Assistant Business Partnering Accountant

Oxfordshire County Council; Packmoor; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom seeks an Assistant Business Partnering Accountant to support budget management and financial planning. The role involves working with service managers to provide insight for decision-making and financial analysis. With an AAT qualification preferred, this position offers a collaborative environment focusing on innovation in financial services. Join a team committed to continuous improvement and flexibility in work arrangements.

Benefits

Hybrid working arrangement

Learning and development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounts for shopping and travel

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or actively studying for the qualification with significant relevant experience.
• General understanding of financial management and governance.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-specialists.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of services within budget, linking current events to future consequences.
• Provide insight and analysis to support decision-making and identify risks.
• Support financial decision-making processes and compliance with financial management.

Skills

Good communicator

Analytical skills

Financial planning

Education

AAT qualified or actively studying

Job description

At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), we deliver essential services that make a real difference to the lives of our residents. Our Financial Services team plays a pivotal role in enabling the council to operate effectively, responsibly and sustainably. We provide strategic financial oversight, ensure robust governance and support the delivery of high-quality services across the organisation.

As part of our wider transformation programme, Financial Services is evolving to meet the demands of a modern public sector. We're streamlining processes, enhancing transparency and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. Whether it's budget planning, financial reporting or supporting service delivery teams, our work underpins the Council's ability to make informed decisions and deliver value for money.

Joining our team means becoming part of a forward-thinking, collaborative environment where your expertise will help shape the future of financial management in local government.

As a service we're committed to recruiting on potential. The details below set out the specifics of the role we're recruiting for, and we want to encourage anyone with relevant experience to apply. Join OCC and be part of a forward-thinking team transforming financial management through innovation and technology.

About the Role

The role of a Assistant Business Partnering Accountant involves supporting the delivery of services within budget for the current year, with a focus on future implications and improving financial management. This includes working with cost centre managers, service managers and heads of service, providing financial planning support, producing analysis for decision-making, and tactically supporting revenue monitoring, forecasting, and reporting. The role also involves offering financial management advice, supporting the creation of business cases, ensuring compliance with financial processes, and managing cost centre hierarchies.

What You’ll Do

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Budget Management: Support the delivery of services within the budget for the current year, considering future implications and linking current events to future consequences.
• Financial Planning: Provide insight and analysis to support decision-making, identify financial implications, risks, and opportunities.
• Revenue Monitoring: Understand and communicate financial risks and opportunities, produce accurate forecasts, and compare budgeted and forecast results to actual results.
• Financial Management: Offer advice and assurance on financial management, compliance with processes, and improvements, and support good financial management practices.
• Capital Management: Support the creation of business cases, understand financial risks and opportunities, and ensure reports provide key information for managing service finances.
• Decision Support: Support financial decision-making processes, ensure information is accurate and reliable, and encourage good value for money decisions.

What You’ll Bring

• AAT qualified or actively studying for the qualification with significant relevant experience.
• General understanding of financial management, business planning, governance, risk management, processes & procedures.
• Good communicator able to communicate complex financial information to non-specialists to inform, instruct, persuade or encourage feedback.
• Ability and experience to work on own initiative with guidance and collaborate with budget managers and colleagues.
• Ability to work with financial data, to draw conclusions and identify actionable insight, and to present this in an understandable format.
• Ability to work to appropriate levels of accuracy and to deadlines, with good attention to detail.

Before applying, we recommend reviewing the attached job description. It has further information and clear guidance on what we're looking for.

Could this be you?

What You Can Look Forward To

At OCC, you'll be part of a team that's not only passionate about what we do, but also about how we do it. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and continuous improvement, and we're proud to offer flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose in everything we do.

• Hybrid working - typically 3-4 days per month in our Oxford office for team collaboration, with flexibility to suit your role and lifestyle
• Culture of flexible working
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your growth
• Technology to support agile working, with unlimited access to Copilot for smarter productivity
• Employee Assistance Programme including health and wellbeing support
• Generous annual leave - 30 days plus bank holidays, and an option to buy additional holiday
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local Government Pension Scheme - with employer contributions up to 19.9%
• Discounts - local and national offers for shopping and travel

Ready to Apply?

• If you are interested in this role, please submit your application by 07 January 2026.
• When applying, please upload a current CV along with a personal statement. Your statement should explain how your skills and experience match the role, referring to the key requirements in the job description.
• Shortlisting will take place week commencing 08 January 2026.
• Interviews are expected to take place from 13-15 January 2026. Please note the interview dates listed and keep them free where possible, as we aim to stick to these timelines.
• For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact Matthew Kocak, Finance Business Partnering Manager on [e-mail]

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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