Are you a Graduate, or will be graduating in 2025? Do you have an interest in Finance and looking to start a career in this sector? Would you like to become a crucial part of a friendly and high achieving team? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!

Essex County Council has a turnover of over £2 billion, with a £1 billion supply chain comprising of 100 major procurements a year, and the involvement of over 4,000 suppliers and 35,000 employees. We are responsible for the financial administration of these substantial budgets, and we do so with a strong customer focused approach in an increasingly complex supplier and market landscape.

As a Finance Graduate Trainee, you will join our graduate programme, which will equip you with a broad range of skills and tailored experiences, leading to the CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) accountancy qualification and a fantastic platform to grow your finance career with a clear path to the most senior roles in the public sector.

The graduate programme involves targeted placements across different Finance Teams, gaining a broad base of financial experience, whilst studying for the CIPFA Level 7 Apprenticeship, which leads to the CIPFA professional qualification and CPFA designation. This is the key qualification for anyone pursuing a career in public finance. Further information can be found in our Graduate Brochure

At Essex County Council, our Graduate Finance Trainees can make a very real and valuable impact to local communities in Essex, playing a part in some of the most ambitious and innovative national programmes. As well as working for one of the biggest local authorities in the Country, you will help contribute to Everyone’s Essex – our plan for levelling up the county, which focuses on outcomes that really matter for our residents:

• The economy
• The environment
• Children and families
• Promoting health, care and wellbeing for all the parts of the population who need our support

Essential Requirements for the role:

• Educated to RQF Level 6 (or expecting to graduate by Summer 2024) with a 2:2 in any subject AND

• A minimum of two A-Levels Grade A-C (or equivalent) AND

• Three GCSEs Grade A-C (4 and up) including English & Maths (or international equivalent) AND

• The right to work and study in England.

• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for three years before the apprenticeship start date.

Please note that any offer made is conditional to you being able to provide all your qualification certificates. If you have international equivalent qualifications a NARIC Statement of Comparability must be provided; if you do not already hold one you can purchase online Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk)

For more information, please see downloads. To apply, please click here.