Finance Assistant Trainee
Eden Court
Finance Assistant – Trainee
(Full time - 37.5 hours)
Background
Inverness and the Highlands
Inverness was awarded city status in 2000. It enjoys one of the fastest growth rates in Europe but has many of the advantages associated with both small town and big city living. It is small enough to be friendly and to have retained its community feeling but large enough to have the facilities and events you would expect to find in any modern city.
Inverness is the capital of the Highlands of Scotland which contain some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. The Highlands can be enjoyed peacefully or for the more adventurous they are seen as the “outdoor capital of Europe.”
Eden Court
Eden Court is the theatre and entertainment venue for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. We present a wide ranging and varied programme of live performances and films, as well as providing the largest programme of creative learning of any UK theatre.
Our programme ranges from full scale opera to rock music, from large scale drama to stand up comedy and from international modern dance to local community companies. We have two state-of-the-art cinemas, showing popular blockbusters, art house film and specialist cinema from around the world. Eden Court is home to the Inverness Film Festival and to one of Scotland’s most popular Christmas pantomimes. We deliver our creative learning programme throughout the region.
During the last few years Eden Court has become a great success story. We have achieved consistent and substantial growth in audience numbers and are highly respected by our two major revenue funders – the Highland Council and Creative Scotland.
Eden Court serves the whole of the Highlands of Scotland (an area similar in size to Wales). Over 30% of our audience travel for more than 90 minutes to attend a performance so we pride ourselves on looking after our audience and ensuring that their remarkable loyalty is repaid.
Whether you focus on our unique creative learning programme, the size of the region we serve or the variety of our programme, there really is no other theatre like us in Britain.
The Eden Court building
Eden Court Theatre was designed by Law and Dunbar Naismith and opened in 1976. It combined a new theatre and foyer space with dressing room and office accommodation in an 1878 building that was originally the residence for the Bishop of Inverness. The building was significantly extended and refurbished in 2007 with design by Page \ Park. It is now the largest arts centre in Scotland and has won a number of architecture, design and environmental awards. It is a Grade A listed building.
We have a main house of 850 seats (The Empire), a second smaller theatre with 250 seats (The OneTouch Theatre); two cinemas (La Scala and The Playhouse); two studios and 15 dressing rooms. Eden Court is also home to a restaurant, bars, visual arts spaces and conference facilities.
Eden Court staff
Our staff include some of the most experienced, professional and skilful working in theatre throughout the UK.
We offer competitive rates of pay, a generous pension scheme, beautiful premises and a relaxed and informal working environment in which you will be able to make a valuable contribution.
The post of Finance Assistant–Modern Apprenticeship
The Finance Assistant is part of a team of four staff, which is responsible for providing an overall financial service to the organisation. It is a busy team, which deals with a significant variety of transactions arising from the different activities offered by Eden Court. The post holderwill share tasks and workload with the Senior Finance Assistant as directed by the Finance Assistant Manager.
The Finance Department is responsible for the application of Eden Court’s financial regulations and for maintaining a robust system of internal control within the organisation. The work requires a high degree of accuracy, strong communication skills, and a commitment to high standards, in dealing with both the figures and our customers (both internal and external).
It is our intention to offer the post as a Modern Apprenticeship, in partnership withInverness College UHI, leading to a qualification at SVQ level 2 or level 3 as appropriate. Inverness College UHI is currently awaiting SQA approval to deliver the apprenticeship, with the intention of accepting students onto the course towards the end of 2017. Alternatively, the post holder would be encouraged to apply for a place on the HNC Accounting course at Inverness College UHI and would be supported by Eden Court to study part-time while working flexibly. This is a training role that will require both formal study in the classroom, and personal study during evenings and weekends. You will be enrolled as a student of Inverness College UHI.
The post would suit a candidate who wants to gain experience in all aspects of an operational role in finance. Personal qualities are as important to the role as any previous experience gained. Aptitude for the work will be assessed as part of the interview process.
This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join a highly regarded and vibrant arts organisation. You will gain significant experience of financial processes, working with a committed and experienced team in a central support role. You will earn a wage above the national minimum for your age and at the same time you will gain a well respected vocational qualification and enjoy all the benefits of the student experience offered by Inverness College UHI.
Eden Court
Finance Assistant - Trainee
(Full time –37.5 hours)
Job Description
Eden Court is the Theatre for the Highlands and Islands and is committed to presenting a wide and varied programme of music, drama, dance, comedy and film and a range of arts education and participation opportunities to appeal to all residents of the Highlands and visitors to the area.
You will be working within the Finance Team, providing an overall financial service to the organisation. You will report to the Finance and Administration Manager, who delegates responsibility for the day-to-day activities within the Finance Department to the Finance Assistant Manager.
As a member of the Finance Team you will be responsible for enforcing Eden Court’s financial regulations and for ensuring that a robust system of internal control is maintained within the organisation. You will be required to liaise with other departments in the organisation in the course of carrying out your duties.
Summary of responsibilities
You will share workload with the Senior Finance Assistant, including purchase ledger and sales ledger processes, the recording of daily income, banking, the management of petty cash and floats, the processing of staff expense claims and assisting with the settlement of contracts with performers. You will be required to assist with all aspects of the work, and tasks will be allocated on a daily basis; however you may have more regular involvement in some areas than in others.
Purchase ledger processes
1. Matching purchase invoices to orders and delivery notes, and recording these in the finance system
2. Obtaining appropriate authorisation to enable the payment of purchase invoices and releasing approved invoices for payment
- Compiling payment runs
- Reconciliation of supplier statements
- Liaising with suppliers to resolve queries and monitoring the progress of these
- Filing paid invoices and remittance advices
- Timely processing of travel subsidy claims
- Recording payments by direct debit
Sales ledger processes
- Compiling information in preparation for invoicing e.g. for recharges to visiting companies and for charges to customers using the venue for conferences and events
- Preparing invoices, including those for recharges to visiting companies, charges for conferences and events, and for the activities of the Creative Department
- Allocating income received against customer accounts.
Recording of daily income
1. Checking the daily income sheets received from Front of House, Box Office and Catering and liaising with the relevant department to resolve queries
2. Recording income in the finance system
Banking
1. Receiving funds from various sources around the theatre (including Eden Court’s Drama and Dance Workers) and checking these to the supporting documentation provided
2. Preparing paying-in slips as appropriate
3. Facilitating the banking of cash and cheques received
Petty cash and cash floats
1. Regular reconciliation of petty cash
Staff expenses
1. Receiving claims documentation, checking this and ensuring that appropriate supporting documentation has been provided in accordance with Eden Court’s financial regulations
2. Recording claims in the finance system
Payroll
- Assisting with payroll processes as required.
More involvement in payroll is likely to be part of the post holder’s development during the course of theirtraining.
Other duties
You will be required to carry out any other duties requested by the Finance and Administration Manager or Finance Assistant Manager which are reasonable requirements for the job of Finance Assistant at Eden Court.
As a member of Eden Court staff you will be required to implement certain key policies including Equal Opportunities, Customer Care and The Health & Safety Policy. You will also be expected to take your share of responsibility in the ongoing improvement of these policies and for contributing to the overall profile and reputation of Eden Court.
Eden Court
Finance Assistant
Trainee
(Full time – 37.5 hours)
Candidate Specification
Training/ apprenticeship opportunity
It is our intention to offer the post as a Modern Apprenticeship, in partnership with Inverness College UHI, leading to a qualification at SVQ level 2 or level 3 as appropriate. Inverness College UHI is currently awaiting SQA approval to deliver the apprenticeship, with the intention of accepting students onto the course towards the end of 2017. Alternatively, the post holder would be encouraged to apply for a place on the HNC Accounting course at Inverness College UHI and would be supported by Eden Court to study part-time while working flexibly. It is available to young people within the age range 16 to 24.
Experience
We welcome applications from candidates who are able to demonstrate an aptitude for working with numbers and data, and a commitment to developing a career in finance and accounting. For example, your subject choices at school may have included accounting or another subject requiring skill with numbers, accuracy and attention to detail.
Academic qualifications
Level 2 apprenticeship
Minimum of 3 SQA National 4 qualifications or equivalent, including Mathematics and English.
Level 3 apprenticeship
Minimum of 3 SQA National 5 qualifications or equivalent, including Mathematics and English.
Personal Qualities
- Your work is accurate.
- You give care and attention to detail.
- You are honest and reliable.
- You are keen to learn and happy to take instruction from your supervisors.
- You are polite and friendly and get on with a wide range of people.
- You are patient, calm and efficient
- You work well within a team and are prepared to help out with whatever tasks are required.
- You show initiative and common sense, and are capable of working independently.
- You are a hard worker.