Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Apprentice Finance Officer - Technical |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Financial Services |
Service |
Financial Services |
Business unit |
System and Redesign |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Reporting & Technical Development Manager |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Reporting & Technical Development Manager |
Salary grade |
Apprentice rates |
JE ref |
APPFO |
1. Key purpose of job
- To undertake a course of studies and work-based training to become a qualified Software Developer. The apprentice will undertake a range of activities within the Finance Team and will complete studies over a 2 year period.
- To provide timely, accurate and relevant automated financial and non-financial information for several council systems to support service managers.
- To provide timely, accurate and relevant automated financial information to support Finance Staff in providing a comprehensive accountancy service.
- Provide support to the Reporting & Technical Development Manager (who is responsible for the maintenance and development of automating processes through Microsoft products such as PowerApps and Power Automate, Logi Analytics & BI reporting solutions for Finance and several other Services within the Council), in relevant tasks to ensure cover for absence.
- To undertake the administration and reconciliation of the Finance System and several feeder systems daily, and correct any issues identified.
- To ensure the website is kept up to date for the Systems Team (Internal and External).
- To cover FIMS (Financial Information Management System), related queries, issues and support system users by providing guidance.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- That information provided to service managers and finance staff supports better decision making, productivity and efficiency improvements.
- Accurate financial information is provided to produce statutory and other council data returns in a timely manner.
- The development of the corporate reporting solution and automating of process to meet the needs of the organisation.
- The development of the council’s Financial System and User Interface meets the needs of Financial Services and the organisation as a whole.
- To ensure that the Financial systems General Ledger remains in balance (Morning Reconciliations, Commitments & Accruals).
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
- Complete apprenticeship Software Developer Level 4 studies to develop a broad range of skills which are required within the job role.
- To provide timely, accurate and relevant automated financial information for several council systems including (but not limited to):
- FIMS – Financial, Information & Management System.
- Collaborative Planning (Budgeting module).
- SPAR - Performance Data.
- Payroll – MyView (user interface) & Zellis (core Payroll System).
- HR – Workforce Planning.
- OpenRevs – (e.g., Council Tax, NNDR, Housing Benefit system).
- Corporate Debt.
- Print / Sefas / Ricoh (Printing & Photocopying software).
- Adelante – Income Management & Card Payments.
- Car Parking System.
- To use report writing software (currently Microsoft BI, Logi Analytics) and knowledge to develop and write reports on the identified systems.
- Write, automate, and distribute reports in consultation with the requirements of the users (primarily service managers and finance staff), using mainly SQL/SQL Server (Sequential Query Language programming).
- Operate as an effective and reliable team member to achieve own accountabilities and team objectives.
- Update process and procedure manuals FIMS and other interface workflows, suggesting automation of manual processes where possible.
- Provide maintenance and assist with development & support on the council’s Budget Preparation & Monitoring System (Collaborative Planning and upload of budget entries to FIMS)
- Under supervision work closely with other team members to assist in team projects and objectives.
- To provide a support service for users of the FIMS modules and provide support for the Financial Services System helpdesk.
- To gain an understanding of technical documentation of report logic and processes.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and conditions.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Usual IT equipment and accessibility for office working and home working.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External:
- External Auditors.
- Partner Organisations.
- IT Software providers.
- Internal:
- Service staff at all levels.
- All finance staff.
- Internal Audit.
- FIMS, BI & Logi.
- Payroll Services & Parking Services.
- IT Services.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
- The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Apprentice Finance Officer - Technical |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Financial Services |
Service |
Financial Services |
Business unit |
System and Redesign |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Basic software development skills with a keen interest to learn new technologies.
- The ability to work with a variety of customers and forge effective working relationships.
- Strong attention to detail with a problem solving and analytical mindset.
- Able to manage a piece of work ensuring that all milestones are achieved, and deadlines are met.
- Flexible approach, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team with competing deadlines. The post holder is required to be quick thinking with a calm, patient, and pragmatic manner.
- The IT technical skills required to complete the key duties of the post:
- Ability to contribute to technical projects to develop/update reporting solutions.
- The ability to gain detailed knowledge (including background architecture) over several databases and use this to produce reporting solutions.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Data manipulation (SQL and/or Power BI) skills.
- Able to prepare and present documented material accurately and clearly than can be easily understood by a diverse audience.
- Skills in database administration.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Basic knowledge of the latest report writing applications using SQL (Sequential Query Language) for both Oracle and SQL Server - With the ability to grow and expand on this knowledge base with training provided.
- Up to date, working knowledge of Windows-based software and of Microsoft Office applications; in particular a good level of knowledge in TEAMS, Excel, Word & Outlook.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge of Microsoft and/or Power BI.
- Knowledge in the application of policy relating to Data Protection and Data Quality.
- High level of knowledge of excel and its technical functions.
- Working and up-to-date knowledge of IT based systems. A knowledge of Financial Information Management Systems is essential to performing this job adequately.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Experience or interest in learning how to write code.
- Passion for data and genuine interest in the data and analytics space.
- Experience of providing timely, accurate and relevant automated information from several different databases.
- Relevant technical experience of system administration & development.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of writing system procedures.
- Recent experience of system report writing in a complex organisation using Sequential Query Language Programme.
- Experience of assisting and putting forward ideas in technical projects to develop/update reporting solutions and system processes.
- Experience of reviewing procedure and suggesting system solutions to improve service delivery.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to GCSE standard, including Grade 4(C) or above for Maths and English (or equivalent).
- IT Qualification: Qualified for example to BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT or an equivalent IT qualification.
- MOS or ECDL European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent.
- Willingness to study and complete a Software Developer Higher Apprenticeship Level 4.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Association of Accounting Technician or equivalent.
- PRINCE 2 Foundation Level or equivalent.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.