Social Care Finance Officer - S01

· To make payments for Adult Social Care services on time and in accordance with payment processes and Council standing orders.
· To carry out all associated administrative and financial tasks to support the payment function.
· To carry out monitoring reviews of service users expenditure in accordance with Direct Payments procedures.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

The post holder will have lead responsibility and accountability for the following:-

Payments

· To run, check and release Mosaic payment cycles in accordance with the agreed timescales.
· To reconcile payment cycles to the financial management system.
· To generate and distribute the home care supplier return to agreed timetable.
· To process all homecare payments and other ad hoc social care payments in accordance with payment procedures.
· To respond to customer / provider queries liaising with purchasing teams to resolve queries and expedite prompt payment.
· To be responsible for the recovery of overpayments and pursue debts in accordance with agreed procedures.
· To administer the petty cash account and the prepayment card arrangements for emergency / ad hoc payments as required by the service area.

Direct payment Monitoring

· To request monitoring returns from Direct Payment Scheme service users and monitor receipt, carry out checks for accuracy and arrange for budget holder sign off to agreed timescale.
· Identify non-compliance to monitoring procedures and take action to suspend or recover payments made.
· Recover all outstanding balances on Direct Payment Accounts and Pre-payment cards at annual balance review or closure.
· Respond to enquiries from service users and liaise with the Direct Payment Support Team to resolve queries.

TEAM:

· Contribute to the end of year closing programme, collating sundry debtors / creditors and other financial returns to deadline.
· Provide cover for team members.
· Work collaboratively with colleagues in Income Team and Client Financial Affairs Team to ensure a seamless payment and income function.
· As required, act as safe key holder.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· To scan all documents to relevant systems and / or archived as appropriate.
· To date stamp and distribute all incoming mail, check shared mailboxes and faxes and action.
· To receive and bank all income ensuring the completion of all supporting documents.
· Provide management information as requested.
· Contribute to any audit both internal and external.
· Contribute to the development of systems e.g. user acceptance testing, and training.
· Contribute to the job training of new staff.
· Attend and contribute to meetings locally or departmentally.
· To participate in cover arrangements for similar posts within the team and across the service.
· To carry out any other duties as might be required within the remit and responsibilities of the post.

NB: All employees are expected to adhere to the Council's Diversity & Equality and Health and Safety Policies.
LONDON BOROUGH OF HACKNEY, NB: All employees are expected to adhere to the Council's Diversity & Equality and Health and Safety Policies.
Document Number: 18228019
Document Name: Social Care Finance Officer JD 18042017

Worked in adults payment finance before
Understands Homecare provider payments/residential cycle
Used Mosaic to run pay-cycle
dedal with adults payments queries

· Knowledge and experience of accounting procedures in local authority or equivalent.

· Knowledge and experience of Accounts Payable.

· A general knowledge of Adults Social Care and Direct Payment Scheme.

· Experience of using spreadsheets for the provision of analysis of financial management information.

· Experience of using Databases and MY OFFICE (Outlook, Word, Excel, E-Docs etc.) in the work environment on daily basis to a competent standard and speed.

· Knowledge and experience of operating financial administrative system Cedar and the Homecare Management System Mosaic would be an advantage.

· To have knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues and experience of delivering user sensitive services.

ABILITY AND SKILLS

· Ability to use, analyse and interpret financial and non-financial information.

· Ability to reconcile complex manual / computerised accounts to strict deadlines.

· Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing and to provide a responsive financial support / advisory within the department.

· Ability to determine priorities and work on own initiative.

· Ability to contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of financial and administrative systems.

· Ability to work collaboratively with operational staff and managers and to assist them in the effective discharge of finance responsibilities.

· Ability to work effectively in a team.