FC - Finance Assistant (Transactions)

Finance Assistant (Transactions)

Service: Finance (Transactions)

Grade scale: Grade 2 level 1-4

Reports to: Finance Officer

Purpose of the job

Assist with the development and contribute to monitoring the council`s Procure to Pay function in particular with regard to payments to suppliers ensuring compliance with statutory regulations/Internal Audit and Standing Order requirements.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Providing advice to all council resources in respect of their Accounts Payable function responsibilities, processes and procedures.

Investigate and resolve system irregularities and advise colleagues on processing and procedural problems.

Supervise, control and process electronic data interfaces into the Accounts Payable system.

Finalise and reconcile Fusion system payment runs to meet objectives and to ensure system integrity.

Compile and produce regular ad hoc management information particularly in reference to the Accounts Payable function.

Supervise and control the workflow routine of the section.

Contribute to any action plans to implement proposals following new legislation in respect of the Payables.

Research Construction Tax Industry scheme changes to protect the council and assist in developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance to scheme.

Report effectively on the Construction Tax Industry scheme and ensure timeous returns to HMRC.

Person specification

Criteria

Essential

Desirable

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

Good understanding of Construction Industry/HMRC legislation

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

Knowledge and experience of working in a Procure to Pay or similar environment

 

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

 

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

 

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.