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JOB APPLICATION

PACK

Job Title: Sales and Development Accountant Directorate: Finance Department: Financial Accounting Location: Twickenham

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Dear Candidate Thank you for your interest in working for Thames Valley Housing. In this pack, you will find the Job Description and Person Specification for the role you are applying for. We encourage you to read the guidance notes before you complete your application on-line. Thames Valley Housing is an equal opportunities employer. We want everyone to look forward to coming to work every day, so we encourage fairness, openness and welcoming of difference. We aim to treat everyone fairly. We are strong supporters of equality and diversity, and we employ people on merit and qualifications, according to how well they suit the role. Thames Valley Housing is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To support this, we guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the job. We hope that you find the job description interesting and decide to apply. We wish you success and we look forward to receiving your application form. Thames Valley Housing Recruitment Tel: 020 8607 0607 Email: recruitment@tvha.co.uk Web: www.tvha.co.uk/careers

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CONTENTS Guidance Notes for Applicants 4 Job Advert 6 Job Description 7 Person Specification 11 Our Competency Framework 13

Appendix 1 14

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GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS

Before you complete your application

Please read the job application pack before you apply online for the position - this contains

all the information you need to decide whether the job is right for you.

Read through the job description and person specification – they are the best places to find

out exactly what experience, skills and competencies you need to be successful in the role.

The person specification highlights the competencies we want to asses as part of our

recruitment process. Our competency framework is at the back of this pack.

You’ll need to prepare a CV – we ask you to upload your CV as a Word document as part of

our online application form.

Completing your application

When you’re ready to apply, click ‘Apply here’ at the bottom of the job advert for the position

you’re interested in and complete the online form.

We’ll ask you about your skills and competencies – as well as your CV, we’ll also ask you to

upload a personal statement or answer some questions online about how your skills and

experience match the essential criteria and competencies in the person specification.

You’ll need two good references - we will ask for contact details for your references in the

online application, but we won’t contact them until the offer stage. Your references should be:

- Your current employer. If you are unemployed, this will be your most recent

employer. This will be someone senior to you who can assess your work for us, not a

colleague or friend at work.

- A previous employer or someone with a senior role who can vouch for you.

We’ll ask you for some personal information to help us monitor diversity and equality – the

only people who will see this information are the HR team who will use it for equal

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opportunities monitoring purposes. It will be treated in the strictest confidence and does not

form part of the selection process.

What happens next?

Assessments/Interviews

Our Recruitment team will contact you a few days after the application closing date if your

application has been short-listed. We will invite you to a competency-based interview, and ask you to

complete some tests. These could be ability tests, written exercises, job-related tests, psychometric

tests or IT tests. We will also let you know if you have not been shortlisted this time.

Driving

If the job needs you to drive, we will need to see your driving license.

DBS check

For some jobs we will need to carry out a Disclosure & Barring Service check. We’ll say so in the job

description if that’s the case.

Eligibility to work in the UK

It’s against the law for us to take on people who do not have the right to work here. If we offer you a

job, we will ask you to prove this to us. We’ll send you a list of documents you can use for this.

Data Protection

By law, we have to let you know that we keep the personal information about you that you put in a

job application. When you sign and send an application in, we take this to mean that you are giving us

permission to keep it, and to use it to get in touch with you, if we find a job we think would suit you in

the following six months.

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Your Views

We’re happy to hear from you. We want to improve our recruitment, so please complete the

Recruitment Survey. https://tvhahr.wufoo.eu/forms/recruitment-what-was-your-experience/

Getting in touch

If you have any questions or problems at any stage of your application, please do get in touch with

our recruitment team on recruitment@tvha.co.uk.

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JOB ADVERT

SALES AND DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTANT

Location: Compliance and After Sales Manager Contract type: Permanent Salary: £35,500 rising to £39,500 on successful completion of probation Hours: Full Time - 35 hours per week Closing date: 11.59pm, 15 March 2016 Interview Dates: 21 March 2016 About Thames Valley Housing We are a medium-sized housing association based in Twickenham, South West London. We own and manage over 15,000 homes in London, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and Sussex. These include traditional rented housing, shared ownership, key worker and student accommodation. Our vision is for everyone to have the chance to build their lives from a base of a good home. Our mission is to provide good quality affordable homes and invest in communities. We love to build. Not just housing and communities, but skills and careers too. About the role This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified/part qualified accountant with a proven track record, ideally in a similar role, to help us enhance the skills and performance of our financial accounts team. Reporting to the Senior Financial Accountant (Development) you will be responsible for managing the smooth running of the various property sales within the group, processing the day to day development invoices including month end reconciliations, schedules, reports and assist the financial team at the year end. About you Experience of, accounting for sales and development within a Housing Association, meeting tight deadlines and has strong IT skills is a must for this role. As a good communicator you should be confident liaising with Sales and Development departments to ensure all sales and development costs are accounted for accurately on a monthly basis.

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Application process: Please view the job application pack for the full job description and person specification. You will need this when you apply on-line.

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Sales and Development Accountant Directorate: Finance Department: Financial Accounting

Location: Twickenham Responsible to: Senior Financial Accountant

Family tree (clearly showing the responsibilities for and to particular managers)

Main purpose of the job To provide a management and financial accounting service for sales and development activities Main contacts which the postholder has within the organisation Financial Accounts Team, Management Accounts Team, Treasury Team, Development, Sales and Marketing Department, Property and Assets Management Team (PAM) Other contacts outside the organisation External Auditors, Internal Auditors, H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Solicitors and Consultants (Development and Maintenance) Budgetary responsibilities specifically attached to post None

Deputy Finance Director

Interim Head of Financial Accounts

Senior Financial Accountant

Sales and Development Accountant

Component Accountant

Finance Intern (Development)

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Principal accountabilities expected of the post holder Accurately account for all Property Sales/Purchases in the relevant Finance ledgers by controlling and monitoring all cash Receipts /Payments in respect of properties. Accurately account for all types of property sales the organisation may from time to time decide to undertake including first tranche, staircasing, RTB, RTA HB Redemptions, and maintain meaningful and up to date sales schedules. In line with SORP requirements, account for correctly on a monthly basis Shared ownership properties - current asset element, sales loss provision, staircasing element. Assist in the production of annual statutory financial statements and notes to statements for the relevant area of responsibility and liaise with external auditors during interim and annual audits. Produce monthly, quarterly and other ad hoc reports, reconciliations for the relevant areas. All relevant accounts in relation to Development/sales accounting function are reconciled on a monthly basis Ensure development invoices are coded with the VAT liability/recovery, accounted for correctly and are paid within the terms of the contractual agreement. Ensure all maintenance contractor payments are made on time. Responsible for retentions, new account set up for acquisitions and ensure a practical completion statement is obtained upon handover. Provide a high quality service to all internal and external Customers ensuring communication and co-operation are maintained at all times. To carry out other duties as may be reasonably assigned from time to time by the Senior Financial Accountant – Development, such duties to be compatible with the level of this job description. Other To carry out other duties as may be reasonably assigned from time to time by the Senior Financial Accountant, such duties to be compatible with the level of this job description.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Role: Sales and Development Accountant Directorate: Finance

Knowledge, Experience & Skills Essential Sector/specialist knowledge and Experience: Accounting experience in a Development Financial Accounting Team in a medium Operating Association Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills Strong organisation skills and attention to detail Academic and Professional Qualification: ACA, ACCA or ACMA part qualified Experience of VAT in relation to development accounting IT literacy in computerised accounting systems along with advanced knowledge of Excel for reporting and monitoring Desirable Working knowledge of SUN, Vision, Sequel, XMpro and Asset 4000 accounting software systems

Competencies (Assessed by personal statement and at interview) Technical Uses financial data to produce clear, detailed reports for management Uses knowledge of audit and accounting rules to ensure TVHA is compliant with the required standards Knowledge of SORP requirements in respect Development accounting Applied Thinking Recommends improvements to processes and service at a team level

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Results Focused Identifies team KPIs to drive service delivery Planning and Organising Delivers the project plan/departmental objectives to plan and budget Initiative and Innovation Develops and implements initiatives at a local level Working Together Builds the team to deliver a high quality service Managing Relationships Builds positive and reciprocal relationships that benefit the Association Continuous Improvement Delivers improvements at a team level Customer Driven Plans and organises delivery of customer service Commercial Awareness Understands the purpose and content of the Corporate business plan Leadership Supports team development Strategy Assist with sales and marketing objectives within the corporate plan. OTHER Excellent IT skills Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety

LIVING AND DELIVERING THE CORPORATE VALUES

Think Forward – Question how we do things. Think Ahead. Innovate

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Think We – Let’s work together to achieve our shared goals. Think Openly – Let’s be transparent and true to our word. Think With Compassion – Offer your time and support. Act with empathy and understanding. Think With Energy – Be passionate about delivering great customer service and making things happen

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OUR COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

What are Competencies and how are they used? A competency is an ability, skill, knowledge or trait that is needed for the successful performance of a job. It is often defined in terms of behaviours. Overall, competencies are a set of behaviours that an individual must possess in order to perform to the optimum level within that role. When used properly, and in conjunction with other working practices and procedures, competencies can ensure fairness, openness and equality in the way we recruit staff, select people for training, identify clear development paths and promote people. The Competency Framework contains a total of ten competencies and it is considered that to carry out a role at a particular level an individual should possess those competencies that are ‘Core’ for that level. The depth of which these core competencies are required will vary according to each role. Core competencies are far broader in their application and apply to all jobs within TVH. This document details the core competencies which TVH recognises as necessary. The person specification highlights the competencies we want to assess as part of our recruitment process, but the following areas are important all of the time.

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

1 Applied Thinking Makes use of relevant information to resolve problems, identify opportunities and reach appropriate solutions.

Leader Identifies new business opportunities by evaluating company performance from a range of information

Expert Sets Directorate/Departmental priorities by developing solutions to support the business plan

Professional Recommends improvements to processes and services at a team level by analysing patterns and trends from information

Vocational Solves basic problems within clearly laid out policies and procedures

2 Results Focused – “Getting things done”

Achieves successful delivery of tasks and objectives by effectively managing others or taking direct action.

Leader Sets the performance framework for the organisation to meet corporate goals, achieve results and champions improvements

Expert Sets the performance framework for the Directorate/Department to meet objectives, KPIs and continuously seeks improvements in delivery

Professional Uses Directorate/Department objectives to identify team KPIs to drive service delivery and meet goals

Vocational Takes responsibility for achieving individual objectives and contributing to team targets

3 Planning and Organising Plans and organises work and activities to meet objectives whilst achieving quality and value for money.

Leader Structures the business plan to deliver key objectives while allocating appropriate resources

Expert Develops project plans and identifies departmental activities and resources required to meet organisational goals

Professional Delivers the project plan/departmental objectives to plan and budget

Vocational Contributes to the team/project objectives by effectively setting own work plan and prioritising key tasks

4 Initiative and Innovation Takes a creative approach to work by formulating new ideas or adapting existing ideas in a new or unexpected way to create opportunities.

Leader Develops ways of capturing innovation and creativity across the organisation and delivers through others

Expert Plans and implements new ideas in the long to medium term and takes the lead in delivering change within Directorate

Professional Develops and implements initiatives at a local level

Vocational Addresses current opportunities by improving and adapting existing approaches

Appendix 1

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

5 Working Together Works co-operatively and flexibly across cultures and organisational boundaries to achieve shared goals

Leader Creates a positive team working environment

Expert Builds the team to deliver a high quality service

Professional Involves others to work towards shared goals and objectives

Vocational Works co-operatively with other members of the team and direct customers

6 Managing Relationships (Influencing, persuading and negotiating)

Builds and maintains relationships to achieve positive outcomes for the Association

Leader Extends networks and uses indirect influence to build external relationships to achieve long term strategic organisational goals

Expert Maintains networks and plans impact

Professional Builds positive and reciprocal relationships that benefit the Association

Vocational Builds rapport with colleagues and direct customers/suppliers

7 Continuous Improvement (Striving for Excellence)

Looks for opportunities to improve (self, products and/or services)

Leader Creates a continuous improvement environment

Expert Drives Departmental activity to continuously improve systems and processes

Professional Delivers improvements at a team level

Vocational Drives self to deliver results and aspirations

8 Customer Driven Provides an excellent service to all customers

Leader Develops the strategy to meet the long term interests and aspirations of customers

Expert Champions and promotes the delivery of quality service to all customers

Professional Plans and organises delivery of customer service

Vocational Delivers a high quality service

9 Commercial Awareness Understands relationship of operational issues to wider business context

Leader Defines and develops TVH’s commercial objectives to maximise the organisation’s financial wellbeing

Expert Delivers the commercial objectives

Professional Understands the purpose and content of the Corporate business plan

Vocational Demonstrates awareness of commercial aspects of the business

10 Leadership (Developing and Managing People)

Inspires and motivates others to develop confidence and capability to

Leader Leads the organisations to deliver high performance

Expert Is a role model for effective leadership

Appendix 1

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

realise their full potential Professional Supports team development

Vocational Gives basic direction and instruction

Appendix 1

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