Post Title: Team Leader - Financial Management and Payroll Service
Hours of Work: Full-Time 35 hours per week (1 FTE).
There is no overtime for such work and LCIL’s TOIL policy will apply.
Post Salary: £31,200 per annum
Duration of Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2030. Depending on funding and performance, this could be extended.
Scope: LCiL offers a hybrid model of working with the main base at LCIL’s Office in Edinburgh.
Responsible to: Services and Development Lead
Please send CV & Supporting Letter
Post Objectives:
LCiL adopts a rights-based approach to both strategy and service delivery. Our advice, information and support services actively promote and seek to protect the human rights of disabled people, individuals with long term conditions and their carers. By working in partnership with others, we also strengthen the capacity of duty-bearers to understand, implement and uphold these rights, ensuring they can be held to account.
The Financial Management and Payroll Service plays a vital role in enabling disabled people to access, manage and benefit from Self-Directed Support (SDS) and Independent Living Fund (ILF). Through the provision of accurate payroll administration, financial management support and accessible guidance, the services help individuals exercise greater choice and control over how their support is arranged and delivered.
The Payroll Team provides a comprehensive, computerised payroll service to approximately 600 employers who collectively employ around 1,000 Personal Assistants (PA) each month. The service ensures payroll processing is accurate, efficient, legally compliant and responsive to the needs of employers using SDS and ILF.
The Financial Management Team supports disabled people to access and benefit from SDS and ILF by managing individual service-user accounts and administering payments on their behalf. This includes payroll-related payments, HMRC liabilities, pension contributions, agency invoices and other approved support costs. The service enables individuals who may have limited capacity or confidence in managing finances to retain choice and control over their support arrangements.
The Team Leader is responsible for the overall leadership, management, quality assurance and continuous development of LCiL’s Financial Management and Payroll Service. The postholder will ensure both services are delivered efficiently, accurately and in compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, contractual obligations and organisational policies.
The role combines operational leadership with strategic service development, quality assurance, financial governance and staff management responsibilities. The postholder will lead and support a multidisciplinary team, foster a culture of continuous improvement and ensure robust systems and controls are in place to support payroll processing, financial management, credit control, auditing and compliance activities.
The Team Leader will oversee the effective management of service user accounts, support the recovery of outstanding balances, maintain strong financial controls and ensure that accurate records and audit trails are maintained across all aspects of service delivery. The role will also contribute to organisational development, service growth, partnership working and the wider strategic objectives of LCiL.
The postholder will contribute to the ongoing development of LCiL and the Independent Living movement, ensuring services remain person-centred, financially sustainable and aligned with organisational priorities and the principles of Independent Living.
We are committed to supporting applicants to succeed in their application to join LCiL. To support this, interview questions will be provided in advance to all shortlisted candidates.
We welcome applicants to share the full range of skills and experience they can bring to this role. While the ability to think on one’s feet can be valuable, it is not always essential. We recognise the importance of allowing time to reflect, consider information carefully and prepare thoughtful responses, so that candidates can present the best version of themselves at interview.
All successful applicants will be subject to PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme membership.
If you require any support during any part of the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]
Main Duties:
Leadership and Service Management
- Lead the day-to-day delivery of the Financial Management and Payroll Service.
- Ensure services are delivered to agreed standards, targets, contractual requirements and organisational priorities.
- Monitor service demand, workload, capacity and performance, responding proactively to emerging issues and opportunities.
- Ensure services remain person-centred, accessible and responsive to changing service-user needs.
- Maintain oversight of relevant legislation, including payroll regulations, employment law, pension requirements, SDS and ILF legislations and data protection requirements.
- Identify opportunities for service improvement, innovation and sustainable growth.
- Contribute to strategic planning and service development activities.
- Ensure service delivery reflects the principles of Independent Living and the Social Model of Disability.
Line Management and Staff Support
- Provide regular supervision, appraisal, development support and performance reviews for staff across the Financial Management and Payroll teams.
- Identify training and development needs and facilitate access to appropriate learning opportunities.
- Promote reflective practice, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing and collaborative working across the teams.
- Support staff in managing complex financial, payroll and service user situations, ensuring appropriate guidance and escalation where required.
- Contribute to the recruitment, induction and onboarding processes for new staff.
- Ensure staff understand and comply with organisational policies and procedures.
- Support staff wellbeing and foster a positive, inclusive and supportive team culture which reflects LCiL’s values and commitment to Independent Living.
Financial Governance, Credit Control and Audit
- Oversee financial governance arrangements within the Financial Management and Payroll Service, ensuring robust systems, controls and procedures are maintained.
- Oversee service-user accounts and ensure the accurate management of funds and financial records.
- Ensure payroll payments, pension contributions, HMRC liabilities and other authorised payments are processed accurately and on time.
- Provide support to the Finance Assistant to ensure service-user accounts are maintained accurately and records remain up to date.
- Monitor outstanding balances and incoming payments, taking appropriate recovery and follow-up action where required.
- Liaise with local authorities and relevant funding bodies to resolve payment issues, recover outstanding balances and ensure timely settlement of debts relating to service-user accounts.
- Carry out regular audits and reconciliations of Financial Management Service accounts, ensuring fees are charged and paid correctly, investigating discrepancies and resolving financial anomalies in a timely manner.
- Lead quarterly account reviews and service audits to minimise errors, strengthen financial controls and support organisational compliance requirements.
- Prepare financial records, supporting documentation and audit schedules for internal and external audits.
Promotion of LCIL’s Services
- Promote LCIL’s activities and services to stakeholders and members of the public and communicate how LCiL can support LCIL’s service users.
- Contribute to effective communication to ensure Financial Management and Payroll Service is well understood within and outwith LCiL, enabling strong and appropriate cross-referrals between services.
- Support staff to engage in outreach, awareness raising and community engagement.
Quality Assurance, Governance, Monitoring and Reporting
- Contribute to developing and maintaining effective monitoring and reporting systems.
- Ensure service monitoring systems effectively capture outcomes, performance measures and service-user feedback.
- Monitor and evaluate service outcomes, trends and key performance indicators, identifying risks, areas for improvement and opportunities for innovation.
- Produce accurate management information, performance reports and service updates for senior management, funders and the Board.
- Ensure record keeping and audit trails are maintained in compliance with organisational policies, audit standards, GDPR requirements and financial management procedures.
- Contribute to developing and maintaining policies, procedures, guidance and operational processes relating to the Financial Management and Payroll Service.
- Ensure service-user feedback is captured and used to inform service development and continuous improvement.
- Contribute to updating the organisational risk register and support wider quality assurance activities.
Service Development and Innovation
- Contribute to the ongoing development and growth of the services, identifying gaps in service provision and opportunities for improvement and expansion.
- Encourage innovation and creative approaches to service delivery and problem solving within the team.
- Use learning from service delivery to strengthen and promote integration across LCIL services, improving accessibility, outcomes and user experience.
- Support the implementation of new systems, processes and ways of working.
Engagement and Partnership Working
- Represent LCiL at relevant meetings forums, networks and events.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders including LCiL service users, carers, partner agencies and funders.
- Promote and provide accessible information regarding payroll, financial management and SDS and ILF arrangements to all stakeholders.
- Maintain awareness of wider social care, health, employment, disability rights and related policy areas, relevant to service delivery.
- Support effective internal and external referral pathways.
- Contribute to developing partnership initiatives that support the strategic aims of LCiL.
General
- Prioritise and manage workload effectively across competing demands.
- Identify relevant opportunities for research, training and ongoing professional development.
- Assume responsibility for own professional development and learning plans, in agreement with Line Manager.
- Contribute to organisational development and strategic planning.
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Responsibility for the safety of self & others.
- Visible and active leadership and commitment to HSE – leading by example and acting on HSE concerns.
- Manage designated activities and any other activities as required through being the responsible reference person and where required key holder for the premises.
- Ensure that any premises that are used comply with any fire prevention, health and safety requirements.
Performance Indicators
- Demonstrate effective leadership and management of staff and services.
- Deliver services in line with agreed targets, outcomes and compliance requirements.
- Maintain high levels of service-user and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Ensure robust financial governance and effective risk management.
- Produce accurate and timely reports and management information.
- Develop positive relationships with key stakeholders.
- Identify and implement improvements to service delivery.
- Contribute positively to organisational development and strategic objectives.
Supervision and Support
- The postholder will report to the Services and Development Lead and will receive regular supervision, support and guidance.
- The postholder will be expected to attend team meetings, training courses, LCiL events and other meetings as required on a periodic and regular basis, including supervision, multi-agency fora and planning groups relevant to the effective delivery and development of the role.
Regular Interface with Stakeholders
- Disabled people, individuals with long term conditions, older people and carers.
- Personal Assistant Employers and Personal Assistants.
- LCiL’s trustees, staff, volunteers and members.
- Other Disabled People Organisations.
- Relevant training bodies and organisations.
- Other partner organisations, funders & stakeholders across relevant sectors.
- Members of the public.
Complexity and Creativity
Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL) is an innovative and dynamic organisation that has a significant impact on the lives of disabled people, their families and carers.
Supporting disabled people to increase choice and control over their lives is complex and requires sensitivity, up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and services and a strong understanding of the concerns and lived experiences of disabled people. Enabling individuals to achieve greater independence and wellbeing calls for empathy, strong leadership and deep understanding of the Social Model of Disability and the principles of Independent Living.
This role requires the ability to balance strategic oversight with effective operational delivery within a complex and evolving environment. The postholder will be expected to demonstrate initiative, effectively manage competing priorities and lead a team to deliver innovative, high-quality services that are responsive to the needs of the community.
LCiL is a Disability Confident employer and is led and managed by disabled people. It is essential that the postholder is able to work effectively within this value-led organisational context.
Person Specification
Job Title: Financial Management and Payroll Service Team Leader
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, support and develop staff.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage positively and effectively with service users, families, carers, colleagues and a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and represent the organisation professionally.
- Strong planning, organisational and time management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple service areas.
- Ability to manage complex workloads and competing priorities, working both independently and as part of a team.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to identify issues, investigate financial discrepancies and implement appropriate corrective actions.
- Excellent attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy across complex financial and payroll processes.
- Proficiency in IT systems, including Microsoft Office, case management and payroll/accounting systems.
- Ability to adapt, show initiative and work creatively within a period of organisational growth and development.
- Ability to prepare and present reports and management information.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-discrimination practice.
Desirable
- Skilled in service design and development.
- Knowledge of business planning and growth strategies.
- Understanding of integrated service delivery, partnership working and referral pathways.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent knowledge of payroll administration and processing within a regulated environment.
- Experience of supporting and managing staff, including Payroll and Finance Administration teams.
- Knowledge and experience of project management principles, with the ability to plan, coordinate and deliver services effectively.
- Knowledge of financial controls, reconciliations and financial governance requirements.
- Experience of using monitoring and evaluation tools to support reporting, service improvement and performance management.
- Experience of preparing financial records and supporting documentation for internal and external audits.
- Practical understanding of GDPR and data protection, with the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- Knowledge and understanding of data collection, information analysis and reporting.
- Experience of working in a person-centred approach.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a user-led organisation.
- Understanding of the Independent Living Movement and the Social Model of Disability.
- Experience of working with local authority funding arrangements and SDS and ILF budgets.
- Experience of managing service-user funds or client accounts, including credit control and debt recovery processes.
- Experience of supporting organisational audit and compliance activities.
Pay: £32,100.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Edinburgh EH7 5QY
