Finance Assistant

South Lanarkshire Council; Scotland; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a Finance Assistant based in Hamilton. The role involves providing essential financial support, including budgeting and forecasting, in line with statutory responsibilities. Ideal candidates should have relevant financial experience and skills to enhance business operations. This permanent position requires working 35 hours per week with a competitive salary range of £28,340 to £37,465 annually. The role will contribute significantly to supporting Council departments and services to the community.

Benefits

Enrolment in local government pension scheme

Up to 33 days annual leave

Family friendly policies

Employee discounts

Cycle to Work Scheme

Physiotherapy support

Qualifications

• Experience in public sector finance preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of finance functions.
• Ability to provide quality advice and support.

Responsibilities

• Deliver finance provision in accordance with Council policies.
• Assist in budgeting, forecasting, and preparing year-end accounts.
• Provide support to Council departments.

Skills

Experience in a financial environment

Technical job knowledge

Ability to improve business processes

Education

Relevant financial qualifications

Job description

South Lanarkshire, United Kingdom

Job Description

Internal applicants MUST apply via Opportunity Marketplace. Please ensure you complete your SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS via “Me” tab/tile on Fusion or by clicking on the application link in the section of the application form titled “REVIEW SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS”.

ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by4 February 2026 at 11:55PM

Location: Council Headquarters, Hamilton
Hours: 35 hours per week, Permanent
Work Pattern: Monday - Friday
Salary / Hourly Rate: £28,340 - £37,465 per year

South Lanarkshire Council are looking for a Finance Assistant. This post is based in the Strategy Team, covering Community & Enterprise Resources. You will be responsible to the Accountant for the effective delivery of the finance provision in accordance with the Council’s statutory responsibilities, policies and procedures.

You will be required to contribute towards providing quality advice and support to Council departments to allow them to delivery services to the communities of South Lanarkshire.

You will be involved in budgeting and forecasting and provide assistance in the preparation of year end accounts.

The successful candidate should have experience within a financial environment, (ideally public sector) and evidence technical job knowledge and expertise and be able to demonstrate knowledge of the finance function within an organisation.

As part of the role, you will be required to challenge, support, and improve existing business practices to ensure efficient use of council resources.

Please answer the following questions as part of your application submission, your answers should be uploaded under supporting documents:

• Please provide details of any experience you have working in a financial environment
• Please provide details of your experience working with others and how that experience would make you a suitable candidate for this role?
• Please provide details of a time when you have used your initiative and implemented improvements to the business processes of an organisation
• Please provide details of your experiences of where, at work, you have encountered change, and how you responded to this

If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.

Please Apply online -All correspondence will be via your email address

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Legislative Information

This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Level 1 disclosure check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.

An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of three months in the past 10 years.

Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant

South Lanarkshire Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and encourages applications from all members of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Scheme Employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans & Service leavers are guaranteed an interview who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
• Up to 33 days annual leave
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVS IN PLACE OF THE APPLICATION FORM.

To be considered for this vacancy you must complete the application form. All CV submissions will be disregarded.

About Us

South Lanarkshire Council is the unitary authority serving the South Lanarkshire council area in Scotland. The council has its headquarters in Hamilton, has 16,000 employees, and a budget of almost £1bn. The large and varied geographical territory takes in rural and upland areas, market towns such as Lanark, Strathavenand Carluke, the urban burghsof Rutherglen,Cambuslang,and East Kilbride which was Scotland's first new town.

Our vision is for South Lanarkshire as set out in our Economic Strategy is to have one of the strongest and most dynamic economies in Scotland, where businesses, communities, and residents achieve their full potential and prosper.

We will achieve this through three key interrelated themes:

• People -skills, learning and employability
• Place -physical infrastructure and place
• Business -business development and growth