Financial Inclusion Officer

Job title: Financial Inclusion Officer

Salary: PO2 £41,177 to £44,253

Hours: 37 hrs

Contract: Full time

Location: Merrion House

2x Financial Inclusion Officer posts. Any applicant who has previous applied for the post within the last 6 months should not apply.

As a Financial Inclusion Officer in the Financial Inclusion Team, you will be at the forefront of developing innovative partnership-based projects and initiatives to address financial inclusion and tackle poverty in Leeds.

The team work on a range of work areas related to financial inclusion, cost of living, advice, food insecurity, and gambling harms. This includes managing government funded programmes such as the DWP's Crisis and Resilience Fund and the Department for Education's Holiday Activity and Food programme which is known locally as Healthy Holidays.

In terms of the two roles available one will focus on supporting the co-ordination and management of a range of Financial Inclusion initiatives, working across council services and partner organisations, and liaising with government departments. In addition, supporting the development of a strong evidence base for the work undertaken. Whilst the other role will specifically involve supporting the co-ordination and management of the Crisis and Resilience Fund for Leeds City Council. The Crisis and Resilience Fund is funding from government to both provide a safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock and to invest in building local financial resilience to enable individuals and communities to better deal with crises in the long-term, reducing crisis need. Both roles will involve supporting Senior Financial Inclusion Officers in taking forward a range of work areas and projects related to addressing financial inclusion and poverty.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As a Financial Inclusion Officer you will bring to the role:

• Experience of coordinating and taking forward projects and initiatives from development to implementation in a service area relevant to the post.
• The ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
• experience in working in partnership with a diverse range of partners.
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to produce and present verbal and written reports.
• Experience of budget management and navigating the Councils Governance and Decision making processes.
• Understanding of Financial Inclusion, Poverty and Inequality and Welfare Benefits policy.

About the role

As our next Financial Inclusion Officer you'll be part of a dynamic team which focuses on developing work to address financial inclusion and poverty and inequality through an evidence based and collaborative partnership approach. Our work requires the ability to work across council services, external organisations and elected members to achieve positive outcomes for the people of Leeds.

The role is integral to the Financial Inclusion team. The City's approach to Financial Inclusion is long established. This depth of knowledge and experience means that in times of economic hardship and reducing public sector budgets, the Council remains well placed to continue to deliver projects and initiatives that make an active difference to the lives and prospects of Leeds residents. Work areas are wide ranging and include managing government funding programmes, working with council services, partner organisations including advice agencies, Leeds Credit Union, and food aid providers to support the local welfare offer across the city, and managing the Leeds Money Information Centre website and social media accounts. The work of the team is varied and challenging.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Jo Rowlands Call 0113 37 89219 or email [email protected].

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

The purpose of the Financial Inclusion Officer role is to co-ordinate and assist with a range of policies, strategies, projects and initiatives designed to tackle poverty and inequality and address financial inclusion in Leeds. The work of the team covers poverty, financial inclusion, food insecurity and addressing gambling harms.

This role will involve working across council services and partner organisations, including liaison with government departments and other local authorities. In addition, supporting to develop a strong evidence base for the work undertaken.

The post holder will be part of the Financial Inclusion Team, reporting to the Senior Financial Inclusion Officer.

Responsibilities

• To support the co-ordination of Financial Inclusion programmes and projects for Leeds City Council through working across council service and in partnership with organisations across the city.
• To co-ordinate and manage the Financial Inclusion programmes and projects to meet the objectives of the Leeds Ambition and the Council Plan and comply with guidance set out by national government.
• To prepare and present verbal and written reports as required.
• Provide progress updates to the senior management teams within the service.
• To communicate how the work is being delivered across a range of audiences, including council services, external organisations, government departments and the public.
• Represent the City Council at meetings and events.
• To establish monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks. Assuring the good quality, accuracy and timeliness of statutory monitoring returns.
• Monitoring budgets and making appropriate recommendations.
• Managing social media and website content on the city's work on financial inclusion.
• To develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external partners and other stakeholders to achieve corporate objectives.
• To provide advice relating to the work of the service to elected members and ...