Are you ready to start your career in Finance? Be supported and make a difference as a Cadet Accountant with Lake Mac Council! 

• Earn while you learn – Get paid while you study a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business Analytics or similar
• Gain valuable skills while being mentored by highly skilled professionals
• Make a difference and positively contribute to our community

Lake Macquarie City Council is one of the largest employers of training positions in the Hunter region. The Cadet Accountant is part of Council’s Early Careers Program – designed to provide you with on-the-job experience, mentoring and support from highly skilled professionals, all while you complete a formal qualification. Additional benefits include paid course fees and paid study time while gaining valuable skills and experience.  Earn while you learn and kick-start your career with Lake Mac Council! ABOUT THE JOB Join Lake Macquarie City Council as our Cadet Accountant and kickstart your career while completing your Bachelor’s Degree. This four-year cadetship offers a unique opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience across a variety of teams within Council. As a Cadet Accountant, you’ll build technical expertise and develop strong financial management skills through a combination of on-the-job training and academic learning at your university. You’ll be supported throughout your journey, ensuring a well-rounded foundation for a successful career in accounting. In this role, you will be supported to:

• Support department annual and long-term budget development, monthly finance report review, and contribute to quarterly and annual budget reviews
• Prepare grant acquittals for minor projects
• Investigate transactions and prepare journal entries
• Collect, analyse, and report data to support business decisions
• Participate in team workshops focused on business improvement
• Ensure financial transactions comply with relevant accounting standards, policies, and procedures
• Develop reports to assist with operational analysis

The position is located at Council’s temporary Administration Centre in Wallsend. You will work Monday to Friday, on a flexible working schedule. Read the position statement to learn more. Candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree qualification or higher may not be eligible to apply.WHAT WE OFFER

• Receive a wage whilst studying towards a qualification starting from $1,057.60 per week plus 12 per cent superannuation
• Payment of university fees (including course and amenities fees) for the remainder of your related undergraduate studies
• Paid time to study and attend compulsory classes
• Yearly pay reviews and increases based on performance
• 35 hour working week with nine-day fortnight
• Four weeks paid annual leave
• Be mentored and work closely with a team of qualified professionals in a supportive, empowering, innovative and collaborative work environment
• At Lake Macquarie City Council, we value our staff and the hard work they do. In return we offer a range of benefits. Click here to view more benefits on offer.

ABOUT YOU You:

• Are currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business Analytics, or a similar discipline
• Have strong organisational skills and can manage workloads, meet competing deadlines, and maintain high attention to detail
• Demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent customer service, with a flexible and proactive approach
• Are highly motivated and thrive in a collaborative team environment
• Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Are confident working with technology and eager to learn new software and artificial intelligence tools
• Have sound analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Are committed to completing all training and course requirements

HOW TO APPLY If this job sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! Get your application in by midnight, Sunday 23 November 2025.

• Check out the FAQs and Guide to Applying before starting your application.
• Click the ‘Apply Now’ button below to start your application. You will need to upload a resume and provide responses to application questions based on the position statement.
• For enquiries about the role, contact Sarah-Jayne Almer, Coordinator Financial Planning and Analysis, 02 4069 0056 or via email [email protected].
• You will hear back from us by Monday 24 November and interviews will be held on Monday 1 December.
• As part of the recruitment process, prior to an offer of employment being made, recommended candidates may be subject to a medical assessment which may include alcohol and other drugs testing.
• If you need assistance with your application, any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact Isabelle Field, Early Careers Advisor for a confidential discussion on 02 4921 0022 or via email [email protected] or click here for more information.

Our people shape the future of our city. We’re proud of our city and the work we do to make our city even better for the community, and we know you will be too. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a safe and inclusive workforce that empowers our staff to be creative, innovative, bold and most importantly – to be yourself! We welcome and encourage applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, refugees, and people with disability. We understand the skills and attributes veterans can bring to our Council.