Senior Finance Technician (G7)

Job Category : Financial

Location : Lincoln County Offices (Newland)

Hours Per Week : 37.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 08:30

End Time : 16:30

Salary: £14.75

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic individual who would like to join us as a Senior Finance Technician on a one- year fixed term contract within our Technical Team, which is part of Lincolnshire County Council’s Financial Services Team. This role may lead to a permanent role for the right person.

We are looking for someone who is preferably AAT qualified, has a good understanding of financial and accounting processes, how these are represented in financial IT systems, and has experience of working with a major ERP system.

The role sits within a small Systems Governance team and will focus on supporting the Finance Team Manager to identify improvements and changes to all Council IT systems which interact with the Council’s finance function, to ensure that these systems are maintained and developed to work effectively and within a sound financial governance framework. This is not a systems development role per se, but instead will require working with the Council’s Corporate Systems team as well as external systems suppliers who have responsibility for systems development.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS & DUTIES

The specific accountabilities of this role will be flexible and will change to meet

the needs of the organisation as required but will include (or be equivalent in

nature to) those listed below:

i To assist in ensuring that there is effective strategic financial planning

and financial management in relation to all revenue and capital budgets.

To assist in the coordination and delivery of financial planning for all

revenue and capital budgets.

ii. Providing financial support and advice in support of a specified area of

the Council, including in relation to:

Budget setting

iii. Identification and costing of budget pressures for future years, through

liaising with Budget Holders, Senior Managers and the Head of Finance.

Budget monitoring

iv. Advising Budget Holders and Senior Managers on the monitoring of

budgets.

v. Overseeing the financial support arrangements and highlighting

any weaknesses regarding maintenance of accounts.

vi. Assessing the effectiveness of budget monitoring arrangements.

Financial Reporting

vii Reviewing and challenging Budget Holder outturn projections ensuring,

in particular, that budgets are realistic, resources have been allocated

promptly and outturn projections look reasonable in relation to spending

to date.

viii Advising Budget Holders and Senior Managers on the overall financial

position and key issues.

ix Assisting with the development of systems to help improve the accuracy

of outturn projections, particularly for large, more volatile and high risk

budgets.

x Assisting with the provision of supplementary reports for high risk areas.

Liaising with the Finance Managers, Heads of Finance and Serco re key

concerns.

Efficiency savings

xi Identification of potential areas for delivery of future efficiency savings.

Assisting Senior Managers and Budget Holders with the development of

plans for delivery of efficiency savings and providing advice thereto.

xii Monitoring the delivery of efficiency savings throughout the year and

reporting therein.

Value for money

xiii Assisting Senior Managers with the evaluation of the value for money

provided by services.

xiv Analysing national and local data to assess value for money.

xv Working with Senior Managers and Budget holders to develop

strategies for improving value for money.

xvi Monitoring delivery of those plans and reporting thereon.

Performance

xvii Working with Senior Managers, Budget Holders and the performance

teams to assess performance, highlight opportunities and

help develop plans for improvement, if necessary through re-alignment

of resources.

xviii Advising on maximising performance within financial constraints.

Pension Fund

xix Ensure financial and administrative procedures are adhered to by both

the Pension Fund Custodian and Administrator.

Provide back and middle office support to the Investment Manager in

respect of the Pension Fund’s In House UK Equity Portfolio.

Liaise with the Pension Fund’s Fund Managers to ensure their valuation

and performance figures are correct.

Monthly balancing and reconciliation of the Pension Fund Investments.

Ensure the required financial data is submitted to Government bodies

within the set timescale.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• AAT membership as a minimum and significant relevant financial

experience.

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of principles of financial

management, accounting principles and practice.

• Detailed knowledge of Financial Strategy, financial regulations, financial

procedures, schemes of authorisation and their rationale within the

control framework

• Good Communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with

officers, external auditors and partners, including funding bodies and

government departments and agencies, so as to secure their confidence

and respect.

• Good ICT skills, including corporate finance systems (e.g. Agresso) and

Financial Modelling and Excel.

• Good staff management skills to over see the work of other Senior

Finance Technicians and Finance Technicians.