Accountant
| Posting date: | 11 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £34,434 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 December 2025 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 21551 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX - Hybrid working
- Salary: £34,434 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- Hours: 37 hours per week - flexible working options available
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as an Accountant and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy. Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity to join us as an Accountant in the Financial Management Teams that provides key support to directorates to ensure they can deliver their financial responsibilities.
In this role, you’ll play a key part in ensuring the Council makes the best use of its resources by supporting effective budget management through accurate data input, analysis, and interpretation. You’ll help translate complex financial information into clear, accessible language for colleagues, enabling informed decision-making across the organisation. Working closely with the finance team, you’ll contribute to streamlining processes, identifying efficiencies, and maintaining robust financial controls. From preparing reconciliations and statutory accounts to developing and maintaining financial systems, you’ll ensure data integrity and provide guidance to stakeholders on financial systems and reporting. Your work will directly support the Council’s mission to use its limited resources wisely for the benefit of the people of Suffolk.
This is an interesting and diverse role where you will liaise and support budget holders and business support staff in one of the council’s directorates in all aspects of financial management, as well as being an integral part of a supportive team within Finance.
You will need
- to be AAT qualified or working towards CCAB (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA) or evidence of equivalent knowledge and skills
- experience of working in Finance
- good communication skills and a positive attitude
- Proven ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and reconcile financial information from multiple sources and systems and manipulate data to generate reporting information as well as high levels of literacy, numeracy, and IT skills.
This role supports hybrid working. It involves a balanced mix of working from home and the office to enable face to face collaboration with colleagues.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
We are a diverse, supportive and enthusiastic team who will offer help and guidance to get you settled in. This role will offer you the opportunity to get involved and take responsibility for a broad range of financial and accounting work, providing you with stimulation and opportunities to broaden and deepen your experience and knowledge to enable you to develop your career further. Our structure chart demonstrates the wide range of senior jobs within the Finance Team giving potential opportunities for future career progression.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Georgina Peck (she/her) or Michael Quinton (he/him) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling:
Georgina on 01473 260745 or emailing Georgina.peck@suffolk.gov.uk or
Michael on 01473 265596 or emailingMichael.quinton@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Tell us about a situation where you had to interpret and reconcile financial information from multiple sources. What steps did you take to ensure accuracy and completeness?
2. Describe your experience in providing financial advice and guidance to non-financial audiences. How did you ensure your message was clear and understood?
3. Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with colleagues or stakeholders to achieve a financial or organisational goal. How did you ensure effective teamwork?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 24 December 2025.
Interview date: W/C 12 January 2026.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX - Hybrid working
- Salary: £34,434 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- Hours: 37 hours per week - flexible working options available
- Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as an Accountant and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy. Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity to join us as an Accountant in the Financial Management Teams that provides key support to directorates to ensure they can deliver their financial responsibilities.
In this role, you’ll play a key part in ensuring the Council makes the best use of its resources by supporting effective budget management through accurate data input, analysis, and interpretation. You’ll help translate complex financial information into clear, accessible language for colleagues, enabling informed decision-making across the organisation. Working closely with the finance team, you’ll contribute to streamlining processes, identifying efficiencies, and maintaining robust financial controls. From preparing reconciliations and statutory accounts to developing and maintaining financial systems, you’ll ensure data integrity and provide guidance to stakeholders on financial systems and reporting. Your work will directly support the Council’s mission to use its limited resources wisely for the benefit of the people of Suffolk.
This is an interesting and diverse role where you will liaise and support budget holders and business support staff in one of the council’s directorates in all aspects of financial management, as well as being an integral part of a supportive team within Finance.
You will need
- to be AAT qualified or working towards CCAB (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA) or evidence of equivalent knowledge and skills
- experience of working in Finance
- good communication skills and a positive attitude
- Proven ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and reconcile financial information from multiple sources and systems and manipulate data to generate reporting information as well as high levels of literacy, numeracy, and IT skills.
This role supports hybrid working. It involves a balanced mix of working from home and the office to enable face to face collaboration with colleagues.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
We are a diverse, supportive and enthusiastic team who will offer help and guidance to get you settled in. This role will offer you the opportunity to get involved and take responsibility for a broad range of financial and accounting work, providing you with stimulation and opportunities to broaden and deepen your experience and knowledge to enable you to develop your career further. Our structure chart demonstrates the wide range of senior jobs within the Finance Team giving potential opportunities for future career progression.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Georgina Peck (she/her) or Michael Quinton (he/him) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling:
Georgina on 01473 260745 or emailing Georgina.peck@suffolk.gov.uk or
Michael on 01473 265596 or emailingMichael.quinton@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Tell us about a situation where you had to interpret and reconcile financial information from multiple sources. What steps did you take to ensure accuracy and completeness?
2. Describe your experience in providing financial advice and guidance to non-financial audiences. How did you ensure your message was clear and understood?
3. Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with colleagues or stakeholders to achieve a financial or organisational goal. How did you ensure effective teamwork?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 24 December 2025.
Interview date: W/C 12 January 2026.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
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.