Finance Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities

To be responsible for assisting the Team Manager in the efficient and effective monitoring and reconciling of accounts. To claim money back and follow credit control procedures in accordance with statutory requirements and the Council’s policies and procedures. To ensure all new policy initiatives and legislative changes are planned, implemented, and reviewed consistently and accurately. To manage the Community Care account and reconcile all payments each period alongside weekly journals. To complete the interest charging for clients and create Sundry invoices. Ad hoc invoices to be coded on Alusta and checked for accuracy. Stationery and banking books ordering for the team when required alongside assisting the Direct Payments and Provider Payments Team

Duties and Responsibilities

To be responsible for assisting with the efficient and timely completion of the annual closing of accounts process, including the preparation and submission of applications and the on-going maintenance, reconciliation, and review of the accounts for specific areas of responsibility.

To be responsible for assisting with the preparation, analysis, and provision of accurate financial and management information to be included in statutory returns and reports, in line with statutory requirements and the Council’s policies and procedures.

To be responsible for assisting with the review and update of all documentation, policies and procedures and compliance with statutory requirements, in line with professional standards and the Council’s policies and procedures.

To be responsible for supporting effective liaison with the corporate and departmental finance teams, in relation to timely and accurate account monitoring, control and reconciliation of the Community Care Account

To be responsible for supporting effective liaison with Government departments and statutory agencies, such as the Public Guardianship Office or Department for Work and Pensions, to maximise income due to the council and clients.

To be responsible for acting on behalf of the Council, ensuring the provision of expert advice and guidance to all levels of staff, which is appropriate, accurate and timely, verbal and written, in relation to all aspects of the Financial Administration function, in accordance with the council’s policies and procedures and to promote awareness of good financial practice and control.

To be responsible for supporting effective liaison with external and internal audit, including the efficient filing and retention of documentation, maintaining appropriate audit trails for subsequent retrieval as and when required.

To be responsible for assisting with the efficient preparation and production of timely and accurate routine and ad-hoc management information, in relation to all aspects of the finance function, as required by the Team Manager.

To be responsible for supporting effective liaison with other teams and to promote joint working arrangements and the sharing of information.

To be responsible for assisting with the preparation and completion of complaint responses relating to the Payments function, as required by the Team Manager in accordance with the Council and Departmental complaints procedures.

To contribute to the on-going review of corporate and departmental systems and procedures and implement decisions, as required by the Team Manager.

To be responsible for keeping up to date with accounting and other relevant legislation, regulations, standards, service developments and initiatives and the Council’s policies and procedures.

To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.

To be responsible for all aspects of payments to providers for care placements. This will include set up, payment in accordance with the agreed timetable and dealing with all queries.

To be responsible for raising sundry debtors’ invoices, calculating, and producing interest invoices for client debtors’ accounts and maintaining an effective scanning/filing system to cover all work completed within this role.

ADDITIONAL:   

• To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
• To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager.
• To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder.
• To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the council’s commitment to customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards.
• To be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality, and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way duties are carried out.
• To ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation.
• To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation.
• At all times to carry out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for all Policy. (Equal Opportunities Policy).