CGS0001 - Trainee Accounting Technician

Opportunity with the CFRS Finance Department

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is an inclusive employer that is professional, supportive, and community focussed, striving to make Cumbria a Safer Place for all.

We have an exciting opportunity for the right candidate looking to join a busy, expert team delivering a wide range of financial functions to the Fire Service. 

About this opportunity

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) is now the responsibility of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

We are looking for an ambitious and driven individual who has an interest in financial matters and is looking for a career opportunity as part of the finance team at Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.  

This is an exciting opportunity to assist others in the Finance team to support CFRS in effectively developing and managing its short and medium term budgets and being a part of this exciting journey as a standalone improving fire service.

Working through this trainee scheme, you will support the Financial Accountant, Assistant Accountant and Finance Officer in ensuring day-to-day financial effectiveness. You will be responsible for supporting in a variety of tasks starting with more transactional and support type activities and building on this with on-the-job development whilst undertaking supported study for the AAT Accounting Technician qualification. 

To succeed in this role the successful candidate should have an interest in financial matters and be eager to learn and develop their knowledge and skills by working towards the AAT qualification together with on the job learning and development. This opportunity is ideal for someone who may be at the start of their career, or someone who may have completed some of the AAT qualifications and would like to continue in their finance career. 

You should be highly motivated and have a strong commitment to ensure CFRS continues its journey towards becoming Financially Sustainable.

You must have a passion for identifying new opportunities and encouraging innovative improvements to the way the service is delivered and be effective at building relationships at all levels.

Applicants at the start of their employment career will begin on the Entry Level Role and work towards the further roles. If you have some experience in this sector and have undertaken work towards AAT qualifications, you can be considered to join at an Intermediate or Final Level Role.

Attachment: CGS0001 - Entry Level Role - Finance Administrator (WORD)

Attachment: CGS0001 - Final Level Role - Accounting Technician (WORD)

Please note, there will be additional Intermediate Level roles that can be shared with successful candidates at interview. 

TO APPLY:

1. Please complete the online Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service Application Form for this role. Link to Application Form: https://forms.office.com/e/FimJ0kkqS1  (Microsoft Forms)
2. Applicants can apply for this role at either the Entry Level role or higher, please answer this section on the application form.
3. It is essential you detail how you meet the criteria in the post specifications (job descriptions) so the shortlisting panel can accurately assess you. 
    

Please note: We do not accept CVs. 

If you have any queries at all, please contact the Resourcing & Talent team via email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk  
 

Details of the Post 

Salaries: 

• Entry Level - Finance Administrator - £25,584 - £25,992
• Final Level - Accounting Technician - £33,366 - £34,314

Hours:  For the career grade opportunity, this role is 37 hours and undertaking the qualification levels will be included in your working time.  We offer flexible work options, that can be discussed at interview. 

Working expectations: As this is a trainee role, the successful candidate will predominately be office based to ensure thorough training and support can be implemented.

Contract: Permanent

Location: The Finance Department are based at Carlisle East Fire Station and Penrith Headquarters. 

Closing date: Weds 3rd August 2025 at 11:59pm. 

Interviews: Interviews will be held at in person the week commencing Monday 8th September August 2025. They will be held at Carlisle East Fire Station. 

**All posts on the Career Grade Scheme require a Standard DBS check**

• CFRS has a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those whose most recent employer is the Armed Forces, for Care Leavers, and for Disabled Candidates. The scheme is linked below and there is a specific section of our application form where you can mark if you consider yourself eligible. We encourage candidates to let us know so we can provide the best support and access throughout the process.
• Adjustments – we strongly encourage any candidate who may require adjustments to make us aware as soon as possible, either using the section on the application form or by contacting the Resourcing Team directly (email below). We will have a confidential discussion with you and we take the approach of ‘you tell us what you require, and we will do our best to facilitate’. Where we are unable to make the adjustment, we will share this asap. 

Resourcing Team email: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk 

Career Grade Scheme

We are pleased to be offering this trainee opportunity as a Career Grade Scheme. The attached Career Grade Overview document below will give candidates an clear picture of how the scheme will work:

Attachment: CGS0001 - Overview of Career Grade Scheme (WORD)

At Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service we aim to have a high calibre workforce with the skills, competencies, knowledge and experience to deliver a diverse range of excellent services and to meet its many objectives. To achieve our goals, we recognise that bringing in talent can be supported in many ways, and one of these ways is supporting candidates through a Career Grade Scheme.

A Career Grade Scheme has an Entry Level Role, possible Intermediate Roles, and a Final Level Role, and the service will support progression through these roles to upskill and retain exceptional staff. 

For more information on our Career Grade Scheme process, we have our published policy here: Career Grade Scheme (WORD). 

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Undertake all training and development opportunities in order to gain the qualifications, skills, and competencies required to progress to the next level.
• Compile a Personal Development Portfolio of evidence achieved (this will be supported by the wider team).
• Complete, with line manager, the Career Grade Assessment Record
• Attend regular reviews and appraisals
• Agree to the Career Grade Training Agreement 

Full information and guidance will be provided on successful appointment. If you have any queries, especially about adjustments we can provide to support you at work, please contact the Resourcing team here: Recruitment@cumbriafire.gov.uk