Accounting Assistant – Braintree District Council

Essex County Council; Braintree; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Flexible working

LGPS Defined Benefit

Free parking

Learning and development

Staff discounts

Employee assistance

Staff recognition

Health & wellbeing

Job summary

Braintree District Council is seeking an organised Accounting Assistant to join the Financial Services team in Braintree. The role supports the finance function with budget monitoring, analysis, final accounts and statutory returns.

The post offers permanent, full-time employment with a salary (£26,622 up to £35,721) dependent on qualification and experience, located in Braintree. Closing date 7 September 2026.

Qualifications

• Part or full AAT qualification or extensive experience in a similar finance role.
• Confident with financial systems, spreadsheets and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support to the Finance Team delivering accurate, timely, and compliant financial services.
• Provide high-quality financial data and analytical support for grant claims, statutory returns and government submissions.
• Prepare high-quality financial advice, information, analysis and returns for budget holders.
• Support production of the Council’s final accounts, year-end processes and audit requirements.
• Assist Accounts Payable and Corporate team with payment processing, queries and monitoring.
• Support government returns and regular financial monitoring across teams.
• Undertake complex financial reconciliations ensuring accuracy and audit trails.
• Assist with posting routine journals, accruals and prepayments.
• Provide basic financial guidance to staff on processes like raising purchase orders.

Education

AAT qualification

Job description

About The Role

Accounting Assistant - Braintree District Council

Braintree District Council

Permanent, Full Time

£26,622 up to £35,721 per annum. Salary dependent on qualification and experience

Location: Braintree

Closing Date: 7th September 2026

The Opportunity

We are looking for an organised and motivated Accounting Assistant to join our Financial Services team at Braintree District Council. This role provides support across the finance team, to deliver an accurate and compliant service.

About The Role

The role assists with budget monitoring, advice and analysis, contributing to the production of final accounts including year end processes, annual estimates, budgetary control and audit requirements. Support extends across accounts payable and corporate finance including payment processing, resolving queries and financial monitoring, alongside advising and supporting employees and managers.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with strong numeracy skills, excellent attention to detail and ideally experience of working in local government.

Job Accountabilities

• Provide comprehensive support to the Finance Team, contributing to the delivery of accurate, timely, and compliant financial services across the organisation.
• Provide high‑quality financial data and analytical support for the completion of grant claims, statutory returns, and government statistical submissions. Ensure all information is accurate, compliant, and submitted within required timescales
• Responsible for the preparation of high-quality financial advice, information, analysis, returns and challenge to budget holders
• Support the production of the Council’s final accounts, contributing to year‑end processes, reconciliations, working papers, and audit requirements to ensure completion by the statutory deadline and in compliance with relevant accounting standards
• Provide flexible support to the Accounts Payable and the Corporate team, including assisting with payment processing, query resolution, government returns and monitoring.
• Provide flexible support to both the Accounts Payable function and the wider Corporate Finance team, including assisting with payment processing, resolving queries, completing government returns, and undertaking regular financial monitoring
• Undertake complex financial reconciliations, ensuring accuracy, resolving discrepancies, maintaining robust audit trails, and supporting the integrity of financial data across multiple systems.
• Assist with the preparation and posting of routine journals, accruals, and prepayments
• Provide basic financial guidance to staff unfamiliar with financial processes, such as raising purchase orders or interpreting simple budget reports
• Lead on the administration and oversight of the Purchase Card process, including cardholder set‑up, monitoring usage, conducting reconciliations, ensuring policy compliance, and providing responsive support to services on purchase card queries and issue.

Experience

We are looking for part or full AAT qualification or extensive experience in a similar finance role. You should be confident working with financial systems, spreadsheets and Microsoft Office, with the ability to interpret financial information, follow procedures and work accurately to deadlines. Alongside strong communication skills with the ability to build excellent working relationships and a customer-focused approach.

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the District located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Flexible working
• Local Government Pension Scheme Defined Benefit Scheme
• Free Car Parking
• Learning and development for all staff
• Staff Discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff recognition schemes
• Extensive health and wellbeing programme, including discounted gym membership

Closing date for receipt of applications: Monday 7th September 2026.

Interviews will take place during the week commencing 14th or 21st September 2026.

Please Note – Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council and if successful you will be employed by Braintree District Council.