Financial Transaction Officer (SO1)

Job Description

Job Category : Financial
Location :Laurence House – Fourth Floor, Lewisham Council
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time :09:00
End Time :17:00
Salary: £18.51

Main purpose of job:

To provide professional, customer focused, efficient and effective financial transactional services to a range of stakeholders. To work with officers across the Council to ensure that appropriate financial controls are in operation including high volume and /or high value transactions. Ensuring all receipts or payments are dealt with professionally and in accordance with Audit recommendations and Financial Regulations.

Duties and responsibilities

1 To contribute to a first class Financial Transactional Service processing payments coming in and going out of the Council.
2 To be able to work to strict deadlines and timetables
3 Responsible for making and receiving payments to/from a wide variety of debtors and creditors
4 To contribute to the delivery of a wide range of financial processing functions by inputting data, validating data, analysing evidence and maintaining accurate and detailed records
5 To liaise with internal stakeholders across the Council (including, but not limited to, budget holders, team leaders and social workers) to ensure smooth running of the Financial Transactional Service
6 To liaise with, and provide good customer service to, external stakeholders (including, but not limited to, foster carers, suppliers of goods and services, PPF providers and other debtors and creditors) to facilitate the payment of invoices and / or the collection of payments. This should include taking a proactive approach to resolving any discrepancies.
7 To control and report on sensitive financial data, understanding appropriate levels of confidentiality and to operate accordingly.
8 To carry out regular reconciliations of financial records
9 To be recognised as technically proficient on a wide range of financial systems including an understanding of system interfaces

Experience in processing invoice/payment request transactions. Use of ContrOCC (Liquid Logic), Oracle Financial/payables are preferable but not essential.

Experience

Experience in financial processing within a large and complex organisation

Experience of applying legislation, regulations and guidance (e.g. as relates to financial regulations, banking and accounting standards etc.)

Experience of communicating with a wide range of stakeholders

Experience of IT and e-payments systems

Knowledge

Knowledge of cash and cheque handling procedures in a Local Government or similar environment.

Understanding of Customer Care practices and service provision

Advanced knowledge of how to use computerised financial information systems and standard software packages (e.g. Oracle, Axis, CONTROCC, Excel, Word, etc.).

Appreciation of finance budgeting and accountancy at a level appropriate to the job.

An understanding of legislation, regulations and statutory requirements in relation to financial transactions and processing.

Aptitude

Ability to provide effective advice and support at a level appropriate to the grade to external agencies, clients and their representatives, to ensure compliance with legislation and statutory guidance and to promote financial best practice

Able to focus on attention to detail when required and also to understand some implications of potential courses of action

Able to take responsibility for own personal and professional development, ensuring that the technical knowledge and skills required to meet the demands of the post are kept up to date.

Ability to contribute to new systems and developments relating to the at least one of the following: Oracle financials, Axis systems, prepaid card and Post Office PayOut payments and CONTROCC functions.

Skills

High standard of written and oral communication skills, and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people from within and outside the Authority

Ability to understand and apply complex legislation and guidance.

Personal qualities

Ability to deal with a pressurised work environment and work to strict deadlines

Committed, flexible and enthusiastic. Good at attention to detail and able to work quickly and accurately.

Physical

Generally candidates must meet standard Lewisham requirements for the post.