Job Description

Job Introduction

BCP has an extensive investment strategy and aspiration to make our area a place where residents, visitors and businesses thrive. We are looking for someone with the financial acumen and professional skills to help realise these opportunities against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging economic environment.

Role Purpose for Accountant Level 1

Join the Technical Accounting team as our Accountant Level 1 and be a critical part of our Accountancy team.


We have a strong, collaborative and supportive culture that enables everyone to grow and develop. Ensuring employees have a positive work life balance is really important to us. We have an agile working policy, which enables our people to work flexibly either at home or in the civic offices in Bournemouth town centre.


The main purpose of the job is to perform a range of accounting work including compilation, consolidation and analysis of financial data, to support the appropriate Finance Manager in delivering a comprehensive financial accounting, management accounting and advisory service to a service area or corporate centre of BCP relevant to capital projects and companies accounts.

Main Responsibilities

The role will ensure the timely completion of key corporate control accounts including payroll, Council tax and bank reconciliations. The role will also support the tax accountant to ensure the monthly VAT returns are accurately submitted, take initial responsibility for tax enquiries as well as providing support to the treasury team.


The role reports to a Finance Manager, and supports senior accountants in their liaison with officers and budget holders.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate would be qualified at AAT level, have strong analytical skills and experience completing complex financial reconciliations. A background in local government would be an advantage plus experience working in a large and complex organisation.

About BCP Council

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.

Our Benefits

We offer an excellent benefits package to colleagues. Find out more on our website.


As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation and colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. This is expected to be in place in 2025.

If you are positive and aspiring and share our vision, then we want to hear from you. For an informal discussion about this role, please call Russell Oakley, Finance Manager on 01202 128823.