Accounting Technician - Working for Essex

About the role

Accounting Technician

Permanent, Full Time

£23,344 to £25,679 Per Annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 23rd December 2024 at 11.59pm

This role will be filled on a hybrid basis. This means you can work remotely part of the working week with an expectation to attend the office at least 2-3 days per month. Any journeys to the office would be at your own expense. More specific details about this can be discussed at the interview stage should you be invited to interview.

Interview dates: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January 2025

The Role

There has never been a more exciting and challenging time to join our high performing team. We continue to work with politicians, senior officers across a range of diverse services helping them deliver first class services to the residents, visitors, and businesses of Essex in a difficult period for public sector finances in the UK.

Whether it is shaping our response to the growing pressures in adult social care or working with partners to address the housing crisis by delivering the most ambitious new towns programme nationally, our finance professionals are right at the heart of the strategic programmes addressing the biggest issues facing the public sector in the 21st century.

If you have the passion and vision to help bring about the sort of change needed to keep one of the biggest local authorities in the country at the forefront of high quality public service provision, whilst all the time helping ensure financial resilience, then we would love to meet you and explore what opportunities there are for you to join us.

This expert team leads the financial administration of the authority, ensuring budgetary frameworks, control and statutory requirements are met.

Collectively, our financial administration oversees close to £3 billion per year. We manage income, assessment, invoices, debtors, and purchase-to-pay totalling over one million transactions a year. These resources give us the opportunity we’re passionate about to make a profound impact on Essex and the people who call our county home.

We are an accredited employer by all the CCAB bodies, and we run a full programme of internal training and development opportunities to ensure everyone has the opportunity to keep their CPD up to date and maintained. We also encourage and facilitate participation in wider policy shaping activities and the advancement of the public finance profession more generally; many of our staff are active on national and regional forums and working groups including the CIPFA regional committee and the CIPFA national student network.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Corporate Services

The Opportunity

This role will contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused service, delivering all aspects of financial management information to both the members of the management accounting team and budget holders, ensuring quality of information is provided to stakeholders. The role supports the efficient running of the Finance Hub and works effectively to meet customer requirements by ensuring information is delivered efficiently within agreed timeframes.

It requires the provision of high-quality advice, information, analysis, and interpretation to finance colleagues to underpin effective decision making and meet financial governance requirements across the business.

Partly qualified this role is expected to build strong relationships with finance colleagues and relevant stakeholders across the Council.

Accountabilities

Provide timely, accurate information and advice to budget holders to ensure they allow effective management of budgets, support the development of financial plans, and assist them in carrying out their financial duties.
Undertake some analysis of financial and performance data and provide financial advice. In addition, develop some understanding of unit costs and drivers in order to assess variances in a robust manner.
Build a strong understanding of all financial management and reporting systems and processes, ensuring clarity on financial systems and processes to maximise efficiency ensuring proper reconciliation and control procedures are in place.
Deliver accurate financial estimates, forecasts and plans ensuring all identified risks are quantified and appropriately recorded.
Support the financial management of the Capital Programme for colleagues.
Support the timely delivery and preparation of information for business case submissions from a financial perspective, quality assuring the information provided.
Deliver information to support the annual accounts closure programme as requested and in accordance with the agreed timetable.

The Experience You Will Bring

Experience of working with financial management issues and finding solutions.
Experience of process and practice improvements within a finance setting.
Experience of providing financial advice, challenge, and support to budget holders.
Working with a range of financial systems and processes, supporting their development.
Working proactively with colleagues within the Finance Hub and across the finance function.
Educated to RQF level 2 (GCSE) in 5 subjects including Math’s and English or working towards AAT or other vocational accounting qualification.
Ability to establish credibility with budget holders, finance colleagues and other stakeholders.
Ability to develop skills and knowledge within role.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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