Finance Apprentice

To assist the Finance Section in the recording and processing of invoices for payment, collection of income and the maintenance of financial records and to help provide an effective support function to the Authority.

The detailed duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character or level of responsibility.

• To process reimbursement claims, invoices and petty cash imprest accounts for payment, including allocating new creditor numbers and maintain administrative records and procedures in order to ensure a comprehensive and accurate system of budgetary control monitoring is maintained, dealing with any queries arising.
• To send expenditure invoices to Budget Managers for authorisation and once these have been returned check they have been coded correctly. Batch up invoices and input into the FMS ledger system and validate invoice inputting in the team as required, in order to ensure that invoices are paid with the terms of the payment agreements with suppliers.
• To assist in maintaining the authorised signatory spreadsheet and forms, administration of petty cash (including taking cash to the bank) and issuing of rail warrants in order to ensure that the team adheres to the policies and procedures in place.
• To assist with the analysis of all income for accounting purposes to ensure that the income classification of the Authority’s income is in line with statutory guidelines.
• To assist with the issuing of sales invoices when requests are received from the Service and assist in credit control to ensure that these tasks are completed in a timely fashion in line with the policies of the Finance team.
• To assist with investigating and reporting on any queries from budget holders regarding their ‘OneCard’ or finance accounts in order to ensure that responses are made within reasonable timescales.
• To liaise with the Procurement and Stores Sections regarding goods received/invoice reconciliation procedures, and with suppliers regarding invoice queries to ensure that the Authority’s invoices are paid within agreed timescales.
• To assist Finance colleagues with inputting of journals, maintenance of accounting records (including Microsoft Excel spreadsheets), control account reconciliations and government returns in order to ensure that the team adheres to the policies and procedures of the Authority.
• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required.
• To attend such training/personal development courses as may be considered necessary.
• The post holder is required to comply with relevant health and safety legislation and the Service policies and procedures of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority in the performance of his/her duties. This includes the requirement to take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work activities, use equipment correctly and apply safe-working practices effectively, to remove or minimise risk of accident, injury or ill health.
• Practice and promote equality and diversity and the fair and equitable treatment of all staff and customers within the scope of the post.
• To support and participate in the formulation of standards and procedures for quality management and customer care expectations.


*This role is minimum wage for age*
From 1st April 2021 the pay and bands are changing to the following;
Age 23 and over £8.91
Age 21 to 22 £8.36
Age 18 to 20 £6.56
Under 18 £4.62