Job info	Job info details
Job title	Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance & Commercial Services
Service	Finance
Business unit	Corporate Finance - Financial Systems & Exchequer
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Senior Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems
Accountable to (line manager)	Principal Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems
Salary grade	E
JE ref	FIN100

1. Key purpose of job

• To provide support to the Senior Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems (who is responsible for supporting the professional accounting duties undertaken by Financial Services and in particular the Financial Systems & Exchequer Team, ensuring compliance with current legislation and financial regulations.
• To provide timely, accurate and relevant financial and non-financial information for several council systems to support service managers. 
• To undertake the administration tasks and reconciliation of the Finance System and several feeder systems daily, and correct any issues identified. 
• To cover the FIMS helpdesk and email inboxes. 
• To cover FIMS (Financial Information Management System), related queries, issues and support system users by providing guidance. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• To support and assist the Senior Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems on administration of finance systems. 
• Accurate financial information is provided to produce statutory and other council data returns in a timely manner. 
• To ensure that FIMS (Financial Information Management System), related queries and issues are dealt with in a timely manner, while also providing support to all system users. 
• To support the reconciliation of payrolls for academies and other external customers. 

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• To provide support to all system users using FIMS (Financial Information Management System) and help in FIMS related queries and issues.
• To ensure FIMS (Financial Information Management System) general ledger balances and resolve any discrepancies.
• To undertake regular Purchase Order housekeeping and to proactively liaise with FIMS users to keep records up to date. 
• Operate as an effective and reliable team member to achieve own accountabilities and team objectives.
• Update process and procedure manuals relating FIMS and other interface workflows.
• Provide maintenance & support on the council’s other finance systems including Bankline and Asset Management. 
• Under supervision work closely with other team members to assist in team projects and objectives.
• To provide a support service for users of the FIMS modules. 

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Usual IT equipment and accessibility for office working and home working. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External: 
  • External Auditors. 
  • Partner Organisations. 
  • IT Software providers. 
• Internal: 
  • Service staff at all levels. 
  • All finance staff. 
  • Internal Audit. 
  • Payroll Services & Parking Services. 
  • IT Services. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• The post is eligible for hybrid working.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Finance Officer – Accounts & Systems
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance & Commercial Services
Service	Finance
Business unit	Corporate Finance - Financial Systems & Exchequer

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• The ability to work with a variety of customers and forge effective working relationships.
• Able to manage a piece of work ensuring that all milestones are achieved, and deadlines are met.
• Flexible approach, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team with competing deadlines. The post holder is required to be quick thinking with a calm, patient, and pragmatic manner.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills. 

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Able to prepare and present documented material accurately and clearly than can be easily understood by a diverse audience.
• Had experience in administration related system tasks. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Basic knowledge of project related tasks. 
• Up to date, working knowledge of Windows-based software and of Microsoft Office applications; in particular, a good level of knowledge in Teams, Excel, Word & Outlook. 

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of project management and support. 
• Knowledge in the application of policy relating to Data Protection and Data Quality. 
• High level of knowledge of excel and its technical functions. 
• Working and up-to-date knowledge of IT based systems. Knowledge of a Financial Information Management Systems. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Passion for learning and expanding knowledge. 
• Experience of providing timely, accurate and relevant information from several different databases. 
• Relevant technical experience of system administration. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of writing system procedures or updating documentation. 
• Experience of assisting and putting forward ideas in technical projects to develop/update system processes.
• Experience of project management. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to GCSE standard, including Grade 4(C) or above for Maths and English (or equivalent). 
• MOS or ECDL European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Association of Accounting Technician or equivalent. 
• PRINCE 2 Foundation Level or equivalent. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.