Financial Transaction Officer (SO1)

Description

Experience in processing invoice/payment request transactions. Use of ContrOCC (Liquid Logic), Oracle Financial/payables are preferable but not essential

Main purpose of job:    

• To provide professional, customer focused, efficient and effective financial transactional services to a range of stakeholders. 
• To work with officers across the Council to ensure that appropriate financial controls are in operation including high volume and /or high value transactions.
• Ensuring all receipts or payments are dealt with professionally and in accordance with Audit recommendations and Financial Regulations.

Duties and responsibilities

• To contribute to a first class Financial Transactional Service processing payments coming in and going out of the Council.
• To be able to work to strict deadlines and timetables
• Responsible for making and receiving payments to/from a wide variety of debtors and creditors
• To contribute to the delivery of a wide range of financial processing functions by inputting data, validating data, analysing evidence and maintaining accurate and detailed records
• To liaise with internal stakeholders across the Council (including, but not limited to, budget holders, team leaders and social workers) to ensure smooth running of the Financial Transactional Service
• To liaise with, and provide good customer service to, external stakeholders (including, but not limited to, foster carers, suppliers of goods and services, PPF providers and other debtors and creditors) to facilitate the payment of invoices and / or the collection of payments. This should include taking a proactive approach to resolving any discrepancies.
• To control and report on sensitive financial data, understanding appropriate levels of confidentiality and to operate accordingly.
• To carry out regular reconciliations of financial records
• To be recognised as technically proficient on a wide range of financial systems including an understanding of system interfaces.
• To provide good general ad hoc and regular advice, relating to the transactional services function, to a range of internal and external customers, e.g. Council budget holders, junior members of staff, vulnerable service users and schools.
• To understand legislative requirements, including HMRC and  accounting codes of practice, standards and guidance and other related statutory and non-statutory guidance and to be able to apply this accurately within own work area.
• To understand the council’s financial regulations and be able to work within these.
• To be prepared to adapt and contribute to new Council policies and procedures as required.
• To participate in training and skills development programmes as appropriate and take a pro-active approach to personal development.
• Contribute effectively to team, divisional and inter directorate working groups where required.
• To be able to work under minimal supervision and proactively identify the need for additional or refined information and to prepare accordingly without instruction.

The list of tasks, processes and systems referred to above includes but is not limited to:

Processing Transactions Out (Payments) and Specialist Payments

• To process all payments made by the council using approved Council  methods and financial systems (currently Oracle R12, ContrOCC, prepaid cards, Post Office PayOut, BACS, Faster BACS,Paye.net and Axis Online Services)
• To process high volume/value payments made to a wide variety of internal and external creditors, i.e. current and former staff, suppliers of goods and services, foster carers, carers and care organisations, and to all external clients, both organisational and individual
• To process and record journals, virements and other associated entries to the financial system
• Creation and maintenance of supplier records.
• Import of issued Housing Benefit and Accounts Payable cheque files into the Cheque Reconciliation system.

Processing Transactions In (Income)

• To process all income received by the council via approved Council methods and financial systems (currently cheques, postal orders, card payments, Inter-bank transfers, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, PayPoint, Post Office, Bailiffs, Axis Income Management, Axis Counter Receipting, Paye.net, TouchTone, Easy Mobile, Barcode Invoice generator, BACS, Capita Revenues (Council Tax) and Housing Benefits.
• To contribute to the provision of systems administrative support to both internal and external users for the above systems.
• Creation of Debtors accounts and liaising with budget holders to ensure accuracy of details.
• To process debtors account invoices using the accounts receivable system and carry out related administration.
• Processing write-backs and write-offs.
• Processing of transfer of fund.
• Import and export of daily bank files.

GENERAL

• To carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and core values
• All employees are required to participate in the Performance Evaluation Scheme (PES) and to undertake appropriate training and development identified to enhance their work.
• Assist in carrying out the Council’s environmental policy within the day to day activities of the post.
• Undertake other duties, commensurate with the grade as may reasonably be required.
• Consideration will be given to restructuring the duties of this post for a disabled post holder.

This job description may need to be amended by the Directorate to meet the changing needs of the service.