Our client, a leading organisation in the public sector, is currently seeking a Finance Assistant to join their team on a contract basis until 31 March 2025. This role is based in Kingston upon Thames, with the option for hybrid working.
Role Purpose
The Finance Assistant will be dedicated to providing short-term financial administration and reconciliation support within the DBS Service. The role primarily involves clearing the financial backlog, processing current invoices, and re-establishing accurate and auditable financial records. This position is crucial due to a temporary absence in the team and the financial risk identified through recent DBS service reviews.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Processing & Backlog Clearance
- Process and issue DBS-related invoices, credits and journals promptly and accurately.
- Support the clearance of the historic backlog of DBS invoices and credit notes once Finance provides reconciliation outputs.
- Reconcile income against DBS provider statements, ensuring correct cost centres, product codes and VAT coding.
- Action financial adjustments arising from the reconciliation exercise.
- Maintain a verified and up-to-date DBS income register for audit and reporting purposes.
Financial Controls & Assurance
- Ensure all entries are fully auditable and compliant with council financial rules.
- Maintain clear documentation to evidence all financial transactions.
- Support the re-establishment of a consistent monthly invoicing cycle (target: 30-day cycle).
- Escalate discrepancies, coding issues or missing information to the Finance Business Partner promptly.
Systems & Data
- Use Business World/Agresso and Google Workspace to process invoices, maintain finance logs and record transactions.
- Support the improvement of existing templates, workflows and documentation relating to DBS financial processing.
- Assist with producing monthly summaries and performance updates for management oversight.
Customer & Partner Liaison
- Liaise professionally with internal teams and traded partners to resolve invoice queries.
- Provide clear, timely responses to income, coding or recharge questions relating to DBS processes.
- Maintain strong working relationships with Finance colleagues involved in the reconciliation.
Job Requirements:
Knowledge & Experience (Essential)
- Experience working in a finance, accounts receivable, income processing or similar environment.
- Strong understanding of invoicing, coding, reconciliations and financial record-keeping.
- Ability to manage high-volume transactional work accurately and to deadlines.
- Confident using financial systems (Agresso/Business World or equivalent).
Knowledge & Experience (Desirable)
- Experience in local government finance.
- Knowledge of DBS or statutory/regulated service income streams.
Skills & Abilities
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
- Competent user of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications.
- Able to interpret financial information and resolve discrepancies.
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to work independently while supporting broader team objectives.
Behaviours & Expectations
- Customer-focused, with a commitment to accuracy, transparency and financial governance.
- Adaptable and able to embed quickly into existing workflows.
- Proactive in identifying issues and escalating appropriately.
- Positive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Benefits:
- Hybrid working available.
- Opportunity to work with a dedicated and professional team.
- Engagement in an important public sector project with tangible outcomes.
If you are an experienced Finance Assistant looking for a new opportunity to contribute to a crucial public sector project, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's dynamic team.
