Finance Officer - Neath, United Kingdom - Neath Town Council

Description

Job Purpose

To support the Town Clerk in undertaking their statutory role under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Responsible for the effective management and accounting arrangements of the Town Council in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements ensuring compliance with the Practitioner's Guide to Governance and Accountability.

To assist the Town Clerk on all financial aspects and related matters of the Town Council finances and ensure that financial control is maintained.

Job Summary

The post holder will support the Town Clerk to ensure the smooth running of the Corporate Governance and Financial Administration of Neath Town Council and the day-to-day administration of the Council's affairs.

The Financial Officer will have specific responsibilities for accounting (including bookkeeping), budgeting and reporting.

As such the post holder will undertake a senior role in accordance with the instructions of the Town Clerk and Council.

Therefore, as a pivotal part of a small team, you will support all staff and the Town Clerk to ensure the Town Council is run according to its Constitution, Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Finance

, Budgeting & Reporting

To support the Clerk in their role as the Council's Responsible Financial Officer and to carry out the following duties:

• Finance

To monitor and effectively manage the Town Council's finances in accordance with its financial regulations and advise the Town Council on a financial strategy that will meet its finance and policy objectives and ensure that the accounts are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations and the Practitioner's Guide on Governance and Accountability.

To advise the Clerk and Members on all matters relating to the budgets, income and expenditure, including procedures, methods and protocol.

To oversee the payroll function including PAYE, NI and pension arrangements and to ensure that expenses (including those claimed by members), sickness, and annual holiday are managed in accordance with Town Council policies and liaising with HMRC as necessary via SAGE Payroll.

To submit pension information to the relevant authority on a monthly basis.

To maintain the VAT records of the Council. To prepare quarterly VAT Returns and ensure these are submitted to HMRC on time together with any payment due.

To ensure that all payments made to the Town Council are properly recorded and that income is banked on a weekly basis via appropriate banking arrangements.

To carry out weekly bank reconciliations.

To maintain the cash book and ensure that all supporting documentation is maintained to provide the required audit trail.

To be responsible for, and to record petty cash expenditure, and to balance the petty cash system on a weekly basis.

To review aged and bad debtors on a fortnightly basis and report to Council on potential write offs.

To oversee the purchase ordering and purchase ledger function and monitor credit control on a weekly basis.

To manage the Town Council's bank accounts to achieve an effective cash flow and to manage the Town Council's investments in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.

To ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for Internal Audit and liaise with the Internal Auditor and External Auditor in relation to the financial affairs of the Town Council.

To prepare the annual financial Statement of Accounts in accordance with the Governance and Accountability for local Councils in Wales - A Practitioners' Guide and submit for audit.

To administer the Town Council's loans, leasing and such other capital financing repayment arrangements as may be required.

To monitor contracts to ensure the council is receiving the required level of service and value for money.

To develop financial management mechanisms that minimise financial risk.

To be responsible for the management and distribution via Council instructions, of the Council's Charity Accounts.

To act as the representative of the Council on financial matters as required and cover any other duties that may be required regarding financial matters of the Council.

As the role develops, to continually appraise financial arrangements and to seek to develop a system whereby financial information can be built into quality performance measures.

To assist and support the management of the Council's Investment Property Portfolio and all associated financial controls.

To undertake one off projects as agreed with the Clerk.

Budgeting

To prepare a detailed annual budget and precept assessment for the Town Council's approval having ensured that all appropriate Committees have had the opportunity to engage with the process.

To prepare forward looking budget proposals in support of the Town Council's business planning needs.

To ensure that the finance software system is effectively administered and that finances