Finance Officer

This job offers great exposure to a range of finance related work within a small but busy finance team in the VTS Head Office. You will report to our Finance Manager and on a day-to-day basis you will work closely with other Finance colleagues and be responsible for providing managerial support and guidance to less experienced staff in the team.
Your specific responsibilities will include:
+ assisting the Finance Manager with preparation of annual and quarterly accounts;
+ assisting with the preparation and analysis of management accounting information including budget management reporting;
+ the production of monthly and year end audit files;
+ payroll reconciliation and administration., To prepare and deliver financial processes, reports, advice, support, and management - to a high quality and to time - to the VTS, its key stakeholders within senior and middle management, to the Board and to the VTS’s sponsoring department.
To provide a business partnering approach in support of the wider VTS, helping to resolve issues, respond to questions, enhance financial awareness, and improve finance processes.
To ensure the day-to-day recognition and processing of all financial transactions on the finance system (SAP) ensuring that these transactions are processed in a timely manner and are compliant with all policies, processes and the Financial Report Manual (FreM) and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance (CBG) and other guidance as published by HM Treasury.
To manage allocated Finance Assistant(s)/Administrator/more junior staff.
To provide support and guidance to the rest of the finance team and in particular support the Finance Manager.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Accounts and reconciliation
Manage the team’s monthly timetabledelivering all tasks to deadline and ensuring all risks are identified, raised appropriately and mitigated. Responsible for all transactions posted to the ledgers including (but not limited to); purchase order processing, goods receipt notes, supplier invoices, claims, journal postings, accruals and pre-payments.
Monitor, review and reconcile all balance sheet accounts as required. Provide relevant supporting documentation, challenge and resolve any anomalies and inconsistencies and ensure adherence to the timetable.
Responsible for the recognition and reconciliation of the monthly payfile on SAP including the receipt, review and preparation of the file for upload, the maintenance of relevant mapping tables, liaison with HR to resolve issues, the upload process and resulting reconciliation of the pay control account all within the limited timeframe.
Support the Finance Manager if the preparation of annual and quarterly accounts and other accounting returns as required by MHCLG.
Ensure the provision of relevant and robust supporting data in response to audit queries.
Ensure continuous improvement by reviewing and ‘challenging’. Develop and draft associated process notes covering all work of the finance team.
Manage and maintain the general ledger account codes, structures and hierarchies. Ensure that the onward mapping to the group account number and OSCAR (for HM Treasury and MHCLG reporting) is consistent with its application and is appropriate.
Management accounting responsibilities
Provide a business partnering service by working with budget holders and managers in the VTS. Provide monthly updated actuals extracted directly from SAP and provide support in the reviewing of expenditure against forecast on a monthly basis. Advise on the most appropriate application, use of chart of accounts data, and help in interpreting the data and supporting reforecasting activities.
Work with and successfully influence budget holders to deliver high quality and accurate expenditure re-forecasts within a very tight timetable to ensure upload onto SAP and onward submission to the sponsoring department. Identify issues and work with budget holders to resolve any challenges encountered, offering advice, support and providing solutions.
Extract data in a useable format and is used for onward reporting to Executive Management Team (EMT) and the Board. Identify and highlight any risk to budgets at the earliest opportunity, in particular where forecasts are in excess of available budget. Provide suitable and timely advice and appropriate actions to avoid breach of budget and Accounts qualification.
Review and update all associated hierarchies and structures on SAP, ensuring that these reflect the structure of the organisation and provide the optimum basis upon which the organisation can report.
Review, develop (with a view to improvement) and update reports produced for the Board and other interested parties to ensure that they are drawn directly from SAP in a simplified manner whilst retaining clear audit trails and ensuring that information and reports are clearly understandable by members of the respective audiences.
Working within and to the agreed process, prepare the monthly Grant-in-Aid (cash) forecast using the underlying SAP data, adjusting for known non-cash items and analysis, assess and make appropriate adjustments for other non-cash or cash requirements. Ensure that the forecast is fully supported by underlying data and provides a full audit trail. Analise and review the cash held and challenge anomalies where they exist taking steps to work with our shared service provider to resolve any banking issues or concerns.
Work with - and take direction from - the Finance Manager and Finance Director to prepare the annual budget, commissioning information form budget holders, collecting and collating returns and grouping in accordance with the required budget category.
Accounts production
Support the Finance Manager in the production of the statutory annual report and accounts for the VTS and also the returns prepared and submitted in respect of MHCLG Group Accounts.
Identify and implement process improvements to the production of the accounts drawing on best practice from the MHCLG
Provide support and assistance to the team and audit (internal and external) in order to fully respond to any audit query in a timely manner.
Management, supervision and wider VTS responsibilities
Manage any finance team members allocated to the job holder including effective performance management, administration of annual leave and managing sickness issues. Manage the fair and transparent application of VTS HR policies and ensure the quality and timeliness of the services provided by team members and the staff supervised by the job holder.
Support and help to develop a high level of professionalism within the finance team and assist in the development on a one-team, supportive culture and working environment.
Support finance and senior management in any other finance related work as required.
Assist with financial and accounts training for non-Finance staff within the VTS.
Comply with all financial policies and procedures and ensure convergence with legislative requirements and financial regulations.
Prepare reports and papers as requested including providing assistance in the preparation of business cases.
General
Ensure that all records (paper and electronic) are retained in an accessible format and in accordance with VTS policies.
Maintain continuous professional development requirements and an awareness of new developments impacting upon either the accountancy profession or on the effectiveness of finance management.
Any other duties as required which are commensurate with the level of the post.

Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of a range of finance responsibilities, preferably gained within the public sector. Knowledge of the work involved in central government financing and specifically within an NDPB would be a positive advantage. We believe that this position will suit candidates who are fully qualified with a recognised accountancy body and who also have knowledge of SAP accounting. You are likely to have excellent Excel skills - at an intermediate or advanced level - as working with spreadsheets is a prime requirement of the role., Fully qualified with CCAB or CIMA (or passed finalist) with appropriate relevant experience and looking to progress to the next stage of their finance career (E)
Knowledge and experience:
Demonstrable experience of producing accurate, timely and value-added financial information (including forecasts, budget setting and reporting) and providing expertise and advice in a fast-paced finance team, preferably in a Finance Business Partner role (E)
Experience of financial accounting processes, including producing financial statements (E).
Experience in operating financial systems to a high level of capability (E), preferably SAP and to support the development of systems and processes (D)
Ability to analyse and model a range of financial and non-financial data using advanced Excel (E)
Experience of driving improvements in both financial planning and financial forecasting, within a complex environment (E).
Knowledge and awareness of the requirements on Non-Departmental Public Bodies or equivalent organisations and understanding of public sector accounting requirements (D)
Line Management experience (D)
Experience in the preparation and provision of technical papers and business cases (D)
Personal qualities
Ability to demonstrate the highest levels of personal integrity with a well-developed appreciation and commitment to the highest standards of probity when operating within a public sector finance environment (E)
Demonstrable commitment to excellence and encouraging a high performing work culture where the focus is on “getting it right” first time (E)
Ability to lead by example and demonstrate `going the extra mile’ in delivering quality services to tight timescales (E).
A driven, collaborative colleague with experience of working to tight deadlines and building strong working relationships at all levels (E).
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrating ability to engage effectively and influence others (E)., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

+ A competitive salary with the opportunity to progress either in role or within the VTS; we want our recruits to aspire to become our senior managers of the future.
+ Although this is ostensibly an office-based job we are currently SMARTER working - which means a hybrid type arrangement with 60% of your available working time is in the office, 40% from home. You may need to spend a little longer in the office when first appointed to induct you properly and so you get used to our systems.
+ Local Government Pension Scheme – auto-enrolled membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme administered by the London Pension Fund Authority (but you can decide to opt out).
+ Generous Annual Leave – Minimum of 26 days paid holiday, rising to 28 days after three years' continuous service then 31 days after five years' continuous service. In addition, you get two paid non statutory days - normally between Christmas and New Year. Plus you’ll get the normal bank holidays in England and Wales.
+ Commitment to health and wellbeing – including access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP),
+ Use of technology to book your annual leave sickness etc and receive electronic pay slips and P60s – so no more chasing paper!
+ Contribution towards eye-tests and glasses
+ Season ticket loan – Interest free public transport ticket loan.
+ Commitment to ongoing development - payment of one set of professional membership fees. Regular training and development workshops and access to our sophisticated Learning Management System and modules to help support your learning.
+ Access to all levels of management and colleagues in a supportive professional environment. We want you to enjoy your time working for us and be proud to say you work for the VTS
+ Office location – currently we are within close walking distance to a number of Underground and DLR stations in the Aldgate and Tower Hill areas. There are also overground stations at Shadwell and Whitechapel and mainline stations at Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street.
+ Various bars, cafes, restaurants and gyms are nearby in a vibrant, up-and-coming and cosmopolitan area.
+ A short stroll to the sights and activities at St Katherine Dock, the River Thames, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge as well as Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Brick Lane.
Please note that there is no continuity of service with the Civil Service.
Pension is Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) NOT Civil Service.
Personal statement of not less than 2 sides of A4 addressing your suitability for the role MUST be provided in support of an up-to-date CV.