the scheme, you will be expected to apply for assistant finance manager or finance manager positions, and many of our past trainees have been promoted before completing the programme.

Placements

The programme is split into different rotations, each being three to six months. You will get rotations in Business Partnering, Treasury, Audit, Major Projects, Final Accounts.

Business Partnering

Working with front line council workers in Adults & Social Care; Children’s & Family Services and Housing, you’ll be leading meetings with workers as a critical friend, challenging spending and informing the council’s financial decisions, overseeing multi-million-pound budgets.

Pensions

Working on a pension fund of £1.4 billion, you will gain an understanding of our investments and working with our administrators at West Yorkshire and our actuaries at Hymans Robertson, as well as preparing various reports for scrutiny at the Pensions Committee.

Internal Audit

You will be reviewing transactions across the council services and closely examine the strength of our internal controls, helping to maintain the integrity of the Finance function’s fiscal stewardship.

Major Projects

Working on one of Europe’s largest regeneration programmes, you will learn about the insourcing of privatised contracts whilst expanding your technical skills and undertaking advanced financial modelling.

Corporate Accounting

The technical accounting involved in preparing the council’s statement of accounts. This explains to the public how we spend our funds on the residents of Barnet. This will give you the technical knowledge you need for your career in accounting. You may be managing grants, preparing notes to the accounts and assisting with budget monitoring.

Diversity and Inclusion at LBB

At LBB, inclusion and diversity are central to our values. We have a genuine focus on intentional inclusion enabling our people to feel they can bring their whole self to work and ensuring staff feel supported, respected and confident to make a valuable contribution. We have a wide range of staff networks ensuring representation and safe spaces for people of all characteristics.

What is in it for you?

• Exam performance bonus
• Fully funded professional accountancy qualification with CIPFA to become a Chartered Public Finance Accountant
• A breadth of work experience, both financial and non-financial through a rotational programme of work placements
• Access to a suite of training courses and events, tailored to you to maximise your professional and personal development
• Expert guidance and mentoring throughout the programme
• Diverse long-term career opportunities Barnet Council upon completion of the scheme
• Remote working
• 30 days annual leave

Entry Requirements

This is a graduate programme as such you will need –

• Minimum 2:2 in any degree subject
• Willingness to study for a professional qualification while working full time
• A strong work ethic with a desire to get things done, learn and progress
• Ability to grasp new concepts quickly, research independently and effectively solve problems
• Awareness of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

How to apply

Read through the job description and person specification and complete the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact please contact Morgan McIntosh, CIPFA Graduate Trainee, 0208 359 3258.

Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures.

To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Click here to read our equality statement.

Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and remote working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview.

All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.

If shortlisted you will be required to bring photographic ID to your interview to prove your identity.