Job Description for Clerk Vacancy

Job Title: Clerk to the Council

Accountable to: The Council via the Chairman of the Council

Salary: LCI SCP 18 through 22

Hours: Part Time, 4 hours per week

Overall responsibilities

The Clerk will be the only Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions and to serve all the notifications required by law of a local Council’s Officer. The Clerk will be responsible for ensuring the instructions of the Council are carried out. The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of policies to be followed in respect of its activities. This will involve producing all the information required for making decisions and to implement those decisions. The Clerk will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of its resources.

The Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and will be responsible for the administrative management of the Council’s finances in accordance with the Financial Regulations laid down by the Council.

Specific Responsibilities

  1. To ensure that statutory provisions governing the running of the Council are observed.
  2. To convene meetings of the Council and Sub-Committees and in liaison with the Chairman, prepare agendas and reports. To attend such meetings and provide advice on procedure and ensure accurate minutes are prepared.
  3. To manage the Council’s accounts ensuring they balance, records are prepared for audit purposes and that VAT returns are made on time.
  4. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Parish Meeting. To attend this annual meeting and to implement decisions made at the meeting as are agreed by the Council.
  5. To advise the Parish Council as to the requirements of new legislation and to ensure compliance with approved Standing Orders and other Council policies.
  6. To receive, deal with and/or issue correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council bringing such items to the attention of the Council.
  7. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services received to be paid for by the Council and to ensure such accounts are met on a timely basis.
  8. To prepare estimates of income and expenditure for each coming financial year, such estimates to form the basis for the precept to be submitted to Wiltshire Council.
  9. To prepare financial reports on all relevant matters including the Council’s Annual Budget.
  10. To monitor the policies of the Council, to ensure that they are effective and, where appropriate, suggest modifications. Regard is to be paid to the management of Freedom of Information, Data Protection and Information Security.
  11. To seek to ensure that the Council’s obligations in respect of insurance are properly met.
  12. To seek to ensure that all the Council’s obligations for health & safety and the environment are properly met.
  13. To maintain a working knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory instruments and codes of practice.
  14. To liaise with external bodies, including other Local Authorities, residents and local organisations
  15. To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk and Council as required by the Council.
  16. To continue to acquire and maintain the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council.