Job Description

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, organizational 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 also 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

During the scheme, you will be working towards becoming a Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA) which means you will gain an understanding of a variety of Public Sector organizations.

You will train towards charter ship from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accounting (CIPFA), a globally recognized 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.

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

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

You will learn about the insourcing of privatized 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 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.

Benefits

• A breadth of work experience, both financial and non-financial through a rotational programme of work placements
• Exam performance bonus
• Fully funded professional accountancy qualification with CIPFA to become a Chartered Public Finance Accountant
• Access to a suite of training courses and events, tailored to you to maximize 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

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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.