At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial transactions and deliver excellent customer service in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a leading local authority focused on innovation and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal development.
- Other info: Work remotely with one day in the office; great career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: GCSEs in English and Maths; good communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25081 - 25081 £ per year.
About The Role
Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation
Fixed Term, Full Time
£25,081 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere Worker
Closing Date: Sunday 29th March 2026 at 11.59pm
Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months. Please note that this is a credit control and not an accountancy focused role. Customer interaction by phone / email is the primary function so good communication skills are essential. This position is an Anywhere Worker role with the expectation the successful worker will attend County Hall, Chelmsford one day per week, with the set team day being a Tuesday.
The Opportunity
Purchase to Pay (P2P) and Income aims to provide a comprehensive financial transactional and support service, maximising new and innovative technology to provide excellent customer service using a multi skilled workforce. The Finance Assistant supports the Purchase to Pay (P2P) and Income teams to deliver the business plan for financial transactions. With a working knowledge of Financial processes and systems across P2P and Income, ensuring data or income is input accurately, timely and within policy and legislation standards. Experienced in working as a team member across a flexible and multi skilled workforce, delivering excellent customer service to a variety of Functions by maintaining financial transactions and data within local systems. Recognising and supporting changes in technology to streamline the customer experience.
Accountabilities
- Contributes to the delivery of the business plan for financial transactions, in support of the wider organisational vision.
- Responsible for processing and managing financial transactions, following defined business processes, inputting, and interpreting data to ensure quality, consistency, accuracy, timeliness, and high performance.
- Responsible for delivering all activities to meet defined deadlines, proactively reporting any risks or issues for early resolution.
- Provides support and guidance to internal and external customers in a professional manner, in line with Financial processes, ensuring that policy and legislation are met.
- Carries out basic reporting for P2P and Income and external customers, which contributes to the management of organisational performance, maximises income and ensures compliance with Financial Regulations and ECC Policies.
- Work flexibly and collaboratively across P2P and Income to deliver finance support.
- Recommend process improvements and redesign to achieve best practice and organisational efficiency.
- Contributes to maintaining currency on legislation changes and translating these into local policy and procedure, to identify and review potential changes in technology.
- Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) must include English and Mathematics, or equivalent by experience.
- Cash management/allocation experience would be desirable but not mandatory.
- Experience in handling cheques, banking and admin activity would be desirable.
- Commitment to continued personal development within a working environment.
- Some knowledge of P2P/Income systems and demonstrable accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase to pay and e-invoicing experience would be desirable.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Aptitude and willingness to work flexibly in multi skilled Operational Teams.
- Level of good competency using Microsoft office packages including Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Ability to interpret varied information for supporting continuous improvements in service delivery.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external customers, suppliers, and partners.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk.
Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic public service environment that prioritises innovation and employee development. With flexible working options and a commitment to inclusivity, including support for disabled applicants and veterans, employees can thrive while contributing to the local community. The collaborative work culture fosters teamwork and continuous improvement, making Essex an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Essex County Council and understand their values and mission. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves a lot of customer interaction, make sure you can confidently discuss financial processes and how you can contribute to excellent service delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events. This can give you insider knowledge about the role and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Essex County Council and ready to embrace their innovative approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Finance Assistant role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since this role involves a lot of customer interaction, it's crucial to demonstrate your communication skills in your written application. Be clear, concise, and professional in your language to make a great first impression.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Even if you don't have direct experience in cash management or banking, showcase any relevant skills or experiences that could apply. This could include teamwork, problem-solving, or any financial processes you've been involved with.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Know Your Financial Processes
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of financial processes, especially around Purchase to Pay (P2P) and Income. Being able to discuss how these systems work and their importance in maintaining accurate financial transactions will show that you're prepared and knowledgeable.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves a lot of customer interaction, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with customers in the past, whether by phone or email, to demonstrate your interpersonal skills.
✨Be Ready for Teamwork Questions
This position requires working collaboratively across teams, so expect questions about your experience in team settings. Think of specific instances where you contributed to a team goal or helped resolve a conflict, as this will highlight your ability to work flexibly in a multi-skilled environment.
✨Prepare for Process Improvement Discussions
The role mentions recommending process improvements, so come prepared with ideas or examples of how you've identified inefficiencies in previous roles. This shows that you're proactive and committed to continuous improvement, which is key for success in this position.
