Finance Manager - Lyme Regis Town Council

Job Purpose

• To ensure the town council operates in accordance with accounting procedures and statutory requirements.
• To manage and advise on the council’s financial affairs.

Main Duties

• To prepare the council’s annual budget.
• To produce monthly management reports for the management team and council committees.
• To carry out the council’s year-end processes, including the production of statutory documents, working papers for audit, and associated reports to council.
• To manage the council’s bank reconciliation, VAT records, and other monthly control accounts.
• To monitor and advise on the council’s cash flow and financial investments.
• To assist in the review of financial governance arrangements, including financial regulations and standing orders, procurement, insurance, asset recording, treasury, internal control and risk management.
• To create procedures for all financial control systems, giving training in their use, monitoring adherence to these procedures, and liaising with the internal auditor as required.
• To review the council’s services to ensure they are delivered efficiently, effectively and economically.
• Managing and maintaining records of the council’s insurances, ensuring the regular revision of cover required and to processing claims, as necessary.
• Monitor and manage debts.
• The delivery of effective, efficient and economic financial systems: purchase orders and creditors, debtors, general ledger, payroll, and petty cash.
• Support colleagues in delivering service specific systems, e.g. bookings, car parking.
• The development and monitoring or effective office systems, including use of software,

  document management and records’ storage and to take the lead on procuring and managing suitable IT and IT-related systems.

• To maintain a register of assets, leases and licences and, subject to agreement to manage the undertaking out of associated property transactions such as lease renewals and rent reviews. To head on information communications technology (ICT), ensure the currency of the council’s systems, and the effectiveness of its application.

• To advise on and support procurement.

September 2026

Assessment Criteria

Essential

Desirable

Educational qualifications

GCSEs in English and Maths, minimum grade C

AAT, CCAB part-qualified, or equivalent

A degree or relevant professional qualification

Work-related experience

and associated vocational

training

Three years’ experience of budget preparation, monitoring and year-end closure

Experience of working on own initiative and as part of a team

Sage financial systems, and linking Sage financial systems to other systems

Financial analysis, projections and modelling

Treasury management

Experience of managing ICT

Asset management

Experience of local government finance and administration

Knowledge

Knowledge of accounting procedures and statutory requirement

IT Literate

Knowledge of business and administrative procedures.

Internal and external audit

Understanding of procurement processes

Performance management systems

Personal skills and qualities

Good writing and communication skills

Strong numerical, analytical and problem solving skills

Ability supervise and direct others

Strong team-worker.

Ability to work under pressure.

Ability to organise and prioritise own work, that of others, and ensure deadlines are met.

Instils trust, respects confidentiality, and inspires confidence.

Ability to develop strong relationships and promote the council’s interests with external organisations.

Balances assertiveness with flexibility.

Possesses a ‘can do’ attitude

Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity.

Special working conditions

Some evening, weekend and bank holiday work.