Assistant Accountant – Fixed Term (6 months)
| Posting date: | 16 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 October 2025 |
| Location: | rg31 7sd |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 25/58 |
Summary
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking an Assistant Accountant to join our dynamic Finance and Procurement team. In this key role, you’ll help deliver high-quality financial accounting services across the organisation, as well as to our partners and external stakeholders.
You will play a key role in interpreting financial regulations, providing insightful analysis and guidance, and supporting strategic decision-making to help the organisation achieve its goals. Reporting to the Finance Manager, you’ll be expected to take a proactive approach to risk assessment and resource optimisation.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a respected public service provider that prioritises the development and wellbeing of its employees. We offer flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, alongside a supportive and collaborative working environment.
About you:
We’re seeking a motivated and proactive individual who is ready to hit the ground running — ideally someone who is available to start immediately.
To be considered, you must hold a university degree in Finance or a related field and be either AAT qualified (with relevant CPD) or part-qualified under a CCAB-approved body, with relevant experience or equivalent.
The key focus of this role (Key Responsibilities and Deliverables) is:
Assisting in preparation for and transition to a new outside payroll provider for RBFRS
Checking of requisitions for purchases, checking accounting entries, performing reconciliations, assisting with the weekly payment run and other accounting functions
Processing of mileage and expenses claims and use of procurement cards – using Certify
Monthly balance sheet reconciliations (including fixed assets) and other month-end New supplier set ups and monitoring/updating
Assisting in the weekly payment run procedures
Accounting for the pension schemes of RBFRS - including liaising with outside Budget planning and budget monitoring - at month-end and year-end
Key role requirements (knowledge, skills and experience):
University Degree relevant to Finance, or part qualified (CCAB recognised) with relevant experience (or equivalent)
Competent in Microsoft 365 and Accounting Systems. Knowledge or use of Technology One would be very helpful but not essential.
Good written and oral communications.
Experience of pension funds and payroll and accounting for them
Experience of mileage and expense claims and use of procurement cards (using Certify would be an advantage)
Knowledge and experience of BIK, employment taxes and VAT
Working to tight deadlines and prioritising workloads
Application and selection process
The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached.
The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process.
Please see the link to the Job Profile/Person Specification on application.
Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Rechecks will be required in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.
Please note we do not accept applications via Agencies or CV’s without an accompanying application form.
Closing date for applications is 17:00 hours on 30 October 2025
It is anticipated that the assessment/interview process will run week commencing 3 November 2025.
You will play a key role in interpreting financial regulations, providing insightful analysis and guidance, and supporting strategic decision-making to help the organisation achieve its goals. Reporting to the Finance Manager, you’ll be expected to take a proactive approach to risk assessment and resource optimisation.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a respected public service provider that prioritises the development and wellbeing of its employees. We offer flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, alongside a supportive and collaborative working environment.
About you:
We’re seeking a motivated and proactive individual who is ready to hit the ground running — ideally someone who is available to start immediately.
To be considered, you must hold a university degree in Finance or a related field and be either AAT qualified (with relevant CPD) or part-qualified under a CCAB-approved body, with relevant experience or equivalent.
The key focus of this role (Key Responsibilities and Deliverables) is:
Assisting in preparation for and transition to a new outside payroll provider for RBFRS
Checking of requisitions for purchases, checking accounting entries, performing reconciliations, assisting with the weekly payment run and other accounting functions
Processing of mileage and expenses claims and use of procurement cards – using Certify
Monthly balance sheet reconciliations (including fixed assets) and other month-end New supplier set ups and monitoring/updating
Assisting in the weekly payment run procedures
Accounting for the pension schemes of RBFRS - including liaising with outside Budget planning and budget monitoring - at month-end and year-end
Key role requirements (knowledge, skills and experience):
University Degree relevant to Finance, or part qualified (CCAB recognised) with relevant experience (or equivalent)
Competent in Microsoft 365 and Accounting Systems. Knowledge or use of Technology One would be very helpful but not essential.
Good written and oral communications.
Experience of pension funds and payroll and accounting for them
Experience of mileage and expense claims and use of procurement cards (using Certify would be an advantage)
Knowledge and experience of BIK, employment taxes and VAT
Working to tight deadlines and prioritising workloads
Application and selection process
The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached.
The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process.
Please see the link to the Job Profile/Person Specification on application.
Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Rechecks will be required in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.
Please note we do not accept applications via Agencies or CV’s without an accompanying application form.
Closing date for applications is 17:00 hours on 30 October 2025
It is anticipated that the assessment/interview process will run week commencing 3 November 2025.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.