Trainee Accountant (Level 1)

Contract Type:   Fixed-Term

Working Hours:  Full-Time

Worker Type:   Hybrid

Salary:   Starting salary: £26,824 rising to £27,694 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) (Pay award pending) as you progress through exams

Location:   Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG

Finance & Resources Directorate

Trainee Accountant (CIPFA) – 3.5 Year Graduate Programme

Start a career that makes a real difference

Are you looking for more than “just a job”?

Do you want a career where your work directly impacts people’s lives, communities, and the future of a major UK city?

If so, our CIPFA Trainee Accountant Programme could be exactly what you’re looking for.

At Nottingham City Council, finance isn’t just about numbers – it’s about making decisions that shape services, support communities, and deliver real change for 330,000 residents.

About the Programme

Our 3.5-year fully funded CIPFA programme gives you everything you need to become a qualified public finance professional – combining study with meaningful, hands-on experience from day one.

This isn’t a passive graduate scheme. You’ll be actively involved in real financial work, including:

• Supporting multi-million-pound budgets across key services


• Contributing to financial planning, forecasting and decision-making


• Analysing data to help shape services and identify savings


• Working with senior stakeholders to provide financial insight and advice


• Assisting with year-end accounts, audit processes and statutory returns

What you’ll experience

You’ll rotate across different finance teams, giving you exposure to areas such as:

• Financial planning and budget setting


• Capital and technical accounting


• Business partnering with services


• Financial systems and data analysis

What you’ll get in return

• Fully funded CIPFA qualification (the gold standard in public finance)


• A structured development programme with clear progression


• A dedicated mentor and strong study support


• Real responsibility from day one


• A clear pathway into senior finance roles

What we’re looking for

We’re not just looking for finance graduates – we’re looking for potential.

You’ll be:

• Curious and eager to learn


• Strong with numbers and problem-solving


• Interested in how money is used to deliver public services


• Organised, motivated and adaptable


• A strong communicator who can work with a range of people

No prior finance experience is required – just the drive to build a career.

A day in the role could include…

• Meeting with service managers to review budgets and spending


• Supporting financial forecasts and identifying trends or pressures


• Helping prepare reports that inform key decisions


• Working with systems like Oracle Fusion to analyse financial data


• Contributing to projects that improve efficiency and deliver savings


• Supporting compliance, audit activity and financial controls across the organisation

Why Nottingham City Council?

We’re proud to offer a supportive, forward-thinking environment where you can grow your career while making a difference.

Benefits include:

Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working (typically 2 days in the office)

⏰ Flexible working arrangements

Ongoing learning and development opportunities

Inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture

Our commitment to inclusion

At Nottingham City Council, we are proud to be an inclusive employer where everyone is welcomed, valued and respected. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and creating a culture where people can thrive.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, and ensure fairness, dignity and respect for all.

♿ Disability Confident Employer

We are a Disability Confident Employer and actively encourage applications from disabled people. If you wish to apply under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please let us know as part of your application. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

️ Armed Forces Covenant

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families.

Championing diversity

We particularly welcome applications from:

• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities


• LGBTQ+ communities


• Disabled people

These groups are currently underrepresented in our workforce, and we want to better reflect our city through our recruitment.

Ready to start your journey?

This is your opportunity to build a professional finance career with purpose.

Apply now and help shape the future of Nottingham.

For informal enquiries, please contact:

Larry Seymour, Finance Transformation Lead

[email protected]

Shape the future of public finance. Start here.

You can find the job description for this post here.

At Nottingham City Council we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it.  We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the additional information for applicants page.

Closing Date: 11.59pm on Sunday 2nd August 2026

Please note there may be occasions where we close the advert before the closing date and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Interviews will be held: Week Commencing 10th August 2026

If you have any technical issues when completing your application, please contact our Employee Service Centre: https://emss.org.uk/support

By applying to this job, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.