Finance Assistant

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

36-hour Week

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Hillingdon Sports & Leisure

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Cycle to Work

Local Government Pension Scheme

Perkbox Benefits

Mental Health Support and Counselling

Travel Support

Trade Union Membership

Job summary

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking a Finance Assistant to join the Control Accounting Team within Corporate Finance. You will help maintain accurate financial records, allocate income from the Council's bank accounts and support key financial control processes to keep services running smoothly.

Ideal candidates are accurate, numerate and able to handle multiple priorities. Strong Excel and IT skills, plus good communication, are essential for delivering reliable financial information to

Qualifications

• Strong admin and IT skills required.
• Excellent attention to detail is essential.
• Proficiency in Excel and MS Office apps.
• Good communication and organisational abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Allocate income from the Council's bank accounts accurately and efficiently.
• Support the reconciliation of the Council's bank accounts and financial records.
• Clear and investigate outstanding income suspense items.
• Maintain, monitor and update financial information and records.
• Manage enquiries via the team's shared mailbox.
• Prepare reports and use financial systems to support the team.
• Assist with processing payments and banking transactions.
• Support monthly and year-end financial processes.
• Investigate and resolve financial queries with internal departments and external organisations.
• Maintain procedure notes and contribute to continuous improvement.

Skills

Administrative skills

IT skills

Excel

Microsoft Office

Attention to detail

Communication

Organisation

Prioritisation

Job description

About the role

Numbers matter. Not just because they balance the books, but because they help ensure vital services can continue to be delivered to residents across Hillingdon.

We're looking for a Finance Assistant to join our Control Accounting Team within Corporate Finance. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build a career in finance, gain exposure to a busy corporate finance function and develop valuable knowledge of local government finance.

You’ll play an important role in maintaining accurate financial records, allocating income received through the Council's bank accounts and supporting key financial control processes that help keep the organisation running effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Allocate income received through the Council's bank accounts accurately and efficiently.


• Support the reconciliation of the Council's bank accounts and financial records.


• Clear and investigate outstanding income suspense items.


• Maintain, monitor and update financial information and records.


• Manage enquiries received through the team's shared mailbox.


• Prepare reports and use financial systems to support the work of the team.


• Assist with processing payments and banking transactions.


• Support monthly and year-end financial processes.


• Investigate and resolve financial queries with internal departments and external organisations.


• Maintain procedure notes and contribute to continuous improvement activities.


• Provide administrative and financial support to wider finance projects as required.

About You

You don't need extensive local government finance experience, but you do need an eye for detail and a genuine interest in finance.

We're looking for someone who is:

• Accurate and organised – You take pride in producing high-quality work and maintaining accurate records.


• Numerate – You're comfortable working with financial information and enjoy problem-solving.


• Customer-focused – You provide a professional and helpful service to colleagues and stakeholders.


• Self-motivated – You can work independently while contributing positively to a team environment.


• Adaptable – You're comfortable learning new systems and responding to changing priorities.


• Committed to improvement – You actively look for ways to work more efficiently and effectively.

You will have

• Strong administrative and IT skills.


• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.


• Excellent attention to detail.


• Strong communication and organisational skills.


• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Experience working in a finance or accounting environment and knowledge of financial systems would be advantageous but is not essential.

Additional Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Carla Batten, Senior Accountant - Control Accounting at [email protected].

Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 23rd of November.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.


• 36-hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.


• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).


• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.


• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).


• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.


• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.


• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.


• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.


• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.


• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:

• Basic DBS Check


• 2 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.