Senior Finance Officer - Payments (part time)

Senior Finance Officer - Payments (part time)

Your new organisation
Southend-on-Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the Southend 2050 ambition and make lives better for the people of Southend. Southend itself is a vibrant place to live and work, offering coastal living alongside excellent and fast transport links into London.

Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovative environment. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from regulatory services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, social services, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.


Your new role
Your new role
Southend-on-Sea City Council has a great opportunity for a Senior Finance Officer to join the Social Care Finance Payments Team on a part time (15 hours per week) and permanent basis. This role will be based within a dynamic and forward-thinking team and will involve working from the office and mainly at home.

The Social Care Finance Team undertakes financial assessments; makes payments to care-providers; manages debt, direct payments and income and performs a Court of Protection function for Adult Social Care in accordance with the Care Act, Southend Council policy and Government regulations. As a Senior Finance Officer for Payments, you will lead on the payment process, ensuring that we pay providers correctly and efficiently according to policy and process. As a Senior Finance Officer, you will have detailed understanding of payments and finance systems in order to provide advice and guidance to the finance team, providers, and other organisations. You will lead a team of three finance officers, undertaking regular 1-1 discussions and annual conversations and also support the team manager to develop staff strengths, abilities and support them with their aspirations to ensure they feel valued, inspired and able to work with the team.

To request a copy of the full job description, please contact Uzo Nebechi via email [mailto:]


What you'll need to succeed
To be successful in this role, previous experience of leadership and supervision of staff members working in a complex environment would be advantageous but not absolutely essential as training will be provided. It is essential that you are able to develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders including voluntary, public and private sector organisations and partners, suppliers and contractors.

Previous experience of working within an accounting / finance team with good levels of numeracy and possess the ability to analyse financial data is essential for this role. You need to have strong communications and interpersonal skills as you will be liaising with various stakeholders. You need to be able to work on your own as well as be part of a team and you must be able to manage your own workload. Previous credit control / income collection experience will be highly desirable for this role.

Ability to use various MS packages especially Teams and Excel is vital to be successful in this role. Accounting / Finance qualification (AAT / ACCA) would be advantageous but not essential.


What you'll get in return
If you join the Council, you will enjoy a range of benefits including flexible working (with a blended approach to office and home working), salary sacrifice schemes, 24 days holiday (excluding bank holidays) and excellent training and development opportunities. A full list of benefits provided by Southend-on-Sea City Council can be found on the Jobs at the council web page under the "Why Work for us Tab".


What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to. The Council is an equal opportunities employer. They welcome applications, regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications will be considered solely on merit.

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