Principal Finance Officer

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority is seeking a Principal Finance Officer to join their Housing finance team. This role is crucial for providing comprehensive financial services, ensuring compliance with regulations, and supporting departmental managers on financial management. The ideal candidate should possess a finance qualification or relevant local government experience, along with strong analytical and communication skills. This position offers competitive pay and benefits within a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Generous pension plan

Flexible working

Annual leave including Bank Holidays

Qualifications

• Proven local government experience or appropriate finance qualification.
• Comfortable with cyclical tasks while self-motivated.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor departmental Housing budgets and expenditure.
• Provide financial advice and support to departmental staff.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Proficiency in Microsoft software

Education

Finance qualification or local government experience

Tools

Housing Management system (NEC)

Job description

About Us

Job Title: Principal Finance Officer (HRA)

Salary Range: £, - £, per annum

One Year Fixed Term – Fulltime ( hours)

Location: Wandsworth

We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Finance Officer to join our Housing finance team in the Resident Services department. As the Principal Finance Officer, you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive financial service to the department, ensuring that financial activities relating to all areas of Housing are conducted in a timely, accurate and compliant manner.

In this role, you will provide a comprehensive financial service to the department, including providing advice to, and work jointly with, managers throughout the department covering all aspects of financial management, grants and funding co-ordination, financial policy and procedures and audit administration.

You'll be actively involved in the preparation of detailed management reports and offering crucial advice and support to departmental staff. Ensuring strict compliance with all relevant financial regulations and procedures is paramount, as is working closely with other departments to guarantee seamless financial coordination. Your role also involves contributing significantly to the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

About the role

The Departmental Housing Finance Support team plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth financial operations of the Resident Services department. Our team is composed of highly skilled and experienced officers who possess an intimate understanding of the department's intricate financial processes. We are adept at handling a wide range of financial tasks, demonstrating exceptional versatility and expertise in all areas of the department's financial management. Our collaborative and supportive work environment promotes continuous learning, allowing us to provide unparalleled service to the department. Our exceptional communication skills enable us to effectively interact with officers at all levels, fostering strong partnerships and contributing significantly to the overall success of the department.

Key duties include:

• Monitoring of departmental Housing budgets and expenditure both general fund and HRA.
• Maintaining a high level of technical knowledge of the Housing Management system (NEC) and uses said knowledge to interrogate Repair and Maintenance trends.
• Compiles monthly findings for monthly board forecast review.
• Preparation of monthly forecast reports working with the relevant service heads to analysis and integrate detail.
• Providing general financial advice and support to Housing departmental staff.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial regulations and procedures.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will have an appropriate finance qualification or proven local government experience and knowledge of financing local government and preferably previous experience of Housing Revenue Accounts. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who are able to demonstrate a high level of transferrable skills and knowledge. Ongoing training will be provided to the successful candidate in keeping with the council’s commitment to staff development. You will need to have a practical approach to problem solving and be comfortable with cyclical tasks. You will have an analytical mind and be a well-developed communicator both orally and written, familiar with Microsoft software suite, self-motivated and be committed to providing good customer care. You will have the ability to work independently without direct supervision yet still be an active member of the team.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday th January

Shortlisting Date: W/C th January

Interview Date: W/C nd February

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils