The Fostering Network s1

The Fostering Network

Ensuring all children and young people who are fostered receive the highest standards of care

Job Description

Job title Finance Assistant Accountable to Financial Manager Objectives To be responsible for the administration of the Fostering Network’s accounts. Hours 20 hours per week over 4 days

Location Fostering Network, 87 Blackfriars Rd, London, SE1 8HA Status Permanent Requirement No Does the post involve contact with children/young people Disclosure required No

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Purchase Ledger 2. Expenses 3. Payments 4. Receipts 5. Policies 6. Systems and Processes 7. General

1 Purchase Ledger

1.1To be responsible for the administration of the Purchase ledger.

1.2 To ensure that the purchase ledger processing procedures are followed.

Date: April 2014 1.3 To input purchase ledger invoices onto Open Accounts.

1.4 To deal with queries & liaise with relevant staff as necessary.

1.5 To develop and maintain supplier records.

1.6 To reconcile creditor balances to statements on a monthly basis.

2 Expenses

2.1 To process staff expense claims, ensuring Finance procedures are complied with.

2.2 To issue staff floats and advances as directed.

3 Payments

3.1 To be responsible for prompt payment of suppliers.

3.2 To distribute petty cash, ensuring sufficient funds are available for requireme nts.

3.3 To produce petty cash reconciliation.

3.4 To promptly raise non-purchase ledger payments as and when required.

4 Receipts

4.1 To ensure that cheques received are banked weekly and Credit Card receipts processed promptly.

4.2 To ensure that cheque receipts are logged on the receipt log daily

4.3 To liaise with other departments in order to identify appropriate coding

5 Policies

5.1 To follow and hold staff accountable to the Fostering Network Policies on purchasing, credit cards, petty cash and expenses controls and policies.

Date: April 2014 5.2 To assist Finance Manager in annually updating the Policies for purchasing, credit cards, petty cash and expenses in line with best practice and Charity Commission guidelines.

6 Systems and Processes

62 To proactively find ways to improve or automate processes and to make recommendations and to implement changes as agreed with the Finance Manager.

7 General

7.1 To work proactively in developing one’s own role and responsibilities.

7.2 To maintain all relevant filing systems within the finance section.

7.3 To assist with general incoming calls to the finance section.

7.4 To cover work in the absence of the Financial Officer as required.

7.5 To undertake such other responsibilities as directed by the Finance Manager.

75.6 To Liaise proactively with colleagues in other departments to ensure that they are aware of relevant information

7.7 To contribute to the wider work of the Fostering Network, contribute to meetings and the development of the division’s work.

7.8 To evaluate and develop one’s own work, to take responsibility for one’s own practice

8 Additional

8.1 All employees are expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion ar ises that tasks, which are not specifically covered in their job description, h ave to be undertaken.

8.2 Furthermore, it is to be noted that the job description may develop over ti me, in consultation with the post-holder.

Date: April 2014 PERSON SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: Finance Assistant Fostering Network Band: 2

Qualifications

Desirable

 Qualified to AAT Level 3 or higher, or equivalent

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

 Considerable experience of computerised accounting systems.  Experience of producing supplier reconciliations.  Experience of handling cash and operating impress system

Date: April 2014 Desirable

 Experience of using Open Accounts

Skills /Abilities

Essential

 Good level of numeracy  Good communication skills, oral and written.  Good computer skills, particularly in Excel, and word-processing skills.  Ability to manage own workload and meet deadlines.  Proactive approach to tasks, demonstrating use of initiative in finding solutions.  Awareness of equalities issues and a commitment to anti-discriminatory policies and practice.  Able to maintain the confidentiality of information held by the Fostering Network.

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to meet the criteria listed in this person specification.

It is essential that, when completing the application form, you refer to the person specification and demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria listed

Finance Assistant

Additional Information

Pay and conditions of service

Grade Fostering Network Band 2 (Salary points 19 - 25) Salary £18,820 - £22,748 plus London Weighting £3,487.09 (pro-rata) Annual Leave 25 Days plus 5 Fostering Network days, linked to Bank Holidays (pro rata).

Date: April 2014 Probationary period 6 calendar months.

Notice period 4 working weeks in writing on either side. One week during probationary period. Hours of work 20 hours per week

Pension Optional. Money-purchase scheme and a salary sacrifice option is available with Aegon: Employee’s contribution 6%, employer’s contribution 8% of gross salary or employer’s contribution 4% and employee’s Contribution of 3% of gross annual salary. Available to staff with contracts of over 3 months. Season Ticket Loan An interest free season ticket loan is available to all staff immediately.

Trade Union The Fostering Network recognises the trades union Unite and members of staff can join if they wish

Date: April 2014