Senior Finance Officer at Greater London Authority

Salary: £38,103 per annum

Grade: 6

Contract type: Permanent, Full Time

Reference: 043844

Interview date: W/c 01/11/2023 (may be subject to change)

Application closing date: Sun, 15/10/2023 – 23:59

About the role

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is looking for an aspiring and professional senior financial officer to join its finance team.

This is a great opportunity to help to shape and accelerate the full regeneration potential created by the arrival of High-Speed 2’s Old Oak Common super hub. Old Oak and Park Royal can become a thriving, inclusive and healthy new urban district, with huge benefits for current and new residents and businesses alike.

Supporting the Chief Finance Officer, whilst working to the senior finance business partner, the postholder will be expected to:

Work in partnership with the financial accountant to ensure a strong financial control environment is in place, including payment processes, grant processing, cash management, balance sheet reconciliation and corporate reporting; and

Maintain SAP financial processes and structures to ensure accurate financial transactions and reporting is available to support the finance business partners and business areas; and

Support OPDC’s planning cycle, by maintaining and tracking progress to timetables, including budgets and quarterly forecasts.

You will have a keen interest in accountancy having started studying towards an accountancy qualification with a professional body and have previous experience in the public or private sector gained in a similar role. This could be an opportunity for you to extend your experience in a challenging, high profile and public body.

Principal accountabilities

Perform routine accountancy tasks, in line with financial policies and procedures, including clearing expense claims, clearing BACs payment runs, processing CHAPs payments, raising income invoices, analysis of grant claims, posting journals, loading budgets and forecasts, maintaining corporate credit cards and allocating cash payments and receipts.

Support the accountant in the processing of information and running operational reports to provide accurate data to aid analysis, including monthend flash reports, open PO’s and parked invoices.

Ensure good financial governance by supporting the balance sheet reconciliation processes including, cash, debtors, creditors and year end processes for producing annual report and account and audit preparation.

Support quarterly consolidated dashboard reporting and financial commentary, and other ad hoc reporting requirements from the GLA and statistical returns from government departments.

Support OPDC’s planning cycle, by maintaining and tracking progress to timetables, including budgets and quarterly forecasts.

Support on other key requirements of the annual financial cycle, including annual final accounts, internal and external audit reviews, grants management and capital programme reporting.

Support the accountant to maintain SAP financial structures and work breakdown structures and handle queries from business colleagues as the lead contact for systems and financial processes, including purchase to pay, expenses and invoicing.

Embrace and advocate the drive to improve finance systems and processes, representing the needs of the business and finance function.

Provide routine advice and information to staff on finance processes.

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

CCAB part-qualified (or equivalent) or starting qualifications with up to date with CPD

Understanding and experience of financial practices and procedures

Experience of working with finance systems and processes.

Ability to use standard office software applications, including Word and Excel (to an advanced standard), in a financial environment.

Behavioural competencies

Stakeholder focus

…is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

Listens to understand requirements without making assumptions

Demonstrates an enthusiastic and ‘can do attitude’ to all requests

Provides timely, accurate and personalised responses

Provides a polite and helpful first point of contact for stakeholders

Learns from feedback to improve personal service to others

Managing and developing performance

… is setting high standards for oneself and others, guiding, motivating and developing them, to achieve high performance and meet the OPDC’s objectives and statutory obligations.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

Keeps up to date with new processes and information in own role

Seeks opportunities to develop, taking responsibility for own personal development plan

Takes a methodical and consistent approach to completing work in line with personal objectives

Planning and organising

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables

Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones

Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work

Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard

Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Problem solving

…is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 1 indicator of effective performance

Breaks down work issues, seeking further information if necessary

Provides workable solutions to solve immediate work problems

Makes suggestions and implements improvements to personal work processes

Actively supports new initiatives and tries different ways of doing things

Learns from others’ experiences

Responsible use of resources

… is taking personal responsibility for using and managing resources effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

Demonstrates awareness of the OPDC’s commitment to value for money and responsible use of resources

Works independently using own time and that of others effectively

Takes action to avoid unnecessary waste and cost

Reduces personal impact on the environment by reducing use of, reusing and recycling resources

Shows understanding of relevant budgets and how they apply in own work environment

Organisational awareness

… is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the OPDC and shaping our approach accordingly.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

Understands the structure and statutory responsibilities of the OPDC

Understands how own role and work contributes to team and organisational objectives

Understands the role of the OPDC, the Mayor and the Assembly in relation to Londoners

Is sensitive to the culture and political context of the OPDC and uses it to work effectively

Treats OPDC information as sensitive and confidential

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework.

Application Process & Additional Information

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role. Please upload a personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the following technical requirements and competencies in your personal statement. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and cover letter are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name – 012345)

Applications submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

OPDC staff are hybrid working 2-3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Application closing date: 15 October 2023 at 23:59

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact [email protected] to arrange a call.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

More support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].

Apply here