Clerk & RFO

Hampshire ALC; Test Valley; On-site; GBP 6,000 - 10,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

CiLCA training support

Job summary

Charlton Parish Council, based in the Test Valley, is seeking a part-time Parish Clerk to support the council from home with monthly meetings held in the local Church Room. The role covers legal compliance, admin, payroll, and financial duties essential to council operations.

The ideal candidate will have strong organisation, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. CiLCA is preferred or a commitment to achieve it within two years, with training offered by the council.

Qualifications

• Strong organisational and administrative skills with monthly financial reporting using Excel.
• Understanding of local government processes and relevant legislation.
• Willingness to achieve CiLCA within two years; training provided if needed.

Responsibilities

• Legal compliance with local government regulations and financial management.
• Administrative support: correspondence, records, agendas, minutes, public communication.
• Administering finances, budgets, and auditable records.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Data management

Education

CiLCA (Certificate in Local Council Administration)

Relevant admin qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Accounts/Payroll software

Website CMS

Job description

Mainly home based, however meetings are held once a month in the local Church Room (except August & December)

Hours:

8 hours a week

Our council and the role:

Charlton Parish Council is based in the village of Charlton in the Test Valley. Our village has a population of around 1,700 residents. There are currently seven Councillors with two vacancies.

The Parish Clerk is a vital first point of contact between the village community and the Parish Council. They also fulfil statutory duties as the Proper Officer of the Council, ensuring legal compliance and providing administrative support. This includes managing paperwork, preparing for meetings, implementing decisions and advising the Council on policy and financial matters.

Duties will include:

• Legal Compliance: Ensuring the council adheres to all relevant laws and regulations, including those related to local government, data protection, and financial management.


• Administrative Support: Handling correspondence, managing records, preparing agendas and minutes for meetings, and maintaining communication with the public.


• Financial Management: Administering the council's finances, preparing accounts, managing budgets, and ensuring financial records are accurate and auditable.


• Audit: To prepare documentation for both the internal and external audit.


• Payroll: To ensure all wages are paid using the HMRC basic tools software.


• Policy and Advice: Providing independent and objective advice to the council on policy matters, helping them make informed decisions.


• Meeting Management: Organising and managing council meetings, ensuring they are conducted effectively and within legal frameworks.


• Public Engagement: Communicating with the public, responding to queries, and ensuring transparency in council operations.


• Website Administration: Uploading documents to the Parish Council website and ensuring information is correct and up to date.

The ideal candidate will have/be:

Strong organisational and administrative skills, ability to produce monthly financial reports using excel. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, Proficiency in computer skills and relevant Microsoft software, Understanding of local government processes and procedures, and knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.

Ideally candidates should hold The Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) or be willing to achieve within two years of starting the post. The Council will support any candidate who is not qualified with the necessary training.

What we offer you in return:

The PC offers a flexible work life balance role.