Job Title:

Placement Support Assistant (1 year )

Grade:

Band 1 (£12,182 plus HCAS £3,468)

Hours of duty:

37.5 hrs per week. (flexi-time scheme in operation)

Service Centre / Directorate:

Finance / Systems Department

Base:

Accountable to:

Systems Controller

Reports to:

Systems Support Manager

Responsible for:

None

Systems Support Manager, Senior Systems Assistant, Finance Directorate Staff, and other users of Finance Systems within the Trust

External:

Support departments of IT equipment suppliers

The work of the Finance Directorate Systems Department underpins most financial activities within the Trust and includes the management and operation of financial systems used by the Finance Directorate, Procurement and other users within the Trust.

Key systems are the Agresso accounting and financial management information system, Payroll, Logistics On Line and a number of other business critical specialist database systems e.g. Budget Manager, Capital Accounting and databases used to monitor service level agreement activity.

Trust expenditure totalling in excess of £340 million per annum is processed in the systems for which the Department is responsible.

The Systems Department is also responsible for the design, set up and implementation of new IT solutions that enhance the financial management process and the provision of training for staff in the use of financial systems.

The Department also processes and provides financial management information for use by the Finance Directorate accountants, other managers in the Trust and external organisations.

1. To be a full member of the St George’s Finance Directorate Placement scheme.

2. To work closely with Systems Controller and Systems Support Manager in all aspects which relate to the support, management and development of the Finance Directorates file servers and PC based systems.

3. Each Placement will ensure that:

   • he/she develops and maintains a good knowledge of the Trust’s processes and procedures and the activities of the Finance Systems section

   • routine support enquiries from staff are investigated and answered, or passed onto Senior Support Assistant

   • system logs are completed in accordance with departmental timetables

1. To assist in the day to day management of ancillary financial reporting systems and monitor and support the use of Directorate servers, PC’s and other related hardware.

2. To assist in providing an approachable and responsive IT helpdesk service for the Finance Directorate, resolving issues in a tactful, polite and approachable manner.

3. To support the day to day operation of the Finance Directorate PC’s and associated hardware, e.g. the installation of and repair of PC’s and printers.

4. To maintain PC’s and printers and to ensure that any maintenance carried out by external agencies is undertaken appropriately.

5. To provide advice, guidance and training to ensure the safe use of PC’s and printers by Finance Directorate users.

6. To carry out audits on the PC and server backups, to ensure that all Finance data is secure and recoverable in case of system failure.

7. To check system processes and logs to validate the integrity of systems, in relation to server disk space, backup logs and anti-virus warnings.

8. To install software and ensure that only licensed software is used within the Finance Directorate.

9. Responsible for ensuring that sufficient stocks of IT consumable items are available for the Finance Directorate; stocks are monitored and goods ordered accordingly e.g. backup tapes, printer toner.

10. To liaise with external suppliers on both software and hardware issues.

11. Any other assigned Systems duties. 

Management:

12. To manage own workload in accordance with Department monthly processing timetables.

13. To ensure that work is performed in accordance with Trust processes and procedures and provide feedback on progress to supervisor at regular intervals.

14. To contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and procedures within the Finance Systems section.

15. To assist in audits and the development of new systems for improved accuracy and efficiency.

General:

16. To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of staff and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and safety regulations.

17. To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.

18. To work in accordance with the Trust’s policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote good race relations and diversity in the workplace. To positively promote at all times equality of opportunity in service delivery and employment for patients and staff in accordance with the Trust’s policies, to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religion, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

19. To comply with the St George's Health care no smoking policy.

20. To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service.

21. This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the postholder.

Knowledge & Skill

Awareness of the provisions of the Data Protection Act and be able to apply these in a Trust environment

Able to work in a busy office environment that often demands high levels of concentration, while coping with frequent interruptions.