Trainee Finance Officer (School Leaver Programme)

Team: Financial Support

Job Family: Advising – CBG5-CBG8

Salary: £25,989 - £33,851 per annum pro rata

Hours: 37 hours per week – 3 positions available 

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Contract Type:  Hybrid – Permanent – Career Progression Role

Closing Date: 19th July 2026

Interview Date: w/c 3rd August 2026

About the role

Earn while you learn. Become a qualified accountant. Build a career. 

Looking to kickstart a professional career straight after school or college? Join our School Leaver Programme and you’ll gain hands on experience, earn a competitive salary from day one, and work towards becoming a fully qualified accountant (CIPFA).

This is more than just a job – it’s a clear pathway into a respected, well-paid profession with real responsibility from the start.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll work as part of our Financial Support team, contributing to how the Council plans, manages, and spends millions of pounds to deliver essential public services.

From day one, you will:

• Support budget monitoring and financial reporting.
• Work with managers to help them understand and manage their budgets.
• Analyse the financial data and help produce forecasts.
• Get involved in major projects and long-term financial planning.
• Contribute to the Council’s annual statement of accounts.
• Learn how finance impacts real world decisions in areas like schools, social care and infrastructure.

You won’t just be observing, you’ll be actively contributing and building real skills.

Professional qualification (Fully funded)

We will support you to become a qualified CIPFA accountant through a level 7 apprenticeship.

That means:

• Your qualification is fully funded.
• You gain real work experience while studying.
• You earn a salary throughout.
• You receive structured support and mentoring.

This is the same level qualification as a master’s degree.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for motivated, curious individuals who want to build a long-term career in finance.

You should have:

• Predicted or achieved A Levels (BBB or above) – ideally including Maths.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• An interest in working with numbers and data.
• Good communication skills (you’ll be working with people across the organisation).
• The motivation to study towards a professional qualification.

Most importantly, you’ll have a positive attitude and willingness to learn.

What we offer

We don’t just offer a salary - we offer a career with real benefits:

• Competitive starting salary – with clear progression as you develop.
• Fully funded professional qualification (CIPFA) – including study leave, training support and mentoring.
• Flexible and hybrid working – work life balance that fits around you.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a valuable, secure pension scheme.
• Clear career progression – this is a structured programme designed to take you from trainee to qualified accountant.
• Supportive environment – you’ll be part of a team that invests in your development from day one.

This is not an exhaustive list, to see other rewards and benefits available to our staff, please visit our Rewards and Benefits page linked further down this advert.

Why choose this pathway?

• Start earning immediately.
• Gain a recognised professional qualification.
• Build a real-world experience.
• Fast track your career in finance.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Rhys Hickinbottom at Rhys.Hickinbottom@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or Chris Paterson at Chris.Paterson@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk