AAT Level 4 Qualified Accounting Technician
Permanent, Full Time
£27,239.95 to £32,047 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: 23rd December 2024 at 11.59pm
This role will be filled on a hybrid basis. This means you can work remotely part of the working week with an expectation to attend the office at least 2-3 days per month. Any journeys to the office would be at your own expense. More specific details about this can be discussed at the interview stage should you be invited to interview.
Interview dates: Thursday 16th and/or Friday 17th January 2025
The Role
The Corporate Services function is integral to Essex County Council's ways of working and how we support Essex citizens. Our technology team work across all services ensuring that we are able to provide great solutions to both the workforce and 1.4 million residents of Essex in a digital age. Our Finance team oversees all financial management aspects - and as the second largest local authority in the country, with that scale comes opportunity both professionally. But most importantly of all, we want people who are creative thinkers who want to find better value ways to deliver outcomes to Essex residents.
Corporate Services comprises of a number of centralized core professional services such as Finance, Legal and Procurement, and also oversees all Technology services for Essex, including devices, services, and security.
Our Finance team includes financial strategy, management, and accounting, but also oversees transactional services ranging from debtors to financial assessment, to debt management. Our Legal services include overseeing the democratic services, insurance, and risk.
At Essex, we have a centralized Procurement team that is CIPs accredited - overseeing contract management, sourcing and market shaping for over £1billion spend. We provide arrangements for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) members through the Essex Pension Fund and are the lead accountable body for the delivery of economic growth with the South Essex Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).
We look for individuals who can match our passion, bring expertise and ideas, and join us in delivering outstanding professional services. Please take a look at our vacancies and explore what opportunities there are for you to join us.
The Opportunity
This role will contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused service.
The Accounting Technician will deliver all aspects of financial management information to both the members of the management accounting team and budget holders to ensure quality of information is provided to stakeholders. It supports the efficient running of the Finance Hub and works effectively to meet customer requirements by ensuring information is delivered efficiently within agreed timeframes.
It requires the provision of high quality advice, information, analysis, and interpretation to finance colleagues to underpin effective decision making and meet financial governance requirements across the business.
Either partly or fully qualified, this role is expected to build strong relationships with finance colleagues and relevant stakeholders across the Council.
Accountabilities
1. Provide timely, accurate information and advice to budget holders to ensure they allow effective management of budgets, support the development of financial plans, and assist them in carrying out their financial duties.
2. Support the Finance Hub and deal with low and medium level budget holder queries.
3. Manage higher risk, more volatile services that may involve a number of complex levels of service activity, multiple external funding streams and/or external partnership arrangements.
4. Undertake some analysis of financial and performance data, and provide financial advice, developing an understanding of unit costs and drivers to assess variances.
5. Build a strong understanding of all financial management and reporting systems and processes, ensuring clarity on financial systems and processes to maximize efficiency.
6. Deliver accurate financial estimates, forecasts and plans ensuring all identified risks are quantified and appropriately recorded.
7. Support the financial management of the Capital Programme for colleagues as directed by your Line Manager.
8. Support the timely delivery and preparation of information for business case submissions from a financial perspective, quality assuring the information provided.
9. Deliver information to support the annual accounts closure programme as requested and in accordance with the agreed timetable.
The Experience You Will Bring
1. Full AAT Level 4 qualification or equivalent and some current / very recent work experience as an Accounting Technician or equivalent.
2. Experience of working with financial management issues and finding solutions.
3. Experience of process and practice improvements within a finance setting.
4. Experience of providing financial advice, challenge, and support to budget holders.
5. Working with a range of financial systems and processes and supporting their development.
6. Working proactively with colleagues within the Finance Hub and across the finance function.
7. Ability to establish credibility with budget holders, finance colleagues and other stakeholders.
8. Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
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