Finance Assistant – Chichester (G5)

Job Description

Job Title : Finance Assistant – Chichester (G5)
Job Category : Finance
Location : County Hall, West Sussex County Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £11.59

Please note the temp will be required to attend the Chichester office 3 days a week whilst training, and then once settled it will be 1 day a week. We aim to have people trained within a month of starting.

The role is likely to last at least 9 months from start date.

Key Skills:
1. Good numeracy skills in order to make sound and accurate financial calculations, process invoices, monitor budgets and do other similar tasks working with an understanding of finance.
2. Clear and effective written communication skills to process standard letters and respond to emails appropriately.
3. Good verbal communication skills for answering telephone queries effectively and communicating with managers and team members. Including the ability to provide clear and concise specialist advice and guidance to a range of clients and to communicate varied technical information appropriately and accurately and in ways to best promote understanding.
4. The ability to exercise tact and sensitivity when responding to queries which may relate to sensitive circumstances and/or dealing with members of the public who may be upset, angry or confused.
5. The ability to embrace change and adapt to changing situations and new ways of working positively and effectively. Including the ability to learn new systems and processes.
6. The ability to prioritise daily workload to meet timescales and objectives.

Qualifications and/or experience:
⦁ 4 GCSEs with A-C passes including Maths and English or equivalent qualification or experience demonstrating that level of numeracy and literacy.
⦁ Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) part qualified at Foundation level NVQ 2, or studying towards an equivalent qualification or an interest in progressing with this qualification. Desirable
⦁ Relevant technical knowledge of procedures, systems and practices associated with operating an administrative service in an office environment.
⦁ Experience of working in a customer orientated environment.
⦁ Experience providing specialist advice to managers or customers. Including explaining financial information or other technical information.
⦁ Some knowledge and awareness of accounting principles and/or the processes and systems associated with working within a financial environment. Desirable
⦁ Some awareness and technical skills in the use of major computerised financial systems for invoicing or a similar service, for example, SAP Finance or Mainframe. Desirable
⦁ Experience of working in a financial environment. Desirable
Key responsibilities
Delivers timely and efficient specialist financial administrative support to a team or across teams with an awareness of team requirements. Prioritises day to day work in the short term, working with colleagues to deliver objectives and a customer focussed service.
Processes timely and accurate payments, invoices, or other financial administration tasks relating to the team service (or service across teams) as instructed. Uses SAP or other large computerised financial system to undertake these processes according to procedure. Performs basic related calculations and works with formulae where necessary.
Analyses technical financial information relating to the team specialism and draws conclusions relating to individual budgets, payments, assessments or other financial processes in order to process varied tasks appropriately. For example, analyses information relating to a client’s assessment or service’s budget and suggests appropriate action according to the individual situation in line with procedures.
Produces standard letters and correspondence working independently to ensure timely, appropriate and accurate written communication.
Assists with the production of management information/statistics as required, drawing relevant information and statistics from manual and computerised records and calculating and manipulating data as appropriate.
Updates and maintains relevant computerised and manual records relating to the service appropriately and accurately.
Follows procedures and processes in order to respond independently to day to day telephone, email and written queries relating to the team specialism including using initiative to resolve unexpected problems where necessary. Provides financial advice, guidance and information to clients including members of the public and managers. Refers complex or technical queries, and those unrelated to the service appropriately. Asks for help when unsure of how to act, working under guidance on unusual or difficult problems.
Communicates with and develops good working relationships with relevant managers and colleagues in order to deliver an effective service. Communicates with the public appropriately, including using tact, understanding, and a sound knowledge of the service to resolve queries and difficulties with people who may be upset, confused or angry.
Responsible for accounting for large sums of money in the form of cash, cheques, direct debits, invoices or equivalent, through the monitoring of budgets, or authorisation of payments or invoices. Direct responsibility also for the appropriate and accurate handling and processing of payments and invoices relating to services.
Direct responsibility for appropriate and careful daily handling of confidential and sometimes sensitive or personal financial or other related information relating to the service.
Remains up to date and compliant with all relevant organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct in order to uphold standards of best practice.
Supports equality and diversity and respects customers, clients and other members of staff regardless of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic origin.