Transactional Services Officer

Are you looking to develop your skills while working for two leading London councils where you will have the opportunity to learn a variety of tasks and support the organisation? If you answered yes, then we have the perfect role for you.

The role:

Transactional Services are excited to present this unique opportunity within the General Ledger section of the team. The post is in the Finance Directorate, where the team are responsible for contract monitoring and undertaking various finance functions in relation to cash management and financial postings.

About you:

The successful post holder will be part of a busy small team responsible for loading and reconciling the bank statements for the 2 councils across 5 environments. This will involve interface uploads, managing outgoing direct debits, investigation of unidentified payments and other similar reconciliation functions. The team also cover the administration of Procurement cards for both councils. We are looking for a well-organised, motivated and flexible individual to join us. Along with a 'can do' attitude towards work, the ideal candidate will be a strong team player and target driven. Good communication skills are required to support Integra users and to liaise with Capita teams for issue resolution. The successful candidate will use the Councils main financial system Integra so current knowledge and experience of this would be preferable however on the job training will be given. There will be considerable use of Excel for data manipulation therefore candidates should have proven knowledge and experience of using Excel and other analytical skills, as well as a keen eye for numerical detail and a good attention to detail.

Agile working:

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know. Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work.

Benefits:

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, compressed hours, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 40 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing Date: 3rd December 2023

Shortlisting Date: W/C 4th December 2023

Interview Date: W/C 11th December 2023 (there will be a test as part of the interview)

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Equality:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. The application process for this campaign will be anonymised.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

• Can you tell us about your experience with bank statement reconciliation?
• How do you ensure accuracy and attention to detail when handling financial postings?
• Tell us about your experience using Excel for data manipulation.
• How do you handle and resolve issues with Integra, the financial system?
• Can you give an example of a time when you had to manage outgoing direct debits?
• How do you prioritize and manage your workload in a busy team?
• Tell us about your experience with contract monitoring and cash management.
• How do you handle unidentified payments and investigate them?
• Can you explain your experience with Procurement card administration?
• How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration within a team?

• What are the main responsibilities and tasks of this role?
• What is the team dynamic like in the General Ledger section?
• Can you provide more information about the on-the-job training for the Integra financial system?
• What is the approach to agile working within the Finance Directorate?
• Can you tell me more about the staff benefits offered by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils?