Finance Officer

Overview

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality financial services and supporting the financial performance of the council?

As a Finance Officer, you will play a key role in providing a range of finance support services, including data management, reconciliations, business process mapping, and supporting forecasting. You’ll work proactively with stakeholders to ensure the delivery of accurate financial information, underpinning professional financial management and control. This is a varied role, subject to rotation within finance, where you’ll be producing high-quality data to meet corporate priorities and supporting the council’s financial monitoring and analysis processes.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

We are a forward-thinking finance service within the Finance & Transformation Directorate, committed to delivering professional financial services that support the council’s strategic objectives. Our collaborative environment values ambition, integrity, and continuous improvement. We take pride in upholding the reputation of our service and the wider council, and we are always looking for ways to do things better, together.

As part of the Accounts Receivable Income team in Buckinghamshire Council, you'll provide high-quality financial support services including SAP processing, reconciliations, financial analysis, business process improvement and forecasting support, business process mapping and data quality to underpin the delivery of professional financial services, financial management and the financial control environment. 

About the role

As a Finance Officer, your main responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the delivery and processing of accurate financial data in SAP, including journals, virements, reconciliations, and maintaining grants/funding registers.
• Collaborating within the finance team and prioritising work to meet stakeholder requirements.
• Contributing to the maintenance and development of finance systems and procedures, supporting testing and implementation of updates.
• Collating, recording, and analysing information to support finance processes, producing reports and recommendations for decision-making.
• Responding to customer queries, providing accurate advice on procedures, policy, and systems, and acting as an escalation point for non-routine queries.
• Identifying and recommending opportunities for performance and service improvement.
• Contributing to projects and service initiatives as part of a project team.
• Supporting the induction, training, and mentoring of others within the team.
• Providing general processing and administrative support as required.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

 

About you

You will have good planning and organisational skills. You will be highly numerate and have excellent ICT skills.

You will be educated to A level/NVQ3/HNC standard or be working towards AAT or an accounting degree.

Please see the attached job summary for further information about this role.

Other information

The team you will be part of is currently working as part of an “any desk” model. This currently means working in the office in Aylesbury 40% of the time and working at home 60%.

To find out more about this role, please contact Kimberley Ludlow via Microsoft Teams or email [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

Corporate Finance sets the overall financial strategy for the Council as well as the financial, risk and control assurance framework. The service is responsible for co-ordinating the Medium-Term Financial Plan, as well overseeing essential services, from statutory financial reporting and pensions administration to strategic procurement and supplier relationship management, as well as financial support for major projects.

Our expert staff work collaboratively to set a balanced budget and review the Council’s financial framework and procedures and to establish an appropriate assurance framework. Now is an exciting time to join Corporate Finance as we continue to play a key role in supporting all front-line services, ensuring that value for money is achieved and financial activities are directed towards the Council’s priorities.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/