At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Finance team and gain hands-on experience in financial accounting and business partnering.
- Company: The Office for Students, an independent regulator of higher education in England.
- Benefits: Generous salary, funded study support, flexible working, and a Civil Service pension.
- Other info: Supportive team environment with early responsibility and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives while building your finance career.
- Qualifications: Recent accountancy graduate or part-qualified with strong analytical and Excel skills.
The predicted salary is between 37614 - 38577 £ per year.
Salary: £37,614 – £38,577 plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension
Fixed term: 3 years
Location: Bristol
Build a finance career that makes a difference. Whatever your route into finance, if you're looking for a career where you can develop professionally, maintain a healthy work-life balance and do work that matters, we'd like to hear from you.
About us
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England. We regulate higher education on behalf of all students, ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has a fulfilling experience that enriches their lives and careers. We have high ambitions and offer great opportunities to get involved in bringing that vision to life.
About the role
We're looking for a trainee accountant to join our Finance and Procurement team. This is an opportunity to build a professional finance career while contributing to work that has a real impact on people's lives.
What you'll get:
- Funded study towards a CCAB-recognised accounting qualification
- Dedicated study support and practical experience across multiple areas of finance
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance
- Early responsibility and exposure to senior stakeholders
- A supportive team environment focused on learning and development
- The opportunity to do work that helps improve outcomes for students across England
- Generous annual leave and access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme
Learn, develop and grow
As a trainee accountant, you'll gain experience across the full finance function through duties in Financial Accounting and Business Partnering. You'll work on a wide range of activities, from financial transactions and month-end processes to budgeting, forecasting and supporting decision-making across the organisation.
Alongside your day-to-day role, we'll support you to study towards a CCAB-recognised professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA - others considered). You'll receive practical experience, professional development and dedicated support to help you succeed.
Our Finance and Procurement team is small, supportive and highly regarded. You'll work closely with experienced colleagues, take on meaningful responsibilities from an early stage and gain exposure to senior stakeholders across the organisation.
About you
You'll be a recent accountancy graduate or have previous finance experience, including being part-qualified with a CCAB body or AAT qualified.
- Good analytical and data processing skills
- Strong Excel skills
- Excellent organisation and attention to detail
- The confidence to communicate with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels
- A proactive approach and a willingness to learn
For the purposes of recruitment to the role, we are measuring the following core competencies:
- Collaborating and partnering: Building strategic, inclusive relationships, built on mutual respect, confidence and trust, that enable us to deliver our priorities.
- Communicating and influencing: Communication should carry clarity, conviction and enthusiasm, respecting the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Managing a quality service: Contributing to setting the standards that lead to a high-quality service, considering different stakeholder needs and requirements.
- Developing self and others: Focus on continuous professional development and learning for ourselves, our colleagues, and the wider organisation.
Working for us
The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do. We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Flexibility is important to the OfS, as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. In a typical week, we expect colleagues to spend several days working from the office, balancing business needs, team collaboration and individual responsibilities. To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working, apply to this role.
Closing date for applications: 25 August 2026 at noon
Interviews: From w/c 7th September
For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.
Trainee Accountant employer: The Office for Students
The Office for Students in Bristol is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and innovation. Employees benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities, a supportive team environment, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the education sector. With a focus on employee well-being and a commitment to fostering growth, this role provides a rewarding career path in a vibrant city.
