INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Finance Officer

Salary: C1/C3 £27,711 - £32,654

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

As a Finance Officer, you’ll thrive on supporting colleagues, clients and their representatives in the process of Right to Buy Scheme, which includes both pre-sale and post-sale services.

We are seeking to appoint a Finance Officer who can supervise a team in the provision of a comprehensive Council House Sales Scheme, providing assistance and advice to customers exercising their Right to Buy. Where necessary liaising with and assisting our stakeholders to ensure legislation is complied with.

The overarching aim is to ensure that the Council complies with statutory requirements in respect of Right to Buy applications.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Finance Officer you will bring to the role: 

• A strong customer focus and the ability to supervise a team in the provision of a comprehensive Right to Buy service, including carrying out regular 1-2-1’s
• A commitment to ensure compliance with all legislative requirements for the Right to Buy service.
• A good working knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation in respect of Home Ownership and the ability to advise colleagues and clients in respect of any changes to the Home Ownership legislation.
• A strong attention to detail to plan, allocate and evaluate work carried out by the team to achieve objectives of the service.
• The ability to respond to tenants and their representatives in respect of Home Ownership enquiries. 

About the role

As Finance Officer, you will be motivated by working in a challenging and dynamic environment, contributing to continuous improvement. The role is integral to our Income Management team ensuring that positive outcomes are achieved.  You will need to display excellent communication skills and have a passion for supporting colleagues and customers.

You will supervise a team in the provision of a comprehensive Council House Sales Service, providing assistance and advice to customers exercising their Right to Buy. Where necessary assisting with the Leasehold Management Service.

A strong customer focus and the ability to independently manage workloads are key for working in the Home Ownership Team

The overarching aim is to ensure that the Council complies with statutory requirements in respect of Right to Buy applications.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Lianne McGregor, Assistant Finance Manager call 0113 37 87824 or email lianne.mcgregor@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

To supervise a team in the provision of a comprehensive Council House Sales Service, providing assistance and advice to customers exercising their Right to Buy. Where necessary assisting with Leasehold Management Service.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Responsibilities: C1

• To Supervise a team in the provision of a comprehensive Right to Buy service.
• To ensure compliance with all legislative requirements for Right to Buy.
• Provide appropriate advice, training and assistance to the team.
• To plan, allocate and evaluate work carried out by the team to achieve objectives of the service.
• Ensuring regular 1-2-1 are undertaken.
• Assist in the production of regular management information.
• Responding to tenants and their representatives on Home Ownership enquiries.
• Face to Face meetings with the public relating to Right to Buy applications.
• Taking telephone payments and the set-up of Direct Debits.
• To assist the Leasehold Administration Service where required.
• Have a good understanding of the relevant legislation in respect of Home Ownership.
• Advice to colleagues and clients in respect of Home Ownership legislative changes.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Additional Responsibilities: C3

• Ensuring that the existing IT systems are reviewed and updated.
• Ensure that all data recording systems are accurately maintained by the team.
• Work with Assistant Finance Manager to ensure objectives of the team are achieved.
• Ensuring regular 1-2-1 and appraisals are undertaken.
• Dealing with complaints in respect of Right to Buy applications and processes. This can involve dealing with difficult and/or confrontational customers.
• Continued responsibility to ensure an adequate understanding with updates of any legislative changes in respect of Home Ownership.
• Assistance with updates to documents in the public domain.
• Ensuring all procedure notes are up to date in line with changes to legislation and or IT systems.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

It is essential that the post holder should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates will only be short listed for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements. 

Leadership and Management

C1 Requirements

• Be able to supervise the effective working of a team through the development of staff within the team and through supporting and advising colleagues.
• Be able to assist in the identification of training needs, facilitate the training and development of individuals.
• Be able to undertake regular 1-2-1’s.

C3 Additional Requirements

• Continued support and monitoring of recording systems used by the team.
• Undertake appraisals.

Professional and Technical

C1 Requirements

• Knowledge of developments in the Council’s services and legislative changes affecting the operations within the team and wider Council.
• To be able to deal with customers enquiries accurately and timely. Imparting relevant advice or signposting to other service areas or organisations.

C3 Additional Requirements

• Ensuring all procedure notes are up to date in line with changes to legislation and or IT systems, including updates to documents in the public domain.
• Ability to deal with complaints in respect of Right to Buy applications and processes. This can involve dealing with difficult and/or confrontational customers.

Personal Style, Skills and Behaviour

C1 Requirements

• Be able to work competently, to strict deadlines, as an effective team member.
• Ability to plan and organise own work and to strict deadlines.
• Must commit to ensuring that all data held by the section is treated in the strictest confidence and also in line with all requirements under Data Protection.
• Be able to communicate effectively including face to face meetings with the public.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information accurately and compile statistics for Management Information.
• To have a detailed working knowledge of standard IT applications used in an office environment, including word, excel and database applications.
• Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council.
• Willing to take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Commitment to own personal development and learning and that of others.

C3 Additional Requirements

• Assist in the regular review and development of IT systems.

Qualifications

C1 Requirements

• It would be essential that the post holder has GCSE in maths and English or the equivalent.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

It is desirable that the post holder should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidate are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates

C1 Requirements

Professional and Technical

• It is desirable that the post holder has a good working understanding of the Council’s Orchard Housing Management System.
• It is desirable that the post holder has a good understanding of the legislation as it relates to the Right to Buy and Leasehold Management.
• It is desirable that the post holder is numerate and competent in communicating both verbally and written with a range of customers.
• It is desirable that he post holder has experience in a finance, property or housing background.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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