Finance Assistant in Taunton

If you’re looking to build a career in finance where your work genuinely matters, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive, forward-thinking team at the heart of public service. You’ll be part of a busy Finance Business Partnering team that plays a vital role in supporting education services, helping to make a real difference to communities, schools and young people. Working alongside experienced professionals, you’ll gain valuable skills and exposure to a broad range of financial activities, with opportunities to develop and progress your career. This is an ideal role for someone who is detail-focused, motivated and keen to grow in a purpose-driven environment.

Role Summary

As our Finance Assistant, you’ll support the smooth running of financial operations across the service, helping to ensure transactions, records and processes are accurate and compliant. You’ll also provide key support to colleagues and budget holders by sharing financial information and helping them make effective use of systems and data, contributing to well-informed decision-making.

What you’ll do – Key Responsibilities

• Manage the team’s dedicated email inbox.
• Upload documents to the team’s website.
• Assist with the administration of school petty cash accounts and purchasing cards.
• Collate various financial returns from schools, input data from these into spreadsheets, and monitor the collection of these returns to ensure completion.
• Complete transactions on the Council central finance system and download data from the system as required.

What we’re looking for – Knowledge, Experience, & Skills

• Understanding of basic financial processes such as purchase orders, invoice handling and financial record keeping.
• Knowledge of financial management systems and their role in budget monitoring.
• Experience responding to financial queries from internal colleagues or external partners.
• Experience maintaining accurate financial records and working with financial systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when maintaining financial records and working with financial systems.
• Effective communication skills, able to engage professionally with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
• Good numeracy and IT skills, including confidence using financial or data systems.
• Good general standard of education, including English and Maths.
• Understanding of Education funding processes such as High Needs provision.
• Awareness of procurement principles and supplier management.
• Experience supporting service improvement initiatives or ad-hoc project work.
• Aware of local authority financial regulations, controls and procedures.
• Experience working within a local authority or public sector organisation.
• Ability to interpret and analyse financial data to support budget monitoring and decision-making.
• Customer-focused approach with ability to build positive working relationships.
• Adaptability and willingness to support colleagues and take on varied tasks.
• AAT Level 2/3 qualification or willingness to work towards it.

Additional Information

• Permanent contract, 3 days per week (22.2 hours).
• 25 days’ leave (additional to Bank Holidays), increasing to 28 days after 5 years’ service.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.