FC - Accountant (Benefit and Revenue)

Accountant (Benefit and Revenue)

Service: Benefits and Revenue
Grade scale: Grade 3 level 2 - 8
Reports to: Finance Adviser (Benefit and Revenue)

Purpose of the job

  • To contribute towards the financial management of Benefit and Revenue Services.
  • To set budgets for the coming year and monitor the performance against these budgets.
  • To assist in the year-end accounts preparation including the Abstract of Accounts.
  • To assist with the preparation of financial returns, preparation of committee reports and general financial stewardship of the council’s financial resource.

Key tasks and responsibilities

  • Contribute to the preparation, monitoring and reporting of annual Revenue and Capital Budgets for the Authority and associated Committee reports.
  • Contribute to the preparation of Annual Report and accounts in accordance with statutory obligations.
  • Contribute to the formulation and monitoring of key performance indicators and the achievement of performance targets for Benefit and Revenue Services.
  • Ensure the accurate recording and control of all financial transactions in accordance with standing orders and Financial Regulations, to contribute to continuing development of effective management information.
  • Prepare and submit grant claims and statistical returns.
  • Establish and maintain effective liaison with other sections within Finance Services and in other Resources.

Person specification

Criteria

Essential

Desirable

Education, qualification and training

Demonstrate significant experience in a financial management role

Hold CCAB qualification

Skills, knowledge and experience

Demonstrate thorough knowledge of financial management and financial accounting principles and procedures

Demonstrate analytical skills

Demonstrate experience of using computerised financial systems

Demonstrate excellent communication and presentational skills, both written and verbal

Demonstrate appropriate skills to access and deploy all corporate finance processes

Experience of budget monitoring and financial accounts processes in a Revenues and Benefit setting

Demonstrate experience contributing as part of a team and / or complex projects

Experience in dealing with managers and key stakeholders

Personal qualities

Self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed

Personal resilience and flexible attitude, able to manage own wellbeing

Inclusive and supportive team player

 

Other

To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect

 

Safer recruitment checks

As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks

  • Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK.
  • Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from present or most recent employer; Internal candidates require 1 reference from current line manager.
  • Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable.

Behaviour framework

The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:

Efficient

  • Use initiative and drive to improve and develop systems and processes to increase efficiency achieving better outcomes in service delivery.
  • Suggests ways to improve how others organise their own work.
  • As a manager or professional/expert you actively seek solutions to deliver improvements and involves others in the development of solutions and improvements.
  • Agrees SMART objectives for both team and individual employees reviewing progress to achieve successful outcomes.
  • Manage budgets with no overspends and applying the council’s financial policies and procedures.
  • Ensures sustainability and environmental awareness practices are being implemented and that they inform the development of new projects/initiatives.

Flexible

  • Anticipates and responds flexibly to changing priorities and modifies practice to meet changing environment.
  • Identifies and implements new ways of working.
  • Supports individuals and team at times of both organisational and personal change making appropriate adjustments to accommodate individual needs where required.
  • Expresses a positive approach to change and promotes the benefits of change to team and colleagues.
  • Actively listens to customer feedback and takes action to improve customer experience.

Performing

  • Use professional expertise and knowledge to ensure the council is leading best practice to improve outcomes.
  • Ensure that the council is meeting its legislative and statutory requirements by keeping abreast of new initiatives and legislation.
  • Evaluates and reviews the impact of service improvements from the customers perspective.
  • Identifies trends and creates solutions.
  • Ensuring that health and safety practices, policies and procedures are applied keeping employees and customers safe and minimising workplace accidents and injuries.
  • Implements the council’s maximising attendance policy and procedure ensuring action is taken and recorded on people connect.
  • Considers risk in the context of service development and delivery.

Working with others

  • Promotes a positive team environment with good morale.
  • Works with other teams and colleagues internally and externally, developing relationships and sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise to achieve outcomes.
  • Provide objective and constructive advice and support if tensions arise.
  • Shares knowledge with internal and external colleagues to achieve common objectives.
  • Giving praise and recognition for good work.
  • Use professional identity and expert knowledge to work across disciplines breaking down professional barriers to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
  • Encourages colleagues to consider different perspectives in their work.
  • Adapts communication to encourage desired behaviour.

Leading

  • Understands what needs to be achieved and ensures that this is communicated to team members.
  • Expresses positive expectations of others to support their development.
  • Recognise individual and team achievements thanking and praising others.
  • Maintain a positive approach and motivate team when things go wrong, or demands are high.
  • You identify talent and provide opportunities for those individuals who wish to progress or learn new skills.
  • Takes responsibility for personal and team development needs taking account of learning styles and available learning/training methods of delivery.
  • Uses professional judgement/expert knowledge to make informed decisions.