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Information: Generic Job Descriptions - Hay 8

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Please find below a generic description of the Hay 8 role.

These are generic descriptions and in addition to specific information which can be viewed by clicking on individual roles.

   
Post Title: Finance Officer
Grade: Hay Grade 8
   

Job Summary

To implement the Council’s financial strategy and core financial services. This will include:

  • working with other officers and managers to maintain and improve the unique nature of the devolved financial structures within the Council.
  • assisting in the review of whether services provided by both finance staff and internal / external contractors are:
    • innovative and quality driven, so that these will be responsive to public or client needs,
    • achieve effectiveness and efficiency in their operation

To contribute to the operation of the finance function, in accordance with the Division’s annual business plan, Scheme of delegation and the Council's vision and values.

To assist in the provision of the highest quality service in line with the Council’s vision and values.

Principal Responsibilities

  1. To check compliance with the Council’s overall regulatory framework; including finance, property and personnel issues.  To make recommendations on changes needed under the supervision and guidance of a professional member of staff.
  2. To monitor adherence to anti-fraud strategies across the Council, in order to protect the Council’s assets.
  3. To assist in such training courses as are necessary to ensure Managers across the Council are able to carry out their responsibilities within Southwark’s unique devolved financial environment.
  4. To assist with specific projects and report on outcomes directly to professional staff, including the Finance Section Head or Divisional Management Team. To assist with projects outside the Division/Business Unit, to assist with reports to the Chief Finance Officer and other senior managers.
  5. To assist in the control and management of the Council’s annual revenue budget and capital programme including (where applicable) the calculation of Council Tax and other income (such as Housing Rents) levels in line with legislative requirements. This may include assisting with longer term funding issues, including the monitoring and reconciliation of the Capital Investment Strategy, Single Regeneration Budget, Capital Challenge, Private Finance Initiative, Lottery Funding etc.
  6. To assist in the provision of technical advice and support to senior management on all financial and associated issues, under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  7. To attend Council-wide and Divisional Working parties as directed. To take a supporting role, as the line manager considers appropriate, on all financial issues emanating from these discussions.
  8.  
  9. To monitor and help ensure the effective delivery of financial and related services supplied to the Council by a third party or by an in-house supplier.  To take the appropriate action to improve the value for money obtained by the Council from those suppliers, under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  10. To monitor and help ensure the effectiveness of services delivered to the public by any contractor (in-house or third party) for which the Division/Business Unit is the client or client agent. To take appropriate action to improve the value for money obtained by the Council from those suppliers, under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  11. To support and assist in the provision of efficient and effective corporate financial services, including assisting in the completion of all statutory accounts. This will include the administration and reporting of the Council’s VAT and tax procedures.
  12. To assist in the management of corporate budgets, including the Asset Management Revenue Account under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  13. Where appropriate, to assist and support the Council’s senior strategic Insurance Officer in efficiently managing the Council’s Insurance funds and the annual insurance budget in accordance with the procedures and Schemes of Delegation approved by the Chief Finance Officer.
  14. Where appropriate, to assist in the professional management of the Council’s portfolio of loans, investments, superannuation fund and the major financing contracts under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  15. To support the implementation of strategies for efficient Corporate Financial Information Systems, under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of staff.
  16. To research and obtain information in order to assist in decision making.
  17. To maintain and make use of appropriate systems and procedures to assist in the achievement of Divisional and Council objectives.
  18. To make an effective contribution to the Council’s improvement initiatives and to ensure the appropriate targets are met within the Division/Business Unit as a whole.

Organisational Standards

The following standards apply to this post -

  1. Customer Focus
    Duties are performed to ensure the best possible outcome for the customer.
  2. Equalities
    Performance and conduct promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination on any basis related to an individual’s profile.
  3. Personal Development
    Learning and development is undertaken so that duties are delivered more effectively and to prepare for change, this will include mandatory training, for example in equalities & diversity, as determined by the Council.
  4. Decision Making
    Decisions are taken within the Council’s rules and any legal constraints to achieve organisational objectives, based on the best possible information that it is reasonable for the employee to obtain.
  5. Organisational Codes of Conduct
    Duties are undertaken within the Council’s Code of Conduct and other professional or organisational codes, which set standards of behaviour.
  6. Risk Management
    Risks to service delivery, internal systems and their management will be considered and challenged.  The consequences of actions will be thought through and informed judgements made.
  7. Legal and Constitutional Frameworks
    Proper regard for statutory and other legislative requirements must be made in planning and delivering services. The Council’s constitution must be followed especially with regard to decision-making.
  8. Business & Performance Planning
    Through proper business planning, there will be clarity on what the Service aims to achieve and the resources required.  Actual performance will be regularly monitored and managed; this will include business contingency/ emergency planning.
  9. Human Resources
    Human resources, (employees, teams etc), will be planned, developed and managed to ensure the achievement of Council objectives alongside the quality of life for the Council’s people.
  10. Financial and Asset Management
    The Council’s finances, procurement process and assets will be managed with probity, efficiently and with openness.
  11. Information Management
    Information will be accessible and only collated for its stated purpose. It will be retained only for as long as necessary in a way that is safe and secure.  Duplicate records should be avoided. Responsibility for records management will be clear and resourced. Information will be used prudently & appropriately making efficient use of our investment in technology.
  12. Procurement
    Corporate contracts must be used. Acquisition of new goods, works or services must follow a strategic process and all EU legal requirements. The council's contract standing orders, best practice & value for money guides, must be applied at all times.

Job Context

1.

 Organisational Objectives

a)

Southwark was the first Local Authority to fully devolve financial administration, resulting in a more economic, efficient and effective service to customers.  Finance staff play a key role in monitoring its success.

b)

The Council is committed to maintenance of its IIP accreditation. The post holder will be responsible for the implementation of the Council’s People and Performance Management systems, particularly as these relate to staff supervised. These include the following linked systems:

  • The preparation of a relevant annual Business Plan and Service Plans, incorporating measurable Performance Indicators;
  • The induction of new and temporary staff;
  • Preparation of work-plans and training plans;
  • The regular monitoring and reporting of performance.

c)

The Division is committed to continuously improving the quality of finance services, in line with the Council’s core objectives. Finance staff are  responsible for ensuring that such initiatives are  implemented successfully in the Division.

d)

All staff are responsible for ensuring all services are implemented in a manner consistent with the Council’s commitment to Equality and Diversity.

2.

(a)

Structure -

Please see attached structure chart

The post holder will also be involved in monitoring the work undertaken by staff of external departments, temporary staff and contractors. This will vary depending on the number and range of specific projects currently being managed on behalf of the Council.

(b)

Contacts:

Will be in contact with external organisations (such as Central Government, Audit Commission, and CIPFA), Strategic Directors and other senior managers across the Council on matters related to the financial management of Council’s resources, financial strategy and the operation of external contracts.

(c)

Financial Responsibilities:
Will have no financial responsibility but will assist in the administration associated with the annual FMS budget and Council-wide budget.

 

Budgets at 2007/08

These will vary from department to department and from year to year, depending on the Council's key policies and priorities.

Council Wide

 

 

  £m

Annual Gross General Fund Budget

1,027

Housing Revenue Account

266

Annual Capital Programme

188

Capital Assets valued

3,200

Annual cash flow

3,000

Long-term loan debt

700

Daily external cash investments

300

 

Grade/Conditions of Service

Evaluated as Hay Grade 8

Governed by National Conditions of Service for APT & C Staff, enhanced by the Recruitment and Retention Policy as outlined by Financial Management Services.

Contractual hours: 36 hours Monday to Friday. 

Special Conditions of Service

None.

Key Tasks for the specific post

To be provided by each department for their specialist roles.

Organisational Charts

To be provided by each department.

Person Specification

Finance staff are encouraged  to be flexible to meet service demands, staff are expected to meet core competencies relevant to their post band.  In the case of this post, applicants will be expected to meet the competencies listed below.

These are shown as either essential (E) or desirable (D).

 

Core Competencies

Essential or Desirable

Method of Assessment

 

E or D

Application form

Interview

Test

Qualification
  • First degree in  a relevant field

 

  • and experience at an equivalent level.

D

E

A

 

 

Knowledge
  • Knowledge of public sector finance

E

A

I

 

Experience
  • Working as a team member to meet deadlines and achieve objectives

E

A

I

 

  • Demonstrable experience of a range of core staff competencies (attached)

E

A

 

 

  • Use of a computerised financial information system

E

A

I

 

  • Word processing, spreadsheet and database applications

E

A

 

 
  • Take part in specific projects as appropriate

E

A

I

 

Aptitude
  • Able to implement solutions to identified problems

E

A

I

T
  • Able to communicate in a clear way to different audiences

E

A

I

T

Council Wide
  • Understand the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy

E

A

I

 

  • Understand the Council’s Customer Focus programme

E

A

I

 

  • Understand the Council’s Performance Management scheme

E

A

I

 

  • Operate safely in the workplace

E

A

I

 

 

 

The Service operates within a structure whereby all staff perform to a generic job description. This means that they are expected to be able to perform any finance functions at that level and consequently may be transferred to a similar post in any of the Council departments. In addition due to the need to retain flexibility responsibility for taking part in any specific projects may be assigned to any member of staff at any time. This approach has been adopted in accordance with the Forward to Sound Financial Management Initiative implemented in May, 2003.