Finance Assistant (Strategy)
Service: Finance (Strategy)
Grade scale: Grade 2 level 1-4
Reports to: Finance Adviser
Purpose of the job
To undertake a range of finance related activities and tasks or tasks in accordance with predetermined procedures or instructions, which contribute to an effective financial service provision to best support and deliver council services and help to deliver best value and ensure most effective use of resources.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Undertake a range of specialist financial activities in accordance with predetermined procedures, instructions and standards to support the effective provision of the service.
Process finance specific correspondence / returns to support service delivery.
Liaise with internal and external customers to contribute to the effective provision of the finance service.
Carry out effective budget monitoring and analysis to support sound financial management.
Respond to queries and provide advice and guidance to managers on financial matters as required.
Develop, implement and maintain effective management information, performance monitoring and review mechanisms to ensure that the council’s resources are most effectively developed.
Contribute to the operational delivery and target setting alongside the continuous improvement of Service and Resource targets and standards aligned to the delivery of corporate strategic initiatives, aims and objectives for the council.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Education, qualification and training |
Educated to ‘Higher’ level, NC or SVQ level 2 and/or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and competencies gained through relevant experience |
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Skills, knowledge and experience |
Effective communication skills, both verbal and written Effective organisational and time management skills Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, in particular, Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to create clear documents, manage data, and communicate effectively. Demonstrate a sound level of numeracy and literacy, with the ability to communicate clearly and work accurately with numerical information Experience of working in an office environment Experience of data input, including the creation and analysis of Excel Spreadsheets Ability to plan and prioritise workload and tasks to meet service demands, performance indicators and statutory timescales. Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail, ensuring information and documentation are accurate and complete |
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Personal qualities |
Be adaptable to change, work flexibly and part of a team Enthusiastic and self-motivated with a positive and proactive approach to work Committed to continuous improvement Ability to work without close supervision, using own initiative Ability to develop effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders in a sensitive and confidential manner |
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Other |
To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact |
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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
- Punctual and conscientious in your approach to work.
- Use council resources efficiently, avoiding waste and unnecessary expense.
- Identify inefficiency in processes and communicate this to your manager.
- Meet deadlines and targets in your day-to-day work.
- Understand the impact of wasteful behaviours on the environment and you act to minimise this impact.
Flexible
- Willing to learn new tasks and accept new ways of working.
- Willing to be flexible in your approach to work to meet changing service delivery needs, deadlines, and urgent priorities.
- Help team members when they have urgent deadlines and prioritise your work accordingly.
- Understand the need for change and are open to this across your working life.
Performing
- Is polite, professional and friendly to customers and apply customer care standards and attitudes at all times.
- Works safely to maintain the safety of yourself and other raising concerns about unsafe working practices.
- Meets standards of work required in your role in terms of quality and output.
- Uses initiative to solve problems and raise potential issues.
- Acknowledges when mistakes are made and learns from them.
- Seeks feedback on your performance to learn and improve.
Working with others
- Works alongside internal and external colleagues to meet common objectives.
- Has professional relationships with colleagues and is aware of dignity at work standards.
- Actively and respectfully listens to people in order to understand them and their views.
- Contributes appropriately in team and other meetings and discussions.
- Presents words and views clearly in a way that other people find meaningful.
- Respect diversity and promote equality of opportunity when working with colleagues and members of the public.
Leading
- Role models the standards of behaviours expected of a South Lanarkshire Council employee.
- Displays and enables leadership through sharing knowledge and skills, seeking guidance and providing support to your colleagues, team and the wider community.
- Is aware of and adheres to professional codes of practice and the council’s code of conduct and understand how these impact on employment with the council and public perception of council employees.