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Welcome message from Director of Finance

Dear Applicant,

Graduate Finance Trainees

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity to begin your career in local government finance with Gloucestershire County Council.

There’s so much to discover and enjoy here in Gloucestershire, from the great outdoors to arts and culture, sports and socialising, to fine foods and great shopping and we have large areas designated as areas of outstanding natural beauty. At the same time, we have some big social, financial and economic challenges to tackle, providing leadership locally and acting as a champion for the county nationally.

For all these reasons we think it is a good place to live and work, and to carve out your career in finance.

These are times of unprecedented change for Gloucestershire County Council and our partners. We are facing considerable demand for services linked to the cost of living challenges that communities are experiencing at the same time as reducing resources. 

The Council Strategy – ‘Building Back Better in Gloucestershire’ - is the key high-level document that, alongside with the Medium Term Financial Strategy, sets the Council’s strategic policy direction. It sets out the Council’s vision, its ambitions for the county and its priorities for addressing the challenges and opportunities it faces. 

The Council’s vision is to make the most of all that Gloucestershire has to offer, help improve the quality of life for every community, support businesses to be successful and make sure Gloucestershire is a place where people want to live, work and visit.

Our ambition is for Gloucestershire to be:

  • A Magnet county - A growing working age population, with more 18–40-year-olds with high level qualifications choosing to live and work in the county.
  • An Innovative county - More businesses starting up, growing and investing in research and innovation.
  • A Skilled county - More people with high-level skills and jobs in skilled occupations.
  • A Prosperous county - Rising productivity and household incomes offering higher living standards.
  • An Inclusive county - The economic and social benefits of growth to be felt by all.
  • A Healthy county - People to have a good work/life balance and improved health and wellbeing.
  • A Connected county - Improved transport and internet connections so that people and businesses can connect with each other more easily.
  • A Sustainable county - More efficient use of resources and more use of sustainable energy.
  • A Resilient county - Active, resilient local communities that keep people safe, provide them with support and help them to make a positive contribution.

I believe that effective financial management plays a vital role in delivering what our citizens need, in ensuring resources are used effectively and in managing the ever increasing demands on our services. I hope this opportunity to have a positive impact on our residents and businesses inspires you to apply and to join us in meeting these challenges.  I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to Gloucestershire.

Yours faithfully

Paul Blacker

Director of Finance