Assistant Business Partnering Accountant

At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), we deliver essential services that make a real difference to the lives of our residents. Our Financial Services team plays a pivotal role in enabling the council to operate effectively, responsibly and sustainably. We provide strategic financial oversight, ensure robust governance and support the delivery of high-quality services across the organisation.

As part of our wider transformation programme, Financial Services is evolving to meet the demands of a modern public sector. We’re streamlining processes, enhancing transparency and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. Whether it’s budget planning, financial reporting or supporting service delivery teams, our work underpins the Council’s ability to make informed decisions and deliver value for money.

Joining our team means becoming part of a forward‑thinking, collaborative environment where your expertise will help shape the future of financial management in local government.

As a service we’re committed to recruiting on potential. The details below set out the specifics of the role we’re recruiting for, and we want to encourage anyone with relevant experience to apply. Join OCC and be part of a forward‑thinking team transforming financial management through innovation and technology.

The role of an Assistant Business Partnering Accountant involves supporting the delivery of services within budget for the current year, with a focus on future implications and improving financial management. This includes working with cost‑centre managers, service managers and heads of service, providing financial planning support, producing analysis for decision‑making, and tactically supporting revenue monitoring, forecasting and reporting. The role also involves offering financial management advice, supporting the creation of business cases, ensuring compliance with financial processes and managing cost‑centre hierarchies.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Budget Management: Support the delivery of services within the budget for the current year, considering future implications and linking current events to future consequences.
• Financial Planning: Provide insight and analysis to support decision‑making, identify financial implications, risks and opportunities.
• Revenue Monitoring: Understand and communicate financial risks and opportunities, produce accurate forecasts, and compare budgeted and forecast results to actual results.
• Financial Management: Offer advice and assurance on financial management, compliance with processes and improvements, and support good financial management practices.
• Capital Management: Support the creation of business cases, understand financial risks and opportunities, and ensure reports provide key information for managing service finances.
• Decision Support: Support financial decision‑making processes, ensure information is accurate and reliable, and encourage good value for money decisions.

• AAT qualified or actively studying for the qualification with significant relevant experience.
• General understanding of financial management, business planning, governance, risk management, processes and procedures.
• Good communicator able to communicate complex financial information to non‑specialists to inform, instruct, persuade or encourage feedback.
• Ability and experience to work on own initiative with guidance and collaborate with budget managers and colleagues.
• Ability to work with financial data, draw conclusions and identify actionable insight, and present this in an understandable format.
• Ability to work to appropriate levels of accuracy and to deadlines, with good attention to detail.

Before applying, we recommend reviewing the attached job description. It has further information and clear guidance on what we’re looking for.

At OCC, you’ll be part of a team that’s not only passionate about what we do, but also about how we do it. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect and continuous improvement, and we’re proud to offer flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities and a strong…