Graduate Trainee Accountant/Auditor
The closing date for applications is Friday 22 November 2026. Please note that this vacancy may close early should we receive a high volume of applications, so early submission is encouraged.About Us Joining Bradford Council as a trainee offers a unique opportunity to build your career while making a real difference to one of the UK's most diverse and ambitious districts.
As one of the largest local authorities in the country, Bradford Council serves more than 563,000 residents, 209,000 households and 16,000 businesses across a district that spans the city, towns and countryside. Bradford is a place of significant growth and transformation, with a young and diverse population, strong community spirit, and rich cultural heritage.
In recent years, the district has seen major investment and regeneration, including the transformation of the city centre, the opening of major regeneration projects such as Darley Street Market and Bradford Live, and the lasting impact of being UK City of Culture in 2025.Working for Bradford Council, you would be part of an organisation that is at the heart of shaping the district’s future.
Council services support residents, communities and businesses every day, while leading ambitious programmes to improve education, housing, transport, health and prosperity. Bradford Council values its employees as its greatest asset and is committed to fostering a culture that is collaborative, innovative and customer-focused.
This makes Bradford Council an excellent place to develop professional skills, gain meaningful experience and contribute to creating a happier, healthier and more prosperous future for local people.We are committed to developing our staff and investing in the next generation of finance and audit professionals.
Our trainee programmes provide the opportunity to gain experience across different areas of Finance and Internal Audit, working alongside experienced colleagues to develop the skills and knowledge needed for a successful professional career.About the Trainee ProgrammeWe have 3 trainee opportunities available: two Trainee Accountants who will study with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and one Trainee Auditor who will study with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
The Trainee Programme typically takes around 3 to 4 years to complete and provides a combination of professional study, structured development and practical workplace experience. Throughout the programme you will receive full support including study leave, mentoring and on-the-job training.Trainees will rotate through a series of placements on a regular basis, usually every 9 months, to give a wide range of experience.
This will help you develop a broad understanding of local government finance and audit and support your studies.Successful candidates will be expected to be mainly office-based in the centre of Bradford, with opportunities for more flexible working in line with Council policy as you move through the programme.
About YouWe are looking for people who are enthusiastic about starting a career in either public sector accountancy or internal audit and who have the potential and commitment to become qualified professionals.You will be:Keen to learn, with a genuine interest in developing a professional career in the public sectorSelf-motivated and willing to take responsibility for your own developmentComfortable working with numbers and information, with good numerical and analytical skillsAble to demonstrate good attention to detail and commitment to accuracyA collaborative team member who works well with others and contributing to a supportive team environment A confident problem solver, able to investigate issues and think about potential solutionsSomeone who demonstrates integrity and professionalismAble to communicate clearly and effectively with people across the organisationYou don’t need any previous experience to apply.
We are looking for people with the potential, motivation and commitment to become qualified professionals. Assessment Days: shortlisted applicants will be invited to an assessment day on Friday 4th December 2026.Start Date: We want successful applicants to start together with an induction week in the office in Bradford (January 2027).We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.If you are interested in joining our team and would like some further information, please contact Paola Cano on 07974 894755 or email: paola.cano@bradford.gov.ukEmployee OfferWhy work for Bradford Council?
Find out why by taking a look at Our Employee Offer.pdf Equal Opportunities We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive.
If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process to support your application, please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.The RESPECT Allyship Programme is available to all staff, which offers the opportunity to learn more about the diverse communities & groups and provides added benefits and resources to its members.
