Finance Officer

LOCATION:
2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH

SALARY:
£32,210 - £35,532 per year

CONTRACT TYPE:
Permanent

POSITION TYPE:
Full Time

HOURS:
36 hours per week

£32,210 - £35,532 Fixed Term

2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH

The post is part of a team providing a comprehensive range of financial management services within Education & Children’s Services.

These services include:

- budget preparation
- budget monitoring & variance investigation
- supporting budget holders & support staff in their financial management roles
- providing advice and costings to Project Teams involved in reviewing/designing services delivered by Education & Children’s Services (i.e. building new schools, online payments for school activities, redesign of services delivered by social work staff)
- implementing new financial systems and processes to support changes to services delivered by Education & Children’s Services
- providing financial training to colleagues within the team and across Education & Children’s Services
- carrying out financial control examinations on ECS budgets and financial processes
- ensuring good practice in the recording of financial information.

The team use various systems such as the Integra Financial System, PECOS Procurement System, ParentPay and the Resourcelink HR System. These systems are used to analyse data to produce comprehensive reports for Budget Holders and Senior Management.

This post is currently homeworking due to the pandemic. The Council is currently progressing with a hybrid working model offering access to office working on some days/when required. Initially this is on a temporary basis with longer term options becoming available in future. We are committed to being a more inclusive employer, please contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances with the recruiting manager, discuss at interview or if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made, to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments.

**Responsibilities**:
Main Responsibilities:

- To take responsibility within your team to drive forward new ways of working to provide effective, efficient and comprehensive finance support to the Service.
- Provision of financial management support and guidance to Budget Holders regarding revenue and capital budgets.
- Production of monthly monitoring statements for Budget Holders, identifying variances, and provision of advice to Budget Holders on possible courses of corrective action.
- Production of monthly monitoring reports for Senior Management.
- Ensure year-end final accounts guidance is adhered to and deadlines are met.
- Assist in the co-ordination, preparation of the annual revenue and capital budget setting process.
- Ensure that appropriate advice, guidance and training on financial systems and procedures is available and delivered to Education & Children’s Services staff as required.
- Assist with the preparation of grant claims, statistical returns and FOI requests as required.

**The Individual**:
The Individual:
In order to carry out duties of this role, you must:

- have experience of working in a financial environment where you have used accountancy skills
- have experience of preparing budgets and preparing budget monitoring statements for budget holders
- be able to perform to a high standard
- be able to meet tight deadlines
- have well developed ICT skills, in particular Excel
- work as a team player
- be able to work on own initiative
- have a flexible approach to change
- be committed delivering high quality services
- be able to establish and sustain positive relationships with colleagues throughout the Council as well as with key stakeholders

Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.

As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.

A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.