Temporary Assistant Finance Officer (Grade E1)

Application Deadline: 12 July 2026

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Fixed Term – Full Time

Location: Edinburgh – Hybrid

Reporting To: Senior Payment & Procurement Officer

Compensation: Grade E1 £32,064 to £37,521. Civil Service Pension with Employer Contribution of 28.97%. Flexible Working Hours. Hybrid Working.

Description: Our ambition is for Scotland to be the best place in the world to learn, educate, research and innovate, so that all of our nation can flourish. Our purpose is to create and sustain a world‑leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that changes lives for the better, enriches society and supports sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Reporting to the Senior Payment & Procurement Officer you will be providing support to finance activities. This post plays a key part in ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of payments, and the accuracy of the financials ledger (particularly with regard to running costs budgets). We expect that these roles will end in February 2027.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure that invoices and claims are properly authorised and correctly coded, and that the value is correct.
• Input invoices, purchase orders, travel & subsistence claims, miscellaneous claims into the Finance accounting system.
• Follow up on queries relating to the invoices and claims.
• Store documentation accurately in line with GDPR requirements and strive to reach key performance indicators for purchase ledger transactions.
• Prepare accounts receivable invoices and ensure payment is received.
• Monitor and reconcile Council bank accounts daily by using online banking, verify all income and process journal entries and create CHAPs and international transfers as required.
• Complete month‑end and year‑end reconciliations.
• Prepare and accurately produce monthly balance sheet, creditor/debtor and bank account reconciliations to deadline.
• Prepare monthly reporting e.g., over £25K report, Prompt Payments report etc.
• Aid the Senior Payment and Procurement Officer with audits, e.g., collating files and answering process queries.
• Provide support to Finance team and across SFC as required.

Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• Previous bookkeeping experience.
• Knowledge of accounts payable.
• Understanding of invoicing and claims.
• Excellent numerical skills including accuracy with figures.
• Good level of oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of Sun Accounts software.
• Bookkeeping part‑qualification.
• Prior experience of posting weekly and monthly journals.
• Knowledge of reconciliations.

Terms and Benefits:

• Normal full‑time hours of work are 35 per week.
• Flexible working arrangements are considered and a flexi‑time system is in operation.
• Annual leave entitlement of 30 days pro‑rata, plus public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro‑rata.
• Flexible approach to hybrid working, allowing work from home anywhere in the UK for part of the time while maintaining regular in‑person contact with colleagues.
• Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with the recognised trade union, Unite.
• Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• Support for continuous professional development via CSL website and a Lifelong Learning Fund.
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, special leave (paid and unpaid), and access to occupational health support.
• Support for Volunteering Days.
• Support for travel to and from work including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest‑free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking on a first‑come basis.
• While most salaried roles are advertised as full‑time positions (35 hours a week), part‑time or compressed hours can be discussed to suit a candidate’s circumstances.
• A flexible working scheme accommodates other commitments such as caring responsibilities.
• Secondment applications may be considered for most salaried fixed‑term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions.