Sturmer Parish Council
VACANCY FOR PARISH COUNCIL CLERK & RFO
Start date 1st May 2026
The Council seeks a motivated individual to take on this role and work with Councillors for the benefit of the community. Applicants should have a knowledge and experience of I.T. systems (Word, Excel, E-mail), good communication and organisational skills, the ability to write concise, clear reports/minutes and an ability to use their own initiative.
Sturmer village is on the Essex/Suffolk border. There are currently five Councillors (six seats) supported by one District Councillor and one County Councillor.
- The post is mainly working from home with flexible working hours/days.
- Attendance is required at evening meetings with the council meeting approx. every six weeks except August, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday
Attendance at other occasional ad hoc meetings may also be required.
- Hours are approximately 35 per month (roughly 8 hours per week that varies according to tasks)
- Salary will be dependent on experience from point 6 (currently £13.47 per hour)
- Training and/or mentoring will be available
- Prior experience of working as a Parish Clerk or in a similar post would be advantageous
Clerical duties and responsibilities
- Preparing the agenda and minutes for all PC meetings
- Managing and preparing all correspondence on behalf of the PC
- Dealing with queries from members of the public
- Updating the PC website with information and documents, as required under the Transparency Code
- Assisting with the formation and review of PC policies and procedures
- Dealing with Planning Applications in a timely manner according to the decisions of the PC
- Monitoring actions and decisions of the PC and advising the PC on its statutory duties and regulatory requirements
- Liaising, as necessary, with other agencies e.g. Braintree District Council, Essex County Council, EALC etc
- RFO – Maintaining and recording the financial records using Excel, raising payments to suppliers (plus you the staff members), reconciling bank statements, providing cllrs with a finance statement every month, reclaiming VAT annually, preparing and producing the end of year Audit documents for meeting the Internal Auditor before submission to the External Auditor
If you would like further information and/or to have an informal discussion about this important role please contact the present Clerk at the e-mail address below.
If you wish to be considered for this position, please submit a letter of application accompanied by a CV, by e-mail to clerk@sturmer-pc.gov.uk.