CLERK / RFO TO THE COUNCIL
| Posting date: | 02 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,537 to £33,699 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 02 October 2025 |
| Location: | Bestwood Village, Nottingham |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 4 days per week |
| Company: | Bestwood Village Parish Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | CLERK2509 |
Summary
Hours: 25 – 40 per month dependent on agreed responsibilities and needs of the council
About the role: Bestwood Village Parish Council is a friendly team of councillors looking for a new Clerk / RFO (Responsible Financial Officer). We are forward thinking and hope to expand our activities over the coming years so we’re looking for a Clerk who will be able to grow with us and help us reach our aspirations.
There is a mix of professional expertise and experience on the council, with some members being long-serving and others joining a couple of years ago. Our longstanding Chair and Vice-Chair have recently stepped aside from their roles but remain valued members of the team. As Clerk, you’ll be supporting the new Chair and Vice-Chair to step into their roles, as well as supporting the day-to-day running of the council.
Ideally we’re looking for an experienced CiLCA qualified Clerk; but if you’re organised, have excellent attention to detail and are competent in bookkeeping and administration we are keen to hear from you. See the job description and person specification for more information.
Council meetings are held at St. Mark’s Church, Bestwood Village on the second Tuesday of the month (excluding August and December). Extraordinary meetings and committee meetings may be held at other times.
The Clerk to the Council is the Proper Officer of the Council and is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions of a council’s Proper Officer; in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law. The Clerk will also be the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.
How to apply: Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience and how you meet the person specification to Cllr Rob White, Chair of the Staffing Committee: cllr.white@bestwoodvillageparishcouncil.gov.uk. Please note, applications (including CV) should be no more than three A4 pages in 12pt font.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 5th October (midnight).
Duties:
1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions affecting the running of the council are observed and tasks as set out within the Clerk’s Calendar (to be provided).
2. To 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 and management are properly met including arranging all insurances.
4. To prepare, in consultation with the appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the council and committees.
5. To attend, in person, all meetings of the council and committees (typically 11 per year) and prepare minutes for approval.
6. To receive and deal with, in accordance with the council’s procedures, all correspondence and documents and distribute accordingly in a timely manner.
7. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services for the council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the council and to ensure payment is received.
8. To study reports and other data on activities of the council. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with specialists and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the council.
9. To draw up reports on own initiative and as a result of suggestions by councillors. To present these reports for consideration by the council. To advise on the practicality and likely effects of specific courses of action.
10. To provide advice, support and guidance to councillors to ensure that all councillors work within the scope of their roles.
11. To monitor the implemented policies of the council to ensure they are achieving the desired results and, where appropriate, suggest changes.
12. To act as the representative of the council as required.
13. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Annual Parish Meeting. To attend the Parish Meeting and to implement the decisions made at the Parish meeting, as agreed by the council.
14. To prepare, in consultation with the Chair, press releases about the activities or decisions of, the council.
15. To manage and contribute to the council’s website and Facebook pages, to ensure that it adheres to current legislation and access standards.
16. To prepare, in consultation with the council, publications such as newsletters for circulation to residents.
17. To assist with the organisation of events on behalf of the Council to maximise inclusion and bring the village together.
18. To complete training as required by the council. If not already obtained, to register for CiLCA (or equivalent) at the earliest opportunity and gain certification within twelve months of registration.
19. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the council.
20. To ensure that all Declarations of Councillors’ Interests, Acceptances of Office, and the Code of Conduct are available to and completed by councillors. To initiate and/or where appropriate arrange/facilitate the filling of any councillor vacancies on the council.
Person Specification available on our website: www.bestwoodvillageparishcouncil.gov.uk
About the role: Bestwood Village Parish Council is a friendly team of councillors looking for a new Clerk / RFO (Responsible Financial Officer). We are forward thinking and hope to expand our activities over the coming years so we’re looking for a Clerk who will be able to grow with us and help us reach our aspirations.
There is a mix of professional expertise and experience on the council, with some members being long-serving and others joining a couple of years ago. Our longstanding Chair and Vice-Chair have recently stepped aside from their roles but remain valued members of the team. As Clerk, you’ll be supporting the new Chair and Vice-Chair to step into their roles, as well as supporting the day-to-day running of the council.
Ideally we’re looking for an experienced CiLCA qualified Clerk; but if you’re organised, have excellent attention to detail and are competent in bookkeeping and administration we are keen to hear from you. See the job description and person specification for more information.
Council meetings are held at St. Mark’s Church, Bestwood Village on the second Tuesday of the month (excluding August and December). Extraordinary meetings and committee meetings may be held at other times.
The Clerk to the Council is the Proper Officer of the Council and is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions of a council’s Proper Officer; in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law. The Clerk will also be the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.
How to apply: Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience and how you meet the person specification to Cllr Rob White, Chair of the Staffing Committee: cllr.white@bestwoodvillageparishcouncil.gov.uk. Please note, applications (including CV) should be no more than three A4 pages in 12pt font.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 5th October (midnight).
Duties:
1. To ensure that statutory and other provisions affecting the running of the council are observed and tasks as set out within the Clerk’s Calendar (to be provided).
2. To 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 and management are properly met including arranging all insurances.
4. To prepare, in consultation with the appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the council and committees.
5. To attend, in person, all meetings of the council and committees (typically 11 per year) and prepare minutes for approval.
6. To receive and deal with, in accordance with the council’s procedures, all correspondence and documents and distribute accordingly in a timely manner.
7. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services for the council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the council and to ensure payment is received.
8. To study reports and other data on activities of the council. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with specialists and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the council.
9. To draw up reports on own initiative and as a result of suggestions by councillors. To present these reports for consideration by the council. To advise on the practicality and likely effects of specific courses of action.
10. To provide advice, support and guidance to councillors to ensure that all councillors work within the scope of their roles.
11. To monitor the implemented policies of the council to ensure they are achieving the desired results and, where appropriate, suggest changes.
12. To act as the representative of the council as required.
13. To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Annual Parish Meeting. To attend the Parish Meeting and to implement the decisions made at the Parish meeting, as agreed by the council.
14. To prepare, in consultation with the Chair, press releases about the activities or decisions of, the council.
15. To manage and contribute to the council’s website and Facebook pages, to ensure that it adheres to current legislation and access standards.
16. To prepare, in consultation with the council, publications such as newsletters for circulation to residents.
17. To assist with the organisation of events on behalf of the Council to maximise inclusion and bring the village together.
18. To complete training as required by the council. If not already obtained, to register for CiLCA (or equivalent) at the earliest opportunity and gain certification within twelve months of registration.
19. To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the council.
20. To ensure that all Declarations of Councillors’ Interests, Acceptances of Office, and the Code of Conduct are available to and completed by councillors. To initiate and/or where appropriate arrange/facilitate the filling of any councillor vacancies on the council.
Person Specification available on our website: www.bestwoodvillageparishcouncil.gov.uk