System Support Officer

What will you be doing?

Main responsibilities include:

Perform daily, weekly and monthly system administration controls and processes to ensure data integrity and effective, accurate and timely use of the financial systems.

Provide regular and detailed control account and bank reconciliations to an audit standard and within agreed SLAs.

Provide second line support and advice for users of financial elements of the Unit 4 Business World application and financial reporting tools.  Ensure an effective and regular monitoring of the financial system request queues, taking required actions to keep calls updated in a timely manner and customers informed.  Identify any calls requiring colleague attention and notify them for their action as appropriate.

Document and maintain all work processes and procedures to assist with future support and maintenance.

Complete User Acceptance Testing within ERP using approved test scripts.  Contribute to the development of these test scripts to reflect current work processes and future defined requirements

Contribute to the team’s development by providing support to ensure that priorities and objectives are achieved, including contributing towards the overall level of performance and morale including contributing towards the effective and on-going implementation of the annual appraisal process.

About you

Ideally, you will have experience working with Microsoft packages such as Outlook, Word and Excel and comfortable picking up new software. 

Finance experience is a big advantage.

Bank reconciliation experience desirable but not essential.

Be educated to A level standard or equivalent and preferably hold or be studying towards a relevant financial or management qualification (such as AAT)

Experience of working in the public sector desirable

Experience of financial accounting in local government desirable

Good working knowledge of financial practices and work, including preparation of budgets and final accounts.

Good working systems knowledge of ERP Gold, preferably as part of an integrated e-business suite and experience of using sophisticated general ledger package

Be aware of how processes and interfaces interact and impact with other modules within an integrated financial system.

Be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge and experience of working with and improving financial processes

Experience of writing and developing financial reports using reporting tools eg Discoverer and Business Objects Planning or equivalent.

Knowledge of customer focus and service delivery approaches in order to support Help Desk service provision.

Skills and Abilities.

Able to work effectively within a team

Able to make reasoned decisions in a prompt timescale

Able to analyse complex issues and give reliable professional advice

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to achieve desired outcomes and be able to influence and negotiate when advising and supporting customers/users

Initiative and ability to plan and organise their own time to ensure that deadlines and agreed targets are met.

Ability to innovate and develop good practices on own initiative.

Ability to maintain high levels of performance under changing conditions, tasks, responsibilities, or people.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days annual leave per year, 28 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Car Lease scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

The council is in the process of implementing a new pay structure and terms and conditions which will be applicable to this role.  The outcome could result in a future variation to the advertised salary, and this will be discussed at interview.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.  

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.