Financial Transaction Officer

3 months contract with a Southeast London based Local Authority.

Job Summary:

Key Duties/Accountabilities:

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 nonstatutory 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 proactive 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.

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 Liquid Logic (LCS) Tribal prepaid cards Post Office PayOut BACS Faster BACSPaye.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 Interbank 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 writebacks and writeoffs.

Processing of transfer of fund.

Import and export of daily bank files.

Essential Experience Required:

Good experience and skills in processing payment transactions using applications such as Oracle/Accounts Payable Social Care/Liquid Logic/ContrOCC.

Good experience of using Excel Word and email/communications.

Experience in financial processing within a large and complex organisation.

Experience of applying legislation regulations and guidance (e.g. as relates to financial regulations banking and accounting standards etc.)

Knowledge of cash and cheque handling procedures in a Local Government or similar environment.

Understanding of Customer Care practices and service provision.

The closing date for this position is 09/08/2024.