Clerk to Council

Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer (RFO)

To apply for this role please complete the application form at

Any questions or if you would like to discuss this role please contact Steph Bennett on locumcle

The Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) is the Council’s senior officer, leading the organisation, enabling councillors to make well informed decisions, and ensuring high quality, efficient services for residents in a rapidly changing world.

The Clerk provides leadership, manages the Council’s staff team, oversees day to day operations, ensures legal and financial compliance, and drives forward the Council’s priorities. As Proper Officer and RFO, the Clerk ensures the Council meets all statutory obligations and that its governance, finances, and processes remain robust, transparent, and future focused.

Local Government SCP 37 to 41. Starting salary £48,226 to £52,413

• Lead, motivate, and support the Council’s staff team, ensuring a positive, high performing culture.
• Set clear objectives aligned with Council priorities; monitor performance, capacity, and wellbeing.
• Oversee recruitment, training, appraisals, and development to ensure the Council has the skills needed for modern service delivery.
• Ensure effective delegation, workload balance, and working practices appropriate to a fast changing environment.

• Provide high quality professional advice to councillors, ensuring decisions are informed, lawful, and strategic.
• Prepare agendas, reports, and minutes; ensure councillors receive timely, accurate information.
• Support councillors in shaping the Council’s vision, policies, plans, and community priorities.
• Facilitate effective member–officer relationships based on trust, impartiality, and professionalism.

• Help the Council anticipate future needs and proactively respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Lead the development, implementation, and review of strategic and operational plans.
• Drive continuous improvement across Council services to ensure they remain modern, accessible, and responsive to residents.
• Build effective partnerships with community stakeholders, local authorities, and service providers to maximise impact.

• Fulfil all duties of the Proper Officer and RFO, ensuring full compliance with legislation and good practice.
• Oversee financial management, budgeting, monitoring, audit processes, and long term financial planning.
• Maintain strong risk management processes, including annual risk assessments and ongoing identification of emerging risks.
• Ensure the Council meets all obligations relating to Health & Safety, data protection, insurance, and procurement.

• Lead the Council’s communications strategy to improve visibility, transparency, and public engagement.
• Oversee use of digital platforms, social media, newsletters, and press to reach diverse audiences.
• Represent the Council at meetings, events, and in partnership networks.

• Manage correspondence, prepare reports, and oversee the smooth running of all Council and Committee meetings.
• Attend meetings of the Council, Committees, and working groups, ensuring actions are delivered.
• Ensure efficient, up to date administrative systems that support modern working practices and digital service delivery.

• Attend training and professional development as required.
• Undertake any additional duties reasonably requested by the Council.

• High level of literacy and numeracy.
• Willingness to obtain CiLCA within 12–18 months.

• Experience using modern administrative and digital systems.
• Experience working in a professional or business environment.
• Experience with delivering public facing services

• Strong staff management skills and the ability to motivate teams.
• Budget and project management capability.
• Ability to analyse information, prepare reports, and solve problems collaboratively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including in challenging situations.
• Ability to manage meetings effectively and deliver to deadlines.

• Calm, professional, and resilient; able to inspire confidence.
• Self motivated, adaptable, and capable of working flexibly, including evenings when required.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with councillors, colleagues, partners, and the public.

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle for Council business.

• Experience in local government and/or community governance.
• Experience of leading teams or managing organisational change.
• Understanding of strategic planning cycles.