Finance Technician

5 Month Contract With A Local Authority Job Purpose

To support senior finance staff in the effective management, monitoring, and reporting of revenue and capital budgets. The postholder will provide accurate financial information, maintain financial controls, and support budget holders and managers to ensure sound financial planning, value for money, and compliance with statutory and organisational requirements.

• Support senior finance staff in the preparation, monitoring, and closure of revenue and capital budgets, including the final accounts process.
• Work with low-risk budget managers to provide financial intelligence underpinning advice and guidance, supporting effective financial planning and financial management.
• Assist with the budget-setting process by structuring and monitoring financial data relating to key income and expenditure drivers for low-risk budgets.
• Review budget holder outturn projections, ensuring budgets are realistic, resources are allocated promptly, and projections are reasonable in relation to expenditure to date.
• Assist budget holders and senior managers in the development and monitoring of detailed plans for the use of grants, ensuring grants are fully utilised.
• Monitor the delivery of efficiency savings throughout the year and report on progress.
• Provide accurate and effective financial information to customers and colleagues, including analysis of low-risk service development proposals and statutory changes.
• Structure and analyse financial data relating to key income and expenditure drivers to support problem-solving and decision-making.
• Assist in the development of systems, processes, and reports to improve the accuracy of outturn projections, particularly for large, volatile, or higher-risk budgets.
• Assist budget managers with evaluating the value for money provided by services.
• Maintain accounts, including verifying and posting approved journals and budget virements.
• Support budget and spend managers with the closure of accounts, adjusting accounts through journals and budget virements to ensure accurate financial statements.
• Work within a strong financial control environment, ensuring systems and processes are structured, efficient, compliant, and auditable.
• Assist with bank account reconciliations for Lincolnshire County Council and provide cover as required.
• Assist with the Council’s statutory obligations, including the completion of statutory returns and relevant national and local performance indicators.
• Obtain and collate financial information to enable Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to be answered within the nationally set 20-day response timeframe.
• Remain up to date with, and compliant to, all relevant legislation, organisational procedures, policies, and professional codes of conduct.
• Deliver high-quality customer service, supporting the Council’s equality and diversity objectives and best practice standards.
• Create and maintain a positive image of Lincolnshire County Council in all interactions.
• Support the delivery of financial training and materials for budget holders, senior managers, and Financial Strategy teams.
• Undertake training in business-critical service areas to provide cover during peak periods and staff absences, including bank reconciliation duties.

• A good general level of education, including GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English.
• AAT qualification (Level 2 or
  3), part-qualified, or willingness to work towards a recognised finance or accountancy qualification.
• Experience of working in a finance or accounting environment.
• Understanding of basic accounting principles, including income, expenditure, journals, budget monitoring, and budget virements.
• Experience of monitoring budgets and analysing financial information.
• Ability to structure, interpret, and analyse financial data to identify trends, risks, and issues.
• Experience of using financial systems and spreadsheets (including Microsoft Excel) to produce accurate financial information and reports.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and effectively to non-finance colleagues, budget holders, and senior managers.
• Strong numerical skills with…