Trainee Accountant
| Posting date: | 19 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £25,583 to £36,363 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 January 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | RES0754 |
Summary
We’re looking for a motivated and ambitious individual to join our Finance team as a Trainee Accountant. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience across different areas of the department while studying towards a professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA). You’ll play a key role in supporting the Council’s financial operations and ensuring high standards of financial control.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
You’ll work across different areas of the Finance department, supporting routine tasks and major projects. Day-to-day, you’ll help maintain accurate financial records and contribute to internal accounting standards.
Key responsibilities include:
Preparing and checking financial information for accuracy.
Inputting and reconciling data across various systems to the Council’s general ledger.
Maintaining detailed records and working papers to support tasks.
Correcting coding errors and allocating cash in the Council’s accounts.
Providing administrative assistance and support on projects.
About you
You’ll be committed to developing your career in finance and achieving your accountancy qualification with first-time passes. You’ll bring enthusiasm, flexibility, and a strong attention to detail to everything you do.
We’re looking for someone who has:
A degree or equivalent qualification, or progress through a financial/administrative apprenticeship. We also welcome applications from those in their final year of study.
Minimum entry requirements for CIPFA:
Three GCSEs, grades A-C (or grades 4 and up), and two A-Levels, grades A-C, or accepted equivalent (subjects must include Maths and English at either level)
Scottish, Northern and Southern Ireland equivalents are accepted
BTEC and SCOTVEC national certificates are accepted
Minimum vocational requirement is NVQ/GNVQ level 3, or Scottish equivalent
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 1st February 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
You’ll work across different areas of the Finance department, supporting routine tasks and major projects. Day-to-day, you’ll help maintain accurate financial records and contribute to internal accounting standards.
Key responsibilities include:
Preparing and checking financial information for accuracy.
Inputting and reconciling data across various systems to the Council’s general ledger.
Maintaining detailed records and working papers to support tasks.
Correcting coding errors and allocating cash in the Council’s accounts.
Providing administrative assistance and support on projects.
About you
You’ll be committed to developing your career in finance and achieving your accountancy qualification with first-time passes. You’ll bring enthusiasm, flexibility, and a strong attention to detail to everything you do.
We’re looking for someone who has:
A degree or equivalent qualification, or progress through a financial/administrative apprenticeship. We also welcome applications from those in their final year of study.
Minimum entry requirements for CIPFA:
Three GCSEs, grades A-C (or grades 4 and up), and two A-Levels, grades A-C, or accepted equivalent (subjects must include Maths and English at either level)
Scottish, Northern and Southern Ireland equivalents are accepted
BTEC and SCOTVEC national certificates are accepted
Minimum vocational requirement is NVQ/GNVQ level 3, or Scottish equivalent
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 1st February 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
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.