Finance Officer

Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.

The roles

We welcome applications from individuals with a passion for public service finance, whether you're looking to build your expertise or bring experience from another sector. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the financial sustainability and performance of vital Council services.

You will be joining a high performing finance team who are committed to delivering value for money for the residents of Cheshire West and Chester Council. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported to thrive, regardless of background or career stage.

We are currently recruiting to Finance Officer roles in the following areas:

• Technical and Accounting VAT Team
• Finance Business Partnering – Adult Social Care, Strategic Commissioning & Public Health

Finance Officers play a key role in providing financial advice, preparing forecasts, and supporting financial reporting, including statutory returns. The role requires strong organisational skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and confidence in building effective working relationships across finance and service teams.

Some posts may include line management responsibilities, including day-to-day supervision and development of staff.

The candidate

We welcome candidates from a range of backgrounds. You will ideally be educated to degree level (or equivalent) and a CCAB Qualified Accountant (desirable) or actively completing professional studies with experience at a local authority, NHS organisation or similar public sector organisation, although applications from candidates in other sectors who can demonstrate a desire to move into local government are welcomed. Experience in Technical Accounting & VAT  or Adult Social Care is highly beneficial.

Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to present financial data clearly are essential. Excellent communication skills, a proactive approach to change, and a collaborative mindset will help you succeed in this role. We value motivation, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality service to our communities.

In return you will be playing your part to make a difference to our colleague experience at a high performing Council. You will also receive 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays after 5 years’ service, the ability to work flexibly, and have access to a range of benefits in terms of reward, wellbeing, and development.

Location: Agile Worker – working from home with occasional travel to workspaces across the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester.

To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact Louisa Taylor, Senior Finance Manager Adult Social Care & Public Health on louisa.taylor@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or Catrin Evans, Finance Manager (Technical Accounting and VAT) on catrin.evans@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 25th August 2025.

To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk

No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!

Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment.  Please see the Equality Policy for more information.

Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £12.60 per hour for all contracted hours.

For any technical enquiries please email Sourcingteam@ecwip.co.uk and quote job reference number in all correspondence.