Part Time Finance Officer
Fixed Term, Part Time
£25,081 to £27,653 per annum, full time equivalent
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Closing Date: Sunday 31st August 2025 at 11.59pm
Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months and is a part time role, offering 25 hours per week, working Monday to Friday 9.30am till 2.30pm.
This position is an Anywhere Worker role with the expectation the successful worker will attend County Hall, Chelmsford one day per week.
The pro rata salary will be £16,946.63 up to £18,684.46 per annum.
The Role
The Suppliers team are responsible for setting up and maintaining all ECC's payee records. It’s data entry of the highest quality, requiring excellent attention to detail. Payee and company information must be gathered, verified and entered accurately to ensure ECC makes payments to its suppliers and vulnerable residents in a timely manner. Company information like address, VAT number and bank details must be sourced and checked for validity. We are a busy Accounts Payable team maintaining some 30,000 payee records.
The Opportunity
Purchase to Pay (P2P) aims to provide a comprehensive financial transactional and support service, maximising new and innovative technology to provide excellent customer service using a multi skilled workforce.
Finance Officers in Purchase to Pay (P2P) will contribute to the delivery of the business plan for financial transaction processing, by ensuring data or income is accurately maintained and managed within policy and legislation standards. Responding to more complex customer queries and supporting changes in technology to streamline the customer experience.
Educated to Level 3, with knowledge of P2P/Income systems and demonstrable accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase to pay and e-invoicing experience. The role requires good interpersonal and communication skills to deliver excellent customer service.
Accountabilities
1. Provides financial support in relation to ECC’s payments to both internal and external customers, contributing towards delivery of the business plan for financial transactions, in support of the wider organisational vision.
2. Contribute to data management of payee records, adding, amending and archiving data in line with GDPR.
3. Provides technical support to team members and customers answering more complex queries in a professional manner in accordance with financial procedures. Acts as the subject matter expert for P2P processes.
4. Contribute to the identification and clarification of customer needs, to deliver process and technology changes, which drive efficiency and value for money.
5. Contribute to improving financial awareness and capability across the organisation, to promote the culture of empowering budget holders in line with financial regulations.
6. Carries out data analysis to produce reports for P2P and external customers, to support the management of organisational performance, maximise income and ensure compliance to Financial Regulations and audit requirements.
7. Contributes to service improvement projects/programmes to achieve best practice and organisational efficiency by recommending process improvements and redesign.
8. Contributes to maintaining currency on legislation changes and translating these into local policy and procedure, to identify and review potential changes in technology.
9. Working collaboratively and flexibly across teams within P2P to deliver a high level of service to all functions.
10. Contribute to identifying risks and supporting the resolution, to minimise financial impact and loss to the organisation.
11. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
12. Educated to RQF level 3 (A level) including English and Mathematics, or equivalent by experience.
13. Commitment to continued personal development within a working environment.
14. Knowledge of P2P/Income systems and demonstrable accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase to pay and e-invoicing experience.
15. Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written
16. Aptitude and willingness to work flexibly in multi skilled Operational Teams.
17. Level of good competency using Microsoft office packages including, Outlook, Word and Excel
18. Ability to interpret varied information for supporting continuous improvements in service delivery.
19. Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external customers, suppliers and partners.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about
, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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