Finance Officer
2 days ago
Bexleyheath
Purpose of the job Children’s Services Statutory Assessment Service SEN Finance Officer • To action and monitor spend and projected spend for both support and placements detailed in - special educational needs statements and education, health and care plans (EHCP) for children and young people aged 0-25, amounting to in excess of £28m within the Statutory Assessment Service., • To liaise with some 200 other education providers e.g. Independent schools, NMS schools, FE Colleges, other LEA schools and Nurseries and provide training and advice for others within the SEN service as well as schools and colleges to support implementation., • The role includes casework with individual institutions helping them to understand the individualised funding they receive and finding solutions in the context of understanding the different legal frameworks, payment methods and regulations which apply to the range of schools, colleges and other educational institutions receiving SEN funding., • To develop new ICT systems for managing and recording financial processes, establishment of a performance framework and reporting systems to implement the finance elements of the new SEN legislation and national funding policy. Major Duties and Responsibilities: Financial Monitoring, • Maintain accurate budget information as decisions are made regarding support at Panel., • Financial modelling: working with colleagues in schools finance, to produce monthly updates showing spending profiles. Prepare and disseminate current Budget position. • Reconcile all Statutory Assessment Service Budgets in relation to High Needs Block funding . • Provide advice and support to Senior Management and the Management of the SEN team by providing/maintaining accurate records and producing financial reports and data as requested. • Provide input (financial data & advice etc) to annual budget preparation financial year end closure of accounts. Action Invoices and Payments, • Verifying, support with challenging, recording, authorising and arranging payment of invoices. • Creation/agreement of payment schedules for Other LEA schools., • Recording, authorising and arranging payments to other LEA schools . • Maintain schedule of jointly funded placements and create invoices/journal transfers for health and social care. • Authorising individual and bulk invoices/BACS payments ranging from £50 to in excess of £250k. Actively challenging any charges not conforming to those agreed by the SEN Panel. • Reconciliation at the end of each month / financial year., • Purchasing, • To liaise with schools and occupational therapists regarding requests for equipment., • To collate such requests, submit to panel and keep records of all equipment ordered., • To purchase equipment received by panel. Budgets • Daily update of budget monitoring spreadsheets for Banded/LSA support packages for Mainstream & Special schools in both Bexley and other LEAs, Independent schools and Nurseries, ensuring support is calculated accurately on a pro rata basis for mid-term starters/leavers., • Daily update of budget monitoring spreadsheets for SEN equipment, NHS support, SENDIASS and rail transport, budgets., • Reconcile all balances against LB Bexley’s financial systems (FIS & Collaborative Planning systems) and, if necessary, organise journal transfers. Accurate reports and precise breakdown of changes for monthly monitoring meetings. • Check incoming invoices for Independent school fees, code and authorise for payment in a timely manner, recording payment details on spreadsheet (in excess of £6m p.a.) and challenge any incorrect calculations and/or charges not agreed, • For Bexley funded mainstream & Resourced Provision pupils, on a termly basis, produce precise High Needs Funding Statements for each individual Bexley LA school. Details to include: listing all pupils in receipt of support packages and their funding: already paid, to be paid and estimates for future terms, covering the whole Financial Year. From time to time, visiting schools to discuss SEN funding issues, advising and supporting schools in SEN related expenditure. • The post holder will be responsible for all related queries and service related issues to ensure the Council meets its funding and financial commitments and statutory duties. • You will need to be familiar with the current Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and have an understanding of special educational needs. Data Analysis • Preparation of reports for monthly monitoring meetings., • Preparation of graphs and charts for individual budget streams to illustrate comparisons: monthly, annually., • Preparation of reports for central government, freedom of information as requested by Senior Management / Councillors etc., • Provide the above in a format appropriate to the relevant audience., • Support with data collection for monthly performance data and quarterly scorecard data. Service Quality and Office Duties, • To ensure an appropriate and efficient point of contact for service users, other LEAs, other council departments, educational establishments, including Bexley schools, other LEA schools, Independent schools and providers, plus NHS services • To maintain an effective business relationship with schools to enable them to deliver the agreed support, at the agreed cost. General Duties, • Respond to telephone enquiries from Head Teachers, SENCO’s, other LEA schools, other LEAs, other departments, the DfE, parents and members of the public, as appropriate.