Town Clerk

**CRICKLADE TOWN COUNCIL**

**JOB DESCRIPTION: TOWN CLERK AND RESPONSIBLE FINANCE OFFICER**

Post Title: Town Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer (RFO)

**Salary**: Scale Point 29-32 (£35,411 - 38,296) plus qualification increment
Hours: 37 hours per week (including unsocial hours)
Car User: Casual user car allowance in accordance with NALC Terms of Service.

Responsible to Line Manager: The Chairman of the Council

**Overall Responsibilities**
The Town Clerk will be the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority's Proper Officer. The Clerk will be totally responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local
Authority are carried out. The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall policies to be followed in respect of the Authority's activities and in particular to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively all decisions. The person appointed will be accountable to the
Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report to them as and when required. The Clerk will be the Responsible Financial Officer and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

**Specific Responsibilities**
1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.

2. To monitor and balance the Council's accounts and prepare records for audit purposes and VAT (or to monitor the work of a designated other officer)

3. To ensure that the Council's obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.

4. To carry out all responsibilities in accordance with current Health & Safety at Work legislation.

5. To prepare, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the
Council and Committees. To attend such meetings and prepare minutes for approval
(other than where such duties have been delegated to another Officer).

6. To attend all meetings of the Council and all meetings of its Committees and Sub
- Committees (other than where such duties have been delegated to another Officer).

7. To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents or bring such items to the attention of the Council.
To issue correspondence as a result of instructions of, or the known policy of the
Council.

8. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services to be paid for by the

Council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the
Council for goods and services and to ensure payment is received (other than where such duties have been delegated to another Officer).

9. To study reports and other data on activities of the Council and on matters bearing on those activities. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with administrators and specialists in particular fields and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the Council.

10. To draw up both on his/her own initiative and as a result of suggestions by
Councillors proposals for consideration by the Council and to advise on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.

11. To ensure delivery of assigned projects within agreed budgets and timescales, working with local organisations and members of the council as required.

12. To supervise other members of staff as their Line Manager in keeping with the policies of the Council (other than where such supervision is delegated to another officer) and to undertake appraisals and all necessary activities in connection with the management of and conditions of employment and work of staff including responsibility for ensuring their development.

13. To arrange training for Councillors as appropriate.

14. To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications.

15. To act as the representative of the Council as required.

16. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for and attend the Annual Town
Meeting and to implement the decisions made at the assemblies that are agreed by the Council.

17. To liaise with the press and to prepare, in consultation with the appropriate

Chairman, all press releases about the activities of or decisions of the Council, and to lead on the Council’s external and internal communications, including web content and social media.

18. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk as required by the Council.

19. To work quickly towards the achievement of the status of Qualified Clerk as a minimum requirement for effectiveness in the position of Clerk to the Council.

20. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the effic