Senior Accounts Officer (Internal Applicants Only)

What will you be doing?

Principal responsibilities

1. Monitor, supervise and appraise the performance of day-to-day budgeting for the Operations portfolio through the Councils financial system.

2. Line Management of any accounts officer, setting and monitoring workloads, supporting them with training and development.

3.Support  the Operations Business Manager and Finance Business Partner with analysis of financial information, provide advice or signpost to other colleagues, to ensure accounts coded correctly to support effective budget management.

4.Review and challenge contract summary information to enable the submission of work requisitions for planned maintenance / compliance / project work to generate orders to suppliers, contractors, and consultants.

5. Provide advice in liaison with other finance colleagues to non-finance managers and staff to improve their financial awareness.

6. Maintain allocated major supplier accounts (review and challenge open orders, receipt orders, process invoices, reconciliation of statements, resolve queries and completing journals) to enable the Council to meet its contract terms in relation to payment.

7. Ensure that the necessary payment schedules / exports from the various systems are uploaded, identifying and correcting any errors, to ensure payment within the agreed terms.

8. Provide a detailed working knowledge and overview of the existing systems and business processes to enable the Finance Business Partner to develop them to ensure high quality and accurate financial / project information reporting.

General responsibilities applicable to all jobs

• Demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Comply with the Council’s policies and procedures including (but not limited to) safeguarding, financial regulations, promotion of equalities, customer care, agreed audit actions, health, and safety (ensuring that reasonable care is always taken for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons).
• Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope, and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• Undertake learning and development as agreed in probationary reviews, personal development reviews or any other such framework to meet service and individual targets.

This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE POST

1.         Ideally a Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (or equivalent).

2.         The post is flexible and will require both home working and office working to be agreed with the Operations Business Manager, to best support the wider Operations Team.

About you

Operations is fast paced department where no two days are the same. This role will require someone with the ability to work on their own initiative and with an eye for fine detail. We are a team that is growing in size and you will be expected to supervise and train any other accounts officer that are recruited. Ideally you should be a member of AAT or equivalent. Candidates that do not have a formal qualification but can demonstrate relevant experience and skills will also be considered.

Our benefits

We offer:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

About us

We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.

Our priorities are:

• helping people live active fulfilled lives
• caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
• enabling a thriving and successful economy
• leading on a green and sustainable environment
• ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
• providing modern public services

Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.

Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.

We are undertaking consultation with the Trade Unions on terms and conditions and the future NNC pay structure and during this time are appointing new employees on interim spot salaries. You will be advised of the outcome and any impact on your role once this work is complete.