Financial Transaction Lead

JOB PURPOSE

The Financial Transactions Lead is the specialist lead providing the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland with a professional, efficient and effective Financial Transactions Function to support the strategic vision of the Finance Service, ensuring the recording of financial transactions is conducted in a manner that is fully compliant with audit requirements and best practice.

The Financial Transactions Lead is responsible for the identification, management and reporting of all risks in relation to all financial transactional processes within both Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland and in relation to Payroll, Treasury, Billing and Accounts Payable.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Contribute as a member of the Finance Senior Management Team to support the Chief Financial Officer's strategy for the Finance Function by leading the design, development and operation of a best-in-class Financial Transaction Function, ensuing overall function performance contributes to the strategic aims of the Finance Service and the Wider Organisation.

2. Lead strong and effective engagement with Police Scotland Executive, Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Government, Internal and External Audit and other stakeholders as appropriate.

3. Be accountable for the design, establishment and development of a Financial Transactions Function, comprising the following services, and ensuring that all plans and processes are fully documented:

a. Lead the delivery of all Payroll, Banking, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and VAT Returns, ensuring high-quality, timely, outputs and reporting and that the team and function is managed in an efficient and effective manner at all times.

b. Support the preparation of Scottish Police Authority Annual Report & Accounts, Scottish Government returns and other statutory requirements that are reliant on underlying transactional information.

c. Ensure all Internal and External Audit Recommendations in relation to; Payroll, Banking, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and VAT are implemented via a robust and transparent process and control framework.

d. Lead any HMRC or other Statutory or Regulatory Inquiries in so far as they relate to; Payroll, VAT, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Banking on behalf of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

e. Development, implement and report on relevant performance indicators in order to assess the organisation’s performance.

4. Ensure appropriate continuous professional development, keeping abreast of all internal, legislative and best practice developments, with particular focus on those impacting the Financial Transactions function. Ensure appropriate interpretation and implementation of required changes in a timely manner.

5. Develop and Lead a Continuous Improvement Plan for the Financial Transactions Function taking into account changing demands and technology to leverage innovative, risk-aware solutions to drive change towards a continually re-assessed Best Practice Operating Model for the function of its customers and other stakeholders.

6. Establish and implement approved month end routines across the Financial Transactions Function ensuring that quality working papers are maintained in support of all reports with supporting documentation and appropriate clear analysis for the purposes of forming an audit trail.

7. As a figurehead for the Financial Transactions Function with both internal and external Stakeholders, pro-actively lead and develop the Financial Transactions Function to become a known Centre of Excellence within the Organisation.

8. Lead a strong and accountable performance management culture within Finance that places emphasis on the economic, efficient and effective use of public money.

9. Lead a focus on successful outcomes and delivery of planned objectives, by:

a. Leading a team of professionally qualified and/or experienced staff, setting objectives and agreeing plans for technical and personal development within the personal development framework.

b. Leading and developing a continuous Financial Transactions Training Plan that will meet the ongoing and changing requirements of the function, including legislative compliance, and updates and changes to software, processes and procedures.

c. Leading by example in internal and external communications and mentoring staff in effective service delivery.

d. Ensuring effective resourcing of the functional area in line with agreed policies and in partnership with the People & Development Directorate.

10. Lead on the identification, monitoring and reporting of relevant risks and work with colleagues across the organisation to mitigate those risks.

11. Initiate, lead, monitor and manage improvement and change projects as appropriate to the role.

12. Be accountable for the implementation and monitoring of all applicable Standard Operating Practices and Policies including Health, Safety & Wellbeing policies.

13. Continually re-evaluate priorities and work in an agile manner to address emerging requirements as applicable.

The above list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the grade of the post, as directed by management.

Skills/Knowledge/Qualifications

• Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies (CCAB) Qualified Accountant.
• Specialist knowledge of relevant financial regulations, processes and systems in relation to Payroll, Banking and Treasury, Accounts Payable, Accounts receivable and VAT.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Considerable post-qualification experience in leading a function delivering a Financial Transactions Service in a complex environment.
• Considerable experience of delivering against strategically linked financial objectives.
• Considerable experience of effectively building partnerships and working with internal and external stakeholders.
• Sound knowledge of data protection legislation requirements.

• Understanding of equality and diversity and legislative requirements in relation to service delivery.