Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer

Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer

Full-Time 29700 - 36300 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join a dynamic team managing financial assessments for Adult Social Care services.
  • Company: Work for Kingston and Sutton councils, two high-performing London Boroughs.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to community engagement and support.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while growing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in finance and customer service within adult social care is preferred.

The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.

About The Borough

Joining us, you get to work for not just one high performing London Borough, but two. Kingston and Sutton councils have a number of shared services serving both authorities, with some teams and roles more focussed on one council than the other, but the majority are shared across both, meaning you get multiple opportunities to learn from a wider pool of activities and two different political bodies. We work flexibly in both Kingston and Sutton offices, and support working at home or flexible working patterns that enable you to tailor your working and personal life. We provide the equipment and tools to enable you to work flexibly, and in return ask you to use that flexibility to be creative and ambitious in the services we deliver.

There are some really exciting things happening in both boroughs. In Sutton, we are developing the London Cancer Hub, a world leading cancer research and treatment hub that will bring together professionals from across different sectors to identify and test new treatments and therapies. Over in Kingston, we are undertaking the largest housing regeneration programme ever delivered in the borough, building new energy efficient housing that will transform some of our oldest Council owned housing. Both boroughs have publicly committed to doing what they can to tackle the climate emergency and are investing in new technologies and societal change that will help bring carbon emissions down and improve our climate impact.

You should choose Kingston and Sutton if you are looking for an opportunity that will challenge you to deliver more, support you to achieve personal ambitions, and expect you to put borough residents at the heart of what you do. Kingston is a beautiful Royal borough with a historic setting on the banks of the Thames with excellent schools and a bustling retail centre, all surrounded by open green spaces such as Richmond Park and Bushey Park, former recreation grounds for Tudor Kings and Queens. The Council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat Administration and has a council plan “Greener, Fairer, Safer, Together”, that sets out a vision to be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive borough where residents are active, empowered, engaged and able to remain independent and resilient.

The Council engages with residents through a number of forums and events through the year, and like Sutton plays a leading role in developing the South West Region of London. Sutton is a well connected attractive part of London that has a reputation for excellent schools, green and leafy open spaces, and a history that drives a thriving heritage and culture offer through our museums and libraries. The Council is controlled by a long established Liberal Democrat Administration and has high ambitions set out in its corporate plan “Ambitious for Sutton”, that will ensure Sutton remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. The Council plays a leading role in a number of local partnerships and places great emphasis on engaging effectively with its residents, listening to local voices and making their message heard across London Government.

About The Role And Our Ideal Candidate

An excellent opportunity has arisen within the Financial Assessment and Inclusion team Adult Social Care. The role is based in Guildhall 2, Kingston Council. You will be part of an exciting team that manages the financial assessment process for clients receiving Adult Social Care services.

About You

The successful candidate will be pro-active and ambitious with excellent welfare benefit knowledge. You will be able to demonstrate a history of working within a finance and customer service team in the adult social care sector. Be analytical and a problem solver. Possess a ‘can do’ attitude and be willing to work collaboratively with other departments and teams. Be ready to take up the challenges. A knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and charging principles for social care services will be desirable.

About Us

The Financial Assessment and Inclusion team is responsible for the provision of a financial assessment and benefit maximisation service for all recipients of care services arranged by Adult Social Care. The team also administers, monitors and processes payments to care providers. The team works collaboratively with ASC colleagues and other internal teams as well as external stakeholders. We are a hybrid working team, it is expected that you come into the office minimum of 2 days per week.

Our Offer To You

As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team. Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:

  • A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade.
  • Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave.
  • Three volunteering days per year in Kingston.
  • Hybrid working (dependent on the role).
  • Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks.
  • Learning and development portal offering a range of courses.
  • Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres.
  • Interest free season ticket loans.
  • Local Government Pension Scheme.
  • Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme.
  • Zip car scheme.

We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming Borough and we strive to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve, and instil a sense of belonging in our staff. We celebrate and respect differences and appreciate the value of having a diverse workforce, therefore we welcome applications from under represented groups. To support our workers and their families we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and inclusive staff networks who help drive our diversity agenda. We are also proud to be a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for a role. As an accredited London Living Wage Employer all our employees are guaranteed the London Living Wage regardless of their length or type of contract.

Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer employer: Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee development and collaboration. With a strong focus on community impact, you will have the opportunity to lead critical training and testing initiatives within a supportive team, all while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements. Join us to make a meaningful difference in housing management while advancing your career in a progressive local authority.

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Contact Details:

Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer

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We think you need these skills to ace Financial Assessment and Inclusion Officer

Welfare Benefit Knowledge
Financial Assessment
Customer Service Skills
Analytical Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Collaboration Skills
Knowledge of the Care Act 2014

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.

Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!

Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.

Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames how you can be a team player!

How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames

✨Brush Up on Technical Skills

Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!

✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen

If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.

✨Know Your Numbers

In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.

✨Connect with Company Goals

Familiarise yourself with Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!