Finance Officer: Job Description

Responsible to: Finance ManagerLocation:Brixton, London

Pay: £22,000 to £27,000 FTE pa (to pro rata for 21 hour week) + 10% contributory pension after 3 months service. Pay dependent on experience.

Annual Leave: 25 days + bank holidays, on pro rata basis.

Contract: Part time, 21 hours per week (flexibility over days and hours to be worked).

Closing Date: end of Tuesday 8th April,with interviews in week commencing 14th April

To apply: For application form, contact Megan 020 7582 5117.

For more information about The London Community Foundation, visit

ABOUT US

We are an evolving and proactive charity focused on social change in London. Our aim is to increase philanthropy in London for the benefit of individuals and communities across the capital, whilst supporting community-based action at the grassroots.

Our job is to help bridge the gap between wealth and poverty in the Capital. To this end, we’ve given over £40 million in grants since 1995. But unlike a traditional Foundation, this isn’t done with funds that belong simply to us. Rather, we are the meeting place for many different donors, private and public, with differing interests and concerns. What they share is a commitment to supporting London and a belief that by acting together, each will achieve far greater than any could alone.

We are a member of the UK Community Foundation Network and one of over a 1000 Community Foundations worldwide.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Finance Officer who is willing to undertake a variety of financial tasks at a busy grantmaking charity.

You will be responsible for entering all banking and grantmaking financial transactions accurately and completelyin accordance with standard and in house financial procedures.Accuracy and attention to detail are key in this role in a charity with over 150 active restricted and endowment funds.

As we are a small organisation, the ability to ‘muck in’, juggle varying priorities and work proactively will make you a much valued member of our team.

Main Tasks

(1)Update accounting and grantmaking packages.

  • Ensure the accounting software is accurately maintained for all bank and grantmaking transactions.
  • Manage Purchase Ledger and Sales Ledger – enter all transactions, reconcile monthly.
  • Maintain the Cashbook in accounting software for all LCF’s bank accounts (approximately 20) and prepare monthly reconciliations in Excel.
  • Ensure all donations are recorded in the accounting software according to details provided in the donation record.
  • Enter all grants awarded per the grantmaking software to accounting software.
  • Update grantmaking software with all other fund transactions.

(2)Treasury management

  • Maintain analysis of the grantmaking bank accounts balancesfor restricted funds, reconcile cash balances to fund balances per accounting and grantmaking databases on a monthly basis.
  • Processand record donations received inall forms including cheques, cash, charity vouchers, BACS and electronic means including Just Giving, CAF Donate, Virgin Money, CAF GAYE and My Donate.
  • Process payment runs twice weekly for grant and Purchase Ledger payments.

(3)Other duties

  • Maintain and reconcile all balance sheet accounts. Review grant creditors and raise outstanding balances with Programme Managers.
  • Prepare monthly Gift Aid claims and quarterly VAT returns.
  • Record credit card transactions and process and reconcile petty cash.
  • Order stationery and office items, top up balance on franking machine.
  • Assist with other ad hoc office tasks where required, including occasional telephone answering.
  • Act as a hub for finance related issues/queries from LCF staff.

(4)Contribute as a member of the team to the development and success of LCF.

  • Undertake any other reasonable responsibilities as directed by the Finance Manager.
  • Act in accordance with the policies and procedures of the organisation.
  • Work with all staff towardsachieving LCF’s vision and contribute to its success.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

  • Experience working in a finance team and using accounting software.
  • Good knowledge of double entry accounting and experience with reconciliations.
  • Be highly numerate, have excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach.
  • You will have strongIT skills, particularly in Excel, and experience of other Microsoft Office software.

Desirable Experience

  • Possess, or be working towards, an accounting qualification.
  • Experience of fund accounting.
  • VAT and Gift Aid experience
  • Proficient inusing Sage Line 200 software
  • Proficient with advanced Excel techniques ideally using lookups and pivot tables.

Personal Qualities

  • Flexibility and a practical, ‘can do’attitude.
  • Ability to work with colleagues as part of a team and on your own initiative.

Other

LCF is able to offer some support to a post holder who is working towards an accounting qualification.

Key Competencies and Behaviours for the Role.

All competencies and behaviours are important to differing degrees for every role across LCF. However each role has certain competencies which are seen as primary. These are marked with the symbol (P)

  • Relationship Building- relationship building means you are able to build rapport and establish relationships quickly and easily. It is also about being able to identify relationships that are important to nurture or develop in order that you can do your job successfully.
  • Effective Communication- Good spoken communication means you can speak confidently, and fluently, in a way which holds others’ attention through the use of appropriate pace and level. Good written communications means you are fluent, clear, concise and can adapt the style of your communications to suit the audience at which the communication is aimed.
  • Flexibility- Having flexibility means you are willing to adapt your thinking and behaviour to suit different situations. You see the value of alternative views to issues and are enthusiastic and supportive of change. This includes being able to change your plans quickly in order to react to changing circumstances.
  • Team Working and Collaboration (P)- A good team player fits in with the team, developing effective supporting relationships with their fellow team members by showing them consideration and creating a sense of team spirit.
  • Thoroughness and Attention to Detail (P)- Thoroughness and attention to detail means that you are able to approach tasks with a keen focus on getting the job done correctly. You are able to follow tasks through to the last detail whilst checking for accuracy and completion. You demonstrate a willingness to cover the small and large aspects of a task and tie up the loose ends.
  • Initiative- Having initiative means you are able to anticipate situations and problems, find appropriate solutions and grasp opportunities. You are able to take appropriate action that potentially adds significant value to The London Community Foundation and represents your contribution distinctly.
  • Customer Focus- Customer focus means that you have a thorough understanding of the needs of other staff members and teams within the Community Foundation and also our stakeholders and donors. It means that you are able to use this knowledge to promote excellent customer service to maximise opportunities for The London Community Foundation.
  • Business Acumen-Having business acumen means you are aware of what is happening in the market place and how The London Community Foundation is meeting these needs or should adapt to do so. It means that you are conscious of how we generate funding and opportunities and the impact of your own efforts on The London Community Foundation’s success.
  • Delivery Focus - Delivery focus means you have the ability to set objectives for yourself and others and ensure they are achieved in a way that supports the values of The London Community Foundation. It’s about being determined to get things done but not at all costs if it means ignoring the Foundation’s values. It’s about having a positive attitude and being focused on delivering the right results whatever the setbacks.
  • Organisation and Planning (P)-Being organised means you plan your time effectively and can create your own work plans, prioritise work demands and prepare in advance so that deadlines are met. To do this effectively means you will need to take a forward-looking perspective when considering the delivery of decisions, activities and projects.
  • Creative Thinking- Creative thinking means you are able to use creative and innovative approaches to the way in which you work. You are also able to see how these ideas fit into the success of the charity in the longer term
  • Commitment to The London Community Foundation values (P)- Commitment to The London Community Foundation values means that you are willing and able to make sure your own behaviours reflect the culture of our organisation. You treat the values of The London Community Foundation as important and work with the good of LCF and the communities we serve always in mind.

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