Financial Inclusion Officer

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37 hrs

Contract: Full time

Location: Merrion House

Internal vacancy, applications only from existing Leeds City Council employees.

About you

• Experience of coordinating and taking forward projects and initiatives from development to implementation in a service area relevant to the post.
• The ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
• Experience in working in partnership with a diverse range of partners.
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to produce and present verbal and written reports.
• Experience of budget management and navigating the Councils Governance and Decision making processes.
• Understanding of Financial Inclusion, Poverty and Inequality and Welfare Benefits policy.

About the role

As our next Financial Inclusion Officer you'll be part of a dynamic team which focuses on developing work to address financial inclusion and poverty and inequality through an evidence based and collaborative partnership approach. Our work requires the ability to work across council services, external organisations and elected members to achieve positive outcomes for the people of Leeds.

What we offer you

• 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 on completing your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Jo Rowlands Call 0113 37 89219 or email jo.rowlands@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 £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

The purpose of the Financial Inclusion Officer role is to co-ordinate and assist with a range of policies, strategies, projects and initiatives designed to tackle poverty and inequality and address financial inclusion in Leeds. The work of the team covers poverty, financial inclusion, food insecurity and addressing gambling harms. This role will involve working across council services and partner organisations, including liaison with government departments and other local authorities. In addition, supporting to develop a strong evidence base for the work undertaken. The post holder will be part of the Financial Inclusion Team, reporting to the Senior Financial Inclusion Officer.

Responsibilities

• To support the co-ordination of Financial Inclusion programmes and projects for Leeds City Council through working across council service and in partnership with organisations across the city.
• To co-ordinate and manage the Financial Inclusion programmes and projects to meet the objectives of the Leeds Ambition and the Council Plan and comply with guidance set out by national government.
• To prepare and present verbal and written reports as required.
• Provide progress updates to the senior management teams within the service.
• To communicate how the work is being delivered across a range of audiences, including council services, external organisations, government departments and the general public.
• Represent the City Council at meetings and events.
• To establish monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks.
• Assuring the good quality, accuracy and timeliness of statutory monitoring returns.
• Monitoring budgets and making appropriate recommendations.
• Managing social media and website content on the city's work on financial inclusion.
• To develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external partners and other stakeholders to achieve corporate objectives.
• To provide advice relating to the work of the service to elected members and council officers to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
• Deal with all types of enquiries from stakeholders, assisting with correspondence, appeals, compensation requests and complaints.
• To support the coordination and management of the delivery of projects to support financial inclusion, and development of financial inclusion policy.
• In liaison with other agencies, contribute to the assessment and evaluation of financial inclusion initiatives working with partners across the Council and externally.
• To support the development of policies and strategies designed to tackle poverty and inequality and address financial inclusion.
• Produce research and analysis of issues, drawing on relevant qualitative and quantitative information, and present in engaging formats which are easily understood by a wide range of audiences.
• Contribute to making the economic case for initiatives that support economic, social and financial inclusion and poverty alleviation initiatives.
• Maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council good practice and in ways which support open, responsive and accountable government.

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent qualification or significant experience in a field of financial, social or economic inclusion and financial support schemes.

Essential requirements

Skills Required

• Ability to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings to arrive at a positive outcome.
• Ability to identify conflict amongst stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse research and information and understand its relevance to the work disciplines of the team.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
• Ability to understand competing priorities when delivering on a range of projects.
• Ability to work within, as well as support, a team.
• Ability to demonstrate competence in the use of IT and use of social media to promote the Council's work.
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to produce and present verbal and written reports.

Knowledge Required

• Good understanding of local government working and of public sector values.
• Good understanding of service delivery issues within the context of the public sector.
• Good understanding of theory and practice of the following areas:
• Financial Inclusion
• Poverty & Inequality
• Welfare benefits and welfare benefit reform

Experience is required in

• Coordinating projects and initiatives in a service or operational area relevant to the post.
• Achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
• Undertaking research and analysing relevant literature.
• Taking forward initiatives and policies from development to implementation.
• Working effectively with others to deliver projects across disciplines.
• Working in partnership with a diverse range of partners on relevant projects.
• Attending and presenting at meetings.
• Budget monitoring and raising orders.
• The Council Governance and Decision-making processes.
• Relevant experience in at least two of the following fields:
• Financial Inclusion
• Economic policy
• Welfare and benefits policy
• Poverty and social inclusion policy
• Project management of financial, social or economic inclusion related projects or regeneration projects.

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 Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and 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
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.