Accountant Level 1

Starting salary for this role is £34,434 (pro rata for part-time colleagues). This role sits within a well defined pay band, offering clear progression as you grow your career hout exception all new starters begin at the entry point of the band, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organisation. Be part of a forward thinking workplace where you’re supported to grow and you can truly #Be The Difference  ernal colleagues are also normally appointed at the bottom of the band, unless moving within the same profession and skill level, where the pay band is the same they can be appointed to the existing pay point.

Learn more in our ‘More than just a job’ brochure on our careers site. BCP has an extensive investment strategy and aspiration to make our area a place where residents, visitors and businesses thrive. We are looking for someone with the financial acumen and professional skills to help realise these opportunities against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging economic environment.

Accountant Level 1 – The Accountant I will be responsible for the processing of BCP income streams (imports/eReturns) into the daily bank reconciliation which feeds into the General Ledger. This will include data integrity checks and communication with BCP colleagues and 3rd party suppliers to resolve discrepancies and operational system needs. Responsibilities also include completion of key corporate control accounts such as Business rates, involvement in the Council’s closedown process competing income accruals and other notes.

As part of a team look to improve existing processes to ensure working practices are cost effective and efficient, maximising new technologies. Key responsibilities will be subject to external and internal audit overview on an annual basis so accurate record keeping is essential.

Process daily income streams and bank reconciliation in a timely manner to maintain accurate residents financial record and Council management statements. Key contact with corporate core businesses e.g. Barclays, Cardnet and EPOS providers. Provide support and guidance to colleagues, companies and 3rd Party to resolve queries received by the team, on matters such as unallocated, transfers, missing payment to ensure residents income is allocated correctly and efficiently.

System Administration of BCP’s core banking solutions (inc Barclays, Pay
360) to ensure service have appropriate permissions to undertake their role and maintain a centralised record to comply with financial obligations. Using specialist knowledge to improve existing working procedures to promote best practice or make recommendation to senior management to maximise effectiveness of the team and system performance to provide a better service to client base. Transferring knowledge to Income and Banking Team and wider service users.

To undertake other duties within the Income and Banking / Financial Services as required within the level of this post.

Qualified to Level 3 AAT. Good working knowledge of MS Dynamics, Pay
360. Good working knowledge of MS Office applications including MS Teams, Outlook, Word, and Excel. Practical experience of financial practices, processes and procedures including a broader commercial awareness. Technical knowledge of processing and accounting for financial payments from multiple feeds. Skilled in financial reconciliation, data investigation, system, and process enhancement/development with a broad knowledge across financial areas. Ability to respond effectively to complex customer enquiries and requests.

Experience of coaching, training, and/or developing others and a commitment to own professional development.

Effective interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written; able to resolve any potential barriers to collaborating with others by communicating openly and challenging unhelpful behaviours when necessary. Proactively engage with customers and service users, using tact and diplomacy when issues might become contentious. Able to make data/evidence based, outcome focussed decisions using proactive risk management…