INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Assistant Finance Manager

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent – Internal Only

Location: Merrion House, Leeds - hybrid working

Are you looking to play your part in transforming one of the most dynamic cities in the UK? Our vision is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK. One that is caring and compassionate, has a strong economy and which tackles and reduces inequalities. This post sits within the Asset Management and Regeneration service within City Development. The role is to assist in the management of the City Development Income Team, that is responsible for the collection of all rent and associated income for Leeds City Councils commercial property portfolio, Timemaster and recharging costs across the council’s revenue and capital budgets.

Good communication and interpersonal skills are vital to this role as the post will involve close liaison with internal colleagues and external Debtors and Creditors.

As an Assistant Finance Manager, you will need to thrive on being highly motivated and confident being able to assist in the management of the workload of the team, as well as their own, ensuring work is completed appropriately and within challenging deadlines.

Good working knowledge of basic Microsoft IT systems, Dynamics F&O (formerly FMS and Civica) and other Microsoft applications is essential, as is the ability to undertake complex financial analysis.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

We are seeking a self-motivated, problem solving, versatile, organised applicant to assist in the management of the Income Team and have experience in supporting the provision of Budget Monitoring and producing reports and graphs explaining the council’s position with budget holders in City Development and other Directorates, with excellent communication skills. The successful applicant should demonstrate the necessary skills and experience.
You will have experience of working as part of a dedicated team, dealing with competing priorities and workloads, responding quickly and appropriately to changing needs and be able to demonstrate excellent organisation skills.

About the role

You will work as part of a larger team with a proactive culture and in partnership to help deliver income, in line with the service objectives.
You will assist in the management of a small team and work closely to support surveyors and staff from City Development and other
You will be required to assist in debt recovery, banking cash daily, producing weekly invoice runs, raising purchase orders, processing internal recharges journals across the council using Dynamics F&O, running and amending management reports and providing knowledge on the results, working closely with the Finance Business Partners and Asset Management & Regeneration officers in providing technical support for budget monitoring, estimates, closedown data and debt position. Providing evidence for audit, taxation queries and freedom of information requests and reconciling Qube to Dynamics F&O. Assisting the management of the interaction between Qube and other LCC financial systems including Civica EPay and Dynamics F&O.
Assisting with the Qube management of the portfolio.
Database management including property / tenant input, billing dates and charge amounts, lease terms and service charges
Assisting with the data cleansing and archiving old records in Qube.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online short application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Adam Reynolds Finance Manager or by email adam.reynolds@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Working as part of the team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate based officers, budget olders, third parties and stakeholders.

By helping make sure that financial information is placed at the heart of decision-making, the role plays an important part in ensuring that the council is both enterprising and efficient.

Responsibilities

The post-holder will deliver a range of financial support services to directorates, third parties and stakeholders

Principal Accountabilities

Supporting the provision of operational financial advice and management information to officers, members and other internal stakeholders in order to support effective decision-making and support the provision of timely responses to enquiries from people/organisations external to the Council
Utilisation of service data and financial forecasts to ensure that budgets are effectively managed, budget-holders are given appropriate levels of support, risks are identified and actively managed and services areas are supported to optimise income generation
Provision of independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information to ensure that inefficiencies, irregularities and performance variances (financial and non-financial) are investigated and opportunities for improved delivery are identified
Collaboration with directorate senior officers and budget-holders to produce:

Supporting reports / working papers for annual revenue budgets
Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans
Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports

Supporting the efficient and effective stewardship of assets and resources, for example by supporting directorate-based senior officers to implement the recommendations of Internal Audit
Support in the preparation of year-end accounts and other financial returns
Line management of finance officers commensurate with grade
Display customer focus and role model the behaviours expected
Support with the provision of accurate and timely financial information, challenge, insight and advice to directorate budget-holders and appropriate City Development officers
Apply a risk-based approach to the monitoring of revenue budgets, assist where required for budget meetings
Support directorate budget-holders to analyse and understand the financial position within their services
Support on the compilation of challenging and robust revenue budgets for a range of directorate -based services
Advise on the optimisation of all current/potential sources of income and alternative approaches to achieve full cost recovery
Explain complex data to non-financial stakeholders to help inform and challenge decision-makers
Maintain financial systems, processes and procedures

Qualifications

AAT part-qualified or equivalent or relevant work experience within a financial environment

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Ability to provide independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information
Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal partners/professionals
Ability to plan and organise own work and that of others and to strict deadlines
Sound problem solving and analytical and skills
Ability to clearly present financial information in a manner appropriate to the recipients of the information
Ability to understand and meet customer expectations
Ability to establish credibility with senior management and other stakeholders
Sound working knowledge of core financial business processes including budget planning, budget monitoring and reporting and closure of accounts
Understanding responsibility for health and safety.
Practical experience of supporting the provision of financial information to directorate-based managers with non-financial expertise
Experience of providing financial support to decision making
Experience of supporting service delivery improvements within a financial setting.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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