Head of Finance

We seek a Head of Finance to lead and manage the Central Services & Finance within Corporate Finance, advising on relevant aspects of strategic finance and business partnering, alongside comprehensive financial direction, support and guidance to a range of services and Directorates.

The Head of Finance will support transformation and business-led projects within the Corporate Finance Directorate, ensuring that timely and robust financial information is provided to support decision-making and take an active role in shaping the outcomes of projects. In addition, ensuring that budgets are realigned to deliver savings targets, reporting timing differences in delivery

The Head of Finance will ensure that Senior Management and their budget managers are supported to deliver their accountabilities for budget management and that directorates comply with Financial Standing Orders and all other financial policies and procedures as directed by the Director of Corporate Finance.

Experience:

• Significant experience in the preparation of annual budgets and final accounts for local authorities.
• Significant experience in a senior management role with direct management experience in leading professional and managerial groups in areas of service responsibility.
• Evidence of successful participation at senior management level in developing and delivering strategies, policies and programmes within relevant statutory and policy requirements.
• Evidence of formulating, leading and implementing successful strategies and programmes which cross service or professional boundaries.
• Evidence of leading and managing change in a large multi-disciplined organisation and taking a lead role in the financial aspects of service improvement and transformation programmes.
• Evidence of successful management and development of staff in a large multi-disciplined organisation, harnessing the strengths and talents of employees at all levels, including establishing effective performance objectives and appraisal to achieve corporate and service goals.
• Strategic budget management in a comparable public sector organisation manages significant financial resources and evaluates competing budget priorities within tight financial limits.
• A successful track record of building and developing partnerships and working effectively with a wide range of internal and external bodies including statutory and non-statutory organisations and community groups.
• Effective working within a political environment, providing clear, balanced advice and guidance on issues that achieve the corporate and service objectives of the organisation.
• Evidence of a clear understanding of the legal, financial and political context of management within a Local Authority.

Qualification:

• Fully qualified Accountant - CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA
• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• A minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience in relevant service areas
• Evidence of post-qualification continuing professional development