Finance, Systems and Data Officer

Job description

Are you highly organised, IT-savvy, and passionate about supporting efficient service delivery? Reading Borough Council is looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Finance, Systems & Data Administrator to join our Legal Services team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in supporting the financial and data operations that underpin our legal services. You’ll work in a collaborative, hybrid environment where your skills will help drive efficiency and innovation.

In this role, you will be responsible for the overall support, enhancement, and integrity of our legal systems, data and financial transactions. You will act as the primary financial, ensuring our legal case management system and associated digital platforms are optimised for efficiency and accuracy, while also supporting data analysis and process improvement initiatives. You will be deputising for the Finance Officer and Systems & Data Officer and be responsible for training of the Legal Operations Apprentice.

Now is the perfect time to join us as we deliver our ambitions to be the best place to practice law in local government; being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.

Reading’s Legal Service provides the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community.

We host a Joint Legal Team, a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire councils and a recognised centre of excellence for childcare, adults and education law. As well as leading a highly regarded internal Corporate Legal Team, serving the needs of the Council across a wide range of functions.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.
- A hybrid working model (minimum 2 days in the office)
- Opportunities for learning and development
- A culture that values your ideas and contributions

**About the role**

Are you ready to lead the charge in managing and enhancing systems and data for a forward-thinking team? As Finance Systems & Data Officer, you'll be the driving force behind our legal services systems and data activities. From improving workflows to implementing cutting-edge technologies, your contribution will ensure efficient and high-quality service delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

- Supporting the Finance Officer and Systems & Data Officer with financial reporting and data management.
- Managing Procure to Pay (P2P) processes, including purchase orders, invoice processing, and disbursement recording.
- Handling court transactions, income processing, and reconciliation.
- Preparing invoices for Joint Legal Team partners and internal recharges.
- Providing training and support on systems such as the legal case management system, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint.
- Assisting and mentoring the Legal Operations Apprentice during their rotation.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
**Work Together as one team** - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

**Drive Efficiency** - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

**Be Ambitious** - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

**Make a Difference to Reading** - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

**About you**
- A strong background and experience in financial transactions
- A good general education with at least 5 GCSEs (Grades 4-9), including Maths and English.
- Experience in administration, IT and finance—ideally within a local government or public service setting.
- Strong IT skills and the ability to communicate effecti