Finance Officer - Taunton

Job Description

Finance Officer – Taunton (Temp Vacancy) Umbrella Pay Rate: £15.54ph Full-Time (37 hours)Main Responsibilities & Duties

1. Prepare annual revised (current year) and forward year’s budget estimates for clients, involving:-

• · Compiling detailed estimates for clients based on service knowledge and corporate guidance, and inputting details on to the corporate on-line Financial Information System (SAP);
• · Analysing current year’s expenditure to date, using SAP, to carry out a reasonableness check on outturn forecasts and the forward year’s estimates, following up identified problems with client or financial staff and advising them on appropriate action;
• · Comparing the total budget figure for each client against the provisional targets set by Cabinet, determining the net position, discussing it with senior client or financial staff and Finance Manager/Strategic Finance Manager, carrying out financial analysesand exploring options for additional resources / and or proposals for budget reductions;
• · Producing service and corporate budget reports in conjunction with the Strategic, Service and Finance Managers and briefing client managers on the detail;
• · Producing, publishing and distributing detailed budget monitoring reports to Strategic and Service Managers and Directors.

1. Monitor client expenditure through the year and produce monthly budget monitoring reports. This includes:-

• · Producing and analysing outturn forecasts, based on expenditure to date and planned future spending, identifying potential problem areas; carrying - 2 - out suitable financial analyses; discussing these and possible courses of action, with service managers,and briefing senior finance staff on relevant details;
• · Providing the service with monthly financial reports on the financial position, ultimately to be included in monthly and quarterly budget reports to the Cabinet and the Senior Leadership Team;
• · Providing the service with regular progress reports on jointly funded projects and monitoring the collection of grants from the external agencies;
• · Maintaining accurate accounting records for clients, by checking on the reasonableness of transaction coding in the accounts (SAP), amending as necessary, and ensuring that the accounting code structures and reporting hierarchies used for client accountsare in line with local needs and changes in the Local Authority Accounting Code of Practice, SERCOP, CIPFA best practice, as identified by the postholder or advised by senior staff in the Group;
• · Training client finance officers and managers in the use of SAP for financial management purposes, or in best practice for accounting processes such as exchequer controls and use of imprest.

1. Close both revenue and capital accounts for all clients at year-end, including:-

• · Providing guidance to clients on the closing timetable and required data, formats etc;
• · Validating and inputting all closing entries on SAP, after agreeing actions on complex/contentious issues with senior finance staff;
• · Completing a range of questionnaires and other financial returns, including: Government Revenue and Capital Outturn returns; CIPFA statistical returns; and external audit queries; apportionments according the CIPFA SERCOP;
• · Completing various analyses as required by Corporate Accounting and providing detailed back-up information for the consolidated SCC final accounts, eg separate analyses of internal and external income;
• · Completing quarterly grant claim forms for external agencies
• · Liaising with the external auditors and relevant grant funding bodies dealing with their queries on the accounts and grant claims.

We offer:

• 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area
• 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme
• Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.To discuss this vacancy or other vacancies in your area please contact