Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
Sandford Parish Council
Sandford Parish Council seeks to appoint a Clerk and RFO to succeed the current clerk of over 40 years of service. The Parish of Sandford is adjacent to Crediton in mid Devon and covers the village and large rural district.
The Parish Council comprises 12 Councillors and meets 11 times per year, normally on the third Thursday of the month, except August, and is supported by a committee structure.
We are looking for a clerk with good IT skills (Office 365) and clerking experience. Working from home they will be responsible for managing the Council’s day to day business, providing advice, following up actions and implementing decisions. Preparing council agendas, record minutes, prepare and monitor budgets and manage the Councils assets and finances
The role is part time (10 hours per week). The hourly rate will be based on the salary terms in the national NJC Green Book Agreement LC1 (7-12 substantive benchmark range) dependent on qualifications and experience. In addition, there will be the HMRC allowance paid for home working.
Please view the website for details of the Council's activities and a job description.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity, please contact Richard Ward Chair by email: cllrward@sandfordparishcouncil.gov.uk to arrange a time to discuss the role.
To apply send your CV and covering email to the above address by 10 April 2025
Interviews will be arranged during the week commencing 28 April 2025 in the Council's Sport Pavilion, Sandford.
Job Description: Clerk to the Council and Responsible Finance Officer
Overall Responsibilities
The Clerk to the Council will be the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local authority's Proper Officer. The Clerk will be responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Council are carried out. The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall policies to be followed in respect of the Council’s activities and in particular to produce the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively all decisions. The person appointed will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report to them as and when required. The Clerk will also be the Responsible Financial Officer and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.
Specific Responsibilities
1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.
2. To manage, monitor and balance the Council's accounts and prepare records for audit purposes and VAT.
3. To ensure that the Council's obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.
4. To prepare agendas for meetings of the Council and its Committees and to be an Ex Officio member of those Committees
5. To attend meetings of the Council, and appropriate Committees when needed.
6. To take overall responsibility for managing the payroll.
7. To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents or bring such items to the attention of the Council. To issue correspondence as a result of instructions of, or the known policy of the Council.
8. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services to be paid for by the Council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the Council for goods and services and to ensure payment is received.
9. To draw up both on his/her own initiative and as a result of suggestions by Councillors proposals for consideration by the Council and to advise on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.
10. Should other members of staff be appointed, the Clerk is to act as their line manager in keeping with the policies of the Council and is to undertake all necessary activities in connection with the management of salaries, conditions of employment and work of other staff.
11. To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications.
12. To act as the representative of the Council as required.
13. To keep the Council’s website and electronic records updated.
14. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Annual Parish and Public Meetings: to attend these Meetings and to implement the decisions that are agreed by the Council.
15. To prepare, in consultation with the Chairman, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of, the Council.
16. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk as required by the Council.
17. To work towards the achievement of the status of Qualified Clerk as a minimum requirement for effectiveness in the position of Clerk to the Council.
18. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council: Suggested is membership of your professional body The Society of Local Council Clerks.
19. To attend the Conference of the National Association of Local Councils, Society of Local Council Clerks, and other relevant bodies, as a representative of the Council as required.