Finance Assistant

These permanent positions have a starting salary of £31,659 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be recruiting a new Finance Assistant to join our Children's Finance team based at Victoria Gate in Woking.

Our team offers a flexible, hybrid working style, with a combination of office and home working depending on business needs. We will ensure you receive a full induction and training, with regular guidance, support and performance conversations with your Senior Finance Team Leader. We want you to feel confident and capable in your role.

Our Offer to You

26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (pro rata for part-time hours)
Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
A generous local government salary related pension
Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residentsAbout the Role

The Children's Finance team provides coordinated and comprehensive financial support across the Directorate, in line with Council and Directorate financial procedures. We are a transactional finance team that works collaboratively to deliver a high-quality and efficient finance service. We support the Directorate's budget planning and monitoring activities, helping to enable the delivery of cost-effective services for the communities we support.

We are now offering a great opportunity for people looking to develop their career in a supportive finance environment. If you have excellent customer service skills, strong organisational ability and some experience in administration and finance, we would love to hear from you.

As a Finance Assistant you will join our dedicated Finance Team, supporting the efficient and effective delivery of financial services across Children's Services. Working closely with service managers, social care teams, schools, providers and other partners, you will undertake a wide range of financial and administrative processes. You will provide accurate financial information, guidance and support to colleagues and stakeholders, responding to enquiries promptly and in line with Council financial procedures and statutory requirements.

Your key responsibilities as a Finance Assistant will include:

Maintaining robust financial processes, adhering to audit standards
Completing a variety of clerical and transactional duties tasks that are essential to the smooth running of the finance function
Processing financial transactions and data within agreed timescales
Assisting with the accountancy cycle, using systems such as EYES, LIFT, Unit4, ContrOCC and Excel
Responding confidently and accurately to phone and email queries, helping to ensure excellent customer service is delivered to all stakeholdersDay-to-day activities will vary, so flexibility and responsiveness are key. You will work collaboratively to identify improvements, support consistency across the service and contribute to a high-quality finance support function that helps deliver better outcomes for children and families.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills:

Excellent organisational, analytical and administrative ability, with some experience in transactional finance or similar financial processes
Exceptional attention to detail, to ensure accuracy across all financial data, records, and correspondence
Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft applications, with the ability to learn new systems
Excellent written and verbal communication skills that demonstrate professionalism and diplomacy
Commitment to high‑quality customer service, supporting a variety of internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, families, and external partners
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a busy team
Awareness of the importance of confidentiality and data protection, particularly when handling sensitive information related to children and familiesA Basic DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check (formerly known as CRB) will be required for this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 27/09/2026 with interviews planned to follow shortly after.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs