Person Spec - Harrow Council

Bharti Sidhpura

SCHOOL BURSAR Longfield First and Middle Schools

REF:

Essential 1.

Education, Training and Qualifications I have the following qualifications starting from current to previous:Training – Financial Appraisal System, Oracle Business Objective, Oracle ADI system, Oracle Accounting System, Unity Accounting System, SIMS accounting system, Budget Setting and Financial Management, Excel Advance, Web Designing, Diploma in Management Studies NVQ Level 4, Part Qualified AAT, BTEC National Diploma, European Computer Driving Licences, IIP training management, Human Resources System (HRPro), Interviewing skills, Governors Training, Financial Management in Schools, Secretarial Certificate A-Level, 5 GCSE, given opportunity, I am interested in completing my CCAB qualification in the near future or DMSB.

2.

Computer Literate I have excellent IT Skills and I enjoy developing my IT Skills. In my present post as Bank Reconciliation Officer I have made use of advanced Excel to complete my daily bank reconciliation, which includes using filters. Pilot tables, IF-statements and using Advance Desktop Interface to uploading excel worksheets (journals) onto Oracle Accounting system and also downloading various Oracle Reports. One of my weekly tasks is to download reports to analysis un-reconciled items on the bank statement. Here I would use Window 97 programme, which includes excel to get my workbook. I would use word to write a letter to my internal customers regarding any payments and debt reports. I have also knowledge of using powerpoint for my report presentations and Access for all other database programme. I am familiar in using various accounting package including SIMS and LRM2, Unity System. I use email (Lotus notes) for my daily emails and internet for DCSF websites.

3

School Finance Management System

As a Governor of Uxendon Manor Primary School – Chair of Finance Committee, I am aware of all the Finance Management System, which includes Schools budget setting timescale, budget monitoring reports for Finance Committee, completing various forms for monthly consistent financial reporting in timely basis. Working for Children and Families Finance Section in Children and Families Department I have had responsibility of chasing up monthly budget monitoring reports, setting all school budget (Section 52 Statements), guiding them to complete their monthly reports schools. Advice them of their Staffing budget, which is largest budget for schools. I have experience of preparing school budget as I personally help Uxendon Manor School for their budget setting exercise working out staffing budget, taking into account inflations, on-cost etc, working out all the non teaching costs, making sure that budget is balanced everything that schools require is balanced. I understand that well managed financially means well managed in other respects. 4.

Experience in interpreting and explaining financial reports generated by FMS At our quarterly Finance Committee Meeting we read and interpreted data from Financial reports where we need to understand each and every items, spent budget according to months and plan if there is any foreseeable overspent or under spending. We need to have clear understanding of these reports and often help Bursar to get information that we require. Inclusive with Financial reports are some of the contracts for example, Cleaning Contact, Catering Contract, Building Contract. One of the major items to see is Devolved Funding, so that we can see that budget is wisely spent for the benefit of school. Staffing budget which included Supply cover was costing schools substantial expenditure each year therefore we introduced two float teachers which helped school tremendously, therefore last year we could actually see extra funding to be able to incorporate major work.

Bharti Sidhpura

SCHOOL BURSAR Longfield First and Middle Schools

REF:

Financial Regulation As Finance Officer I have always used financial regulation at all time for following procedures and policy. I have also guided all Brent Schools for all relevant part of the policy and procedure. Every year we update this “Financial Regulation for School” therefore I am fully aware of what schools require to follow. For example scheme of delegation for schools is very important, and divisional of duties to avoid fraud. Experience of handling, accounting for and banking money efficiently and confidently For the last 12 years I have managed petty cash for Children and Families Department. The float I have managed is for £2000 plus. Managing for all different units, balancing the accounts and reconciled. As a Capital Accountant post for the last 15 years I have gone through separate bank account, paying by cheques to contractors complying with Construction Industrial Tax. Balancing Capital Accounts monthly. Fully involved in the setting the capital budget, reconciling expenditure using bank statement. Monthly Statutory returns which includes VAT Returns, budget profile and balancing the accounts. Yearly I have completed year-end closing of accounts for Capital. I have managed 30 million budget for capital accounts. In addition to all the financial duties I have managed procurement arrangement for Financial service to secure value for money for all material product required for the service. My job at Children and Families Department was as PA to Assistant Director of Planning, Information and Resources plus Capital Accountant. Therefore I have worked very closely with Headteachers on financial matters. I have also organised financial training for Bursars whenever there was new policy and procedures which Brent Schools needed to follow. Most of the financial regulation and procedures, Budget preparation for schools, Key Services and traded Services to schools booklets I have designed and taken into account all the services delivery across the Brent Council covered so that schools are able to buy back the service. More recently, we got reorganised and my new post has been as Reconciliation Officer where I managed Children and Families Department bank account. Here I made sure that I reconciled children and families large bank account accurately and timely manner so that all the electronic bank account is downloaded, receipted where income has been received. Charged the correct budget holder for relevant charges etc. On monthly I make sure that most of the lines are reconciled. Last year Children and Families Department moved onto new Accounting package Oracle. I have taken the challenge and learned the new accounting packaged, mastered the new role. I have also taken lead role in sorting the coding structure for transferring the data from old Unity accounting system onto oracle system. I have always been able to sort out all the office equipment and train colleagues on how to use new software, hardware or also using telephone network system appropriately. Even my managers always taps on my expertise whenever they needed equipment sorting out, I have worked independently for developing the capital projects, making improvements, and also worked closely with Asset Management team for liasing all the budget and expenditure on daily basis. Within this Capital Projects I have also managed Early years capital programme. At the same time I work very well in a team, I believe that if you work with positive happy environment you bring to the team encouraging approach on whatever task

Bharti Sidhpura

SCHOOL BURSAR Longfield First and Middle Schools

REF:

we have in hand. One example of this is sending out booklets or document to schools which requires team input to meet the post deadlines.