Financial Assessor

Overview

Stoke-on-Trent City Council Directorate: Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning Section: Commissioning Location: Civic Centre Grade: Level 7 Salary: £31,022 - £33,699 per annum Hours: 37 hours per week This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

The Role

As a Financial Assessor within the All Age Direct Payments Team, the role will play a key role in ensuring children and adults can access care and support while safeguarding public funds. The role will be responsible for supporting the administration, monitoring, and auditing of Direct Payments, ensuring funding is used appropriately and in line with statutory requirements. Working closely with colleagues across commissioning, social care, and partner organisations, the role will ensure financial processes are accurate, timely, and clearly communicated. This is a varied role within a transforming service, where the role will also contribute to improving processes and may undertake additional duties appropriate to support effective service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and monitor Direct Payments for children and adults, ensuring compliance with requirements
• Undertake financial monitoring and audits to ensure funds are used appropriately and effectively
• Provide clear advice and guidance to residents, families, and professionals
• Maintain accurate financial records, including invoicing, payments, and reconciliations
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across social care, commissioning, and partner organisations
• Contribute to service improvements and undertake additional duties appropriate to the role

About You

• Experience in finance or a similar role
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and/or children’s legislation, or the ability to develop this quickly
• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work sensitively with families and professionals
• A proactive and flexible approach, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team

What we offer

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Kelly Mountford.

Pre-Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies. No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council. Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.