Finance Adviser (Strategy)
Service: Finance (Strategy)
Grade scale: Grade 4 Level 2-5
Reports to: Finance Manager
Purpose of the job
To contribute to and support the achievement of the Finance section objectives. Ensure that standards and timescales are met and provide professional advice and guidance to service users and resources.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Actively contribute to the development of the council’s annual strategic budget setting processes.
Develop and prepare resource business plans and budgets aligned to the approved annual strategic budget.
Ensure the accurate recording and control of all financial transactions in accordance with Financial Regulations.
Contribute to continuing development of effective financial management information.
Take a lead role in successful delivering the council’s statutory financial accounts and other key statutory returns.
Work collaboratively with Executive Directors, Heads of Service and managers and other key stakeholders, providing appropriate financial advice and guidance to support service delivery and facilitate transformational change agenda.
Establish and maintain effective liaison with other sections within finance and with other resource areas.
Manage a team of staff providing finance support services.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Education, qualification and training |
Demonstrate significant experience in a financial management role |
Hold CCAB qualifications |
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Skills, knowledge, experience |
Demonstrate thorough knowledge of financial management and financial accounting principles and procedures Demonstrate analytical skills Experience of using computerised financial systems and accounting software Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to produce high-quality documents, manage data effectively, and communicate professionally Excellent communication and presentational skills Appropriate skills to access and deploy all corporate finance processes and policies. Demonstrable attention to detail |
Experience of budget monitoring and financial accounts processes for public sector organisation Experience of leading a team and /or complex projects Experience in dealing with external partners and central government departments |
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Personal qualities |
Highly motivated with a positive and proactive approach to work Personal resilience and flexible attitude, able to manage own wellbeing Ability to prioritise workload, deliver results against agreed timescales and achieve deadlines Professional and courteous manner when dealing with colleagues and customers To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact Inclusive and supportive team player |
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Other |
To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect |
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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 it’s 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.