our ref

your ref

please ask for

direct dial 01473 433402

Dear Applicant

RE: Assistant Business Support Accountant Post Ref: 1806

Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed in this application pack the following documents:

  • Job Description
  • Person Specification
  • Service Overview

Application Form:

The application form plays a key part in our selection process. We use the information you provide to shortlist for interview.

You are urged to ensure that all the information contained in your application is relevant and that you demonstrate how you meet the criteria on the person specification. Please use the person specification for guidance when filling in the application form.

References: If successful at interview, Ipswich Borough Council will seek to obtain two employment references. Wherever possible the name of your first referee must be from current employment/education and the second from either current or former employment/education. If you cannot provide an “employment” reference please contact the HR Team at Ipswich Borough Council for further assistance.

For your information, the salary for this post is: £20,024 - £21,164 (level 1) progressing to £24,081 - £25,864 (level 2) per annum.

The closing date is 5pm on the 25th September 2016.

If you have any recruitment queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01473 433402. Please leave your name, number and brief details of your question and a member of the recruitment team will call you back.

Yours faithfully

Recruitment Team

Human Resource

Ipswich Borough Council

Job Description: M53

Assistant Business Support Accountant (Career Grade - Level 1)

Main Purpose of Job

To support the section in providing a finance and business consultancy service to Council services and related organisational units to enable the Council’s obligations and objectives to be achieved within financial constraints.

Main Duties

1.The reconciliation of various control accounts.

2.Assisting with the preparation of annual revenue/capital budgets.

3.Undertake basic budgetary control.

4.Cost allocation.

5.Assist with the production of the annual Statement of Accounts and the completion of statutory and other financial returns.

6.Undertake duties relating to the integrated finance system, including: system maintenance, running of monthly/ ad hoc reports, development and maintenance of system procedure notes.

7.Assist with the future development of the integrated finance system and other systems providing financial information.

9.Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing thegeneral character of the duties shown above or the level of responsibilityentailed.

/ PERSON SPECIFICATION
Assistant Business Support Accountant (Career Grade Level 1)
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Knowledge/Qualifications / 5 GCSE’s including English Language and Maths (grade C or above) or NVQ 2 qualification related literacy or numeracy / A levels qualifications
Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) qualification
Working knowledge of integrated finance systems / Application Form
Certificates
Work related experience, skills and competencies / Proven experience within a financial environment
Highly numerate
Working knowledge of Excel, Word (or similar applications) / Experience of reviewing and updating processes
Research and investigative skills
Experienced in designing & developing spreadsheets / Application Form
Certificates
Interview
Personal skills / Ability to work with minimum supervision within defined procedures
Ability to communicate effectively
Ability to cope with a varied workload and unexpected demands / Application Form
Interview
Special working conditions

Ipswich Borough Council

Job Description: M54

Assistant Business Support Accountant (Career Grade - Level 2)

Main Purpose of Job

To support the section in providing a finance and business consultancy service to Council services and related organisational units to enable the Council’s obligations and objectives to be achieved within financial constraints.

Main Duties

1.The reconciliation of various control accounts, including reviewing processes and recommending improvements to aid reconciliation.

2.Assisting with the preparation of annual revenue/capital budgets.

3.Undertake basic budgetary control, including investigations into reasons for variances between actual and budget.

4.Cost allocation, including the review of allocation methodologies.

5.Assist with the production of the annual Statement of Accounts and the completion of statutory and other financial returns.

6.Undertake duties relating to the integrated finance system, including: system maintenance, running of monthly/ ad hoc reports, development and maintenance of system procedure notes.

7.Assist with the future development of the integrated finance system and other systems providing financial information.

8.Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing thegeneral character of the duties shown above or the level of responsibilityentailed.

/ PERSON SPECIFICATION
Assistant Business Support Accountant (Career Grade Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Knowledge/Qualifications / Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT) or NVQ level 4 in a finance related subject / Working knowledge of integrated finance systems / Application Form
Certificates
Work related experience, skills and competencies / Proven experience within a financial environment
Experience in reviewing and updating processes
Highly numerate
Experienced in the use of Excel, Word or (similar applications)
Research and investigative skills
Experienced in designing / developing spreadsheets / Application Form
Certificates
Interview
Personal skills / Ability to demonstrate both initiative and flexibility within defined procedures
Ability to communicate effectively
Ability to cope with a varied workload and unexpected demands / Application Form
Interview
Special working conditions

Ipswich Borough Council

Finance and Procurement Services

The Finance and Procurement Services Group is part of Resource Management.The Finance and Procurement Service plays a critical role in managing and developing the organisation, having both statutory and support roles. The service is involved with and supports staff at all levels, councillors and external stakeholders

The service covers many functions, which are briefly discussed below:

S151 Function

Ensures that the Council complies with all statutory financial requirements.

Income Collection

Monitors and allocates all income to the Council

Debtors

Issues invoices for services provided and collects the debts (includes debt recovery service).

Procurement Team

Provides a corporate resource to promote and enforce best practise, carry out procurement exercises, manage and promote usage of Suffolk Sourcing (an online e-tendering and contract management system).

Creditors

Pay all invoices received by the Council, manage and promote usage of the Government Procurement Card.

Systems Team

Manage the Council’s central financial systems, provide regular financial reports and train users.

Treasury Management

Ensure that there is always a positive cash-flow by borrowing or investing, to ensure that all bills can be paid and the maximum income is safely derived from investments.

Banking

Manage and arrange the Council’s banking contract.

Insurance

Arrange and manage the Council’s insurance contracts, manage claims for Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.

Compliance

Production of the Annual Statement of Accounts, liaison with external audit, completion of VAT and other tax returns, completion of statutory returns e.g. Whole of Government Accounts.

Service Accounting

Financial and business support and advice to Heads of Service and Operational Managers.

Budgeting

Plan and manage the annual process culminating in the production of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Strategic Financial Advice

Provision of strategic advice in response to issues raised and also proactively promote new strategies.

Staff that work in Finance and Procurement have to be highly adaptable and willing to form and reform groups to deliver specific projects. The achievement of appropriate professional or technical qualifications are actively encouraged, to promote service continuity and progression planning.