Finance Manager
Service: Finance Services
Grade scale: Grade 5 Level 1-8
Reports to: Head of Finance (Transactions)
Purpose of the job
Responsible for the strategic management of Benefits and Revenues and Customer Services, including the billing and collection for council tax, non-domestic rates and sundry, administration of housing benefit, Scottish Welfare Fund and a range of customer services functions.
Overall responsibility for the financial management of council’s revenues collection and benefits administration.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Ensure strategic planning and policy development of all Benefits and Revenue policies and procedures ensuring best value is achieved and compliance with all relevant statutory bodies is maintained.
Strategic Management of Billing and Collection of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Housing Benefit Overpayments and Sundry Debt.
Ensure achievement of the council’s revenue collection performance targets, including Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Housing Benefit Overpayments and Sundry Debt. Continually developing the corporate approach to debt recovery in South Lanarkshire Council.
Ensure effective service delivery of all Benefits and Revenues functions, including the setting and monitoring of performance targets for all related activities. Effective management of the Scottish Welfare Fund, ensuring performance targets are met.
Responsible for the overall compliance with Benefits legislation ensuring adherence to Anti-Fraud Initiatives.
Overall responsibility for Benefits and Revenue systems management and development, in accordance with statutory requirements and to ensure achievement of Council performance standards.
Responsibility for the development of new technologies to support customer experience and the delivery of efficiencies.
Overall responsibility for the production of the Benefits and Revenue Abstract of Accounts, in accordance with statutory and audit requirements and in liaison with Central Finance and Audit Scotland.
Responsibility for financial management and control of council revenue, in accordance with statutory and audit requirements.
Responsible for the delivery of customer services and working with council services to ensure their continued development.
Management of a range of service budgets.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Education, qualification and training |
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Qualified accountant, for example CIPFA) |
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Skills, knowledge and experience |
Experience of working in a senior management role in local government Demonstrate managing a complex work environment with multiple stakeholders Delivery of performance targets across a wide range of services Experience of identifying and implementing improvements to support effective and efficient service delivery and change 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. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively. High level of organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results to deadlines Demonstrate a high level of accuracy and attention to detail Demonstrate effective communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues, customers and stakeholders |
Knowledge of local authority benefits and revenues legislation and operational practices Working with elected members Substantial relevant work experience Development of customer facing IT systems |
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Personal qualities |
Inclusive and supportive team player Ability to drive service delivery, strategically and operationally Highly motivated with a positive and proactive approach to work Calm and professional when responding to unplanned or urgent situations.
Committed to delivering excellent customer services |
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Other |
To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact A genuine commitment to behave 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 their present or most recent employer. Internal candidates require 1 reference from their 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.