Assistant Corporate Accountant

Lancashire County Council; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave

Staff discount with Vivup

Career development

Job summary

Lancashire County Council is seeking an Accounting Technician to join the Corporate Accounting Team in Preston on a hybrid basis. The role requires AAT qualifications or equivalent experience to carry out financial analysis and provide specialised accounting support.

The post involves working with internal and external clients, applying strong accounting principles, and ensuring accurate financial statements in line with CIPFA standards.

Qualifications

• AAT qualification or part qualified or qualified by experience in a local authority or large public sector
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial regulations
• Ability to plan and meet strict deadlines
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Carry out financial analysis for Corporate Accounting Team
• Provide specialised accounting support to the team
• Ensure compliance with CIPFA standards and statutory requirements
• Interpret complex guidance to ensure accurate financial statements
• Support colleagues with delivering high-quality financial information

Skills

Accounting principles

Organisational skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem solving

Financial accounting

Excel

CPD knowledge

Research ability

Team support

Education

AAT qualification

Part qualified

Qualified by experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Financial management systems

Job description

Job Description

Salary £32,061 - £36,363 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Preston/Hybrid

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

We are looking for an Accounting Technician, AAT qualified or part qualified, or qualified by experience within a large organisation. You will carry out financial analysis and provide specialised support to the Corporate Accounting Team. The role will generally be reactive, working with established council systems and proper accounting practice, under the direction of more experienced colleagues. The roles may deal with complex issues that need a degree of diagnosis and analysis to recommend the best course of action. Communication skills are important as the post holder will be interacting with internal and external clients regularly.

About You

• Knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations and best practices applicable to Local Authorities.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan and organise own workload to meet strict deadlines, under the direction of the Corporate Accountant.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both internal and external stakeholders and explain technical issues to non-specialists.
• Innovative and pro-active with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Strong financial accounting skills.
• Sound IT skills, including proficiency in financial management systems and Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to support colleagues in delivering high-quality financial information.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of CIPFA principles, regulations, and professional standards through ongoing CPD.
• Experienced in researching complex accounting issues and interpreting technical guidance to ensure the accurate preparation and compliance of financial statements.

Closing Date: 30/09/2026

Why join us?

By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you, with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications, coaching, and mentoring. Lancashire County Council truly is the place where you can have the career you've always wanted.

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.
• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.