Finance Assistant | Care Finance Assessment Team | Preston

Lancashire County Council; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Preston is seeking motivated individuals for Finance Assistant roles within the Care Finance Assessment Team. Responsibilities include assisting with financial assessments and effective communication with customers. Candidates should have strong organizational and IT skills. The role offers a salary range of £25,184 to £25,988 per annum, permanent status, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

26 days paid annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Self-development training opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous relevant experience or capacity to carry out the role.
• Office experience at an administrative level.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Arrange financial assessment telephone appointments.
• Deal with duty phone calls and emails.
• Collate information for financial assessments.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

IT skills

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Description

Salary £25,184 to £25,988 per annum | Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team Preston |

Lancashire is the fourth largest local authority in England spanning over a huge geographical area with a diverse range of communities. The Council provides services to approximately 1.2 million people who live within Lancashire.

The Care Finance Assessment team is looking to recruit 2 full-time permanent Finance Assistants within the Care Finance Assessment Team. The role is attached to an administrative base at County Hall, Preston, however, currently may work from home. All flexible working requests will be considered for the successful candidate e.g., home, part-time working, or compressed hours.

We have an excellent opportunity for a two highly motivated individuals who are ready to join our busy team. The role is to provide assistance to the Team Leader and Financial Assessment Officers.

Your duties will include, arranging financial assessment telephone appointments and visits for Financial Assessment Officers, dealing with duty phone calls and emails, and collating information and details required in order that a financial assessment can be completed. You will be required to complete a mail merge using Microsoft Word and possess basic skills and experience in Microsoft Excel. You need to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively using interpersonal skills including the ability to exercise sensitivity and empathy at what could be a difficult time for the customer.

Key Accountabilities

Plan and organise straightforward tasks; exchange varied information with members of the public and other staff; carefully use expensive/complex equipment and handle and process information. Provide general information, advice, and guidance on established internal procedures. Limited accountability for monitoring/recording financial resources. Provide support and guidance as required to other members of staff. Completion of tasks to required standards and deadlines. Accountable for ensuring all telephone calls are conducted in an appropriate manner respecting the diverse needs and circumstances presented by customers and responding in a sensitive and supportive manner. Responsible for liaising with colleagues across the Local Authority's Directorates to advise of customers' requests and concerns and for signposting to relevant points of contact including partner agencies and advice centres as appropriate. You will demonstrate strong teamwork by actively supporting colleagues and contributing to a collaborative working environment. To be able to work independently, organising workload to ensure set targets are achieved within an allocated length of time.

Skills & Experience

Previous relevant experience or the ability to demonstrate the competence/capacity to carry out the role. Office experience at an administrative level. Experience of dealing with vulnerable people, social care customers, and working in a social care finance is not mandatory but may be advantageous. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to use Information Technology efficiently. The ability to follow instructions and processes as well as offer new ideas and contribute towards improving the delivery of our service.

In addition, the post holder may be required to attend training, team briefings and meetings at other venues across the County.

Working for the county council also comes with benefits such as 26 paid annual leave days and our service area does not work on Bank Holidays. We provide and actively encourage self-development offering a wide range of training opportunities. We also offer a generous pension scheme. Flexible working is available, however, duty cover of the office from 8:45 am to 5 pm will be required on a rota basis.

In return, Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, found on our website here.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. For an informal discussion regarding this role, please do not hesitate to contact Janice Stevens (East Area Team Leader) on 01772 530580 or Charlotte Atherton (Reassessment Team Leader) on 01772 535647.

It is essential as part of the application process that you provide a supporting statement which is your opportunity to evidence of how your skills, knowledge, and experience match what we are looking for based on the Person Specification and Role Profile attached and the information detailed. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for an interview without this evidence.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Descritpion and Person Specification