Job Details
- £750 a day
- Full time
JOB PURPOSE
1. To lead and manage the Homes & Communities Finance Teams within
Financial Management, supporting, Homes & Communities, advising on relevant
aspects of strategic finance and business partnering, alongside comprehensive
financial direction, support and guidance to a range of Council’s services and
Directorates.
2. To support transformation and business led projects within Homes &
Communities, ensuring that timely and robust financial information is provided to
support with decision making and take an active role in shaping outcomes of
projects. In addition, ensuring that budgets are realigned to deliver savings
targets, reporting timing differences in delivery.
3. To 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.
4. To provide financial leadership and strategic advice to directorates to enable them
to develop robust financial plans and ensure that the future needs of the service
are reflected in the Council’s medium term financial forecast (MTFF).
5. To ensure the provision of high-quality financial advice and accurate and timely
financial information to Corporate Directors, Heads of Service and budget
managers across the directorates. To promote and facilitate a culture that supports
a self-service approach to budget management with strategic financial
management support through a business partnering model.
6. Lead on the financial modelling of demand led budgets, within Homes &
Communities to ensure robust forecasts are established, working in
conjunction with relevant senior managers within the Service areas, and to
use the trend data to inform MTFF decision making.
7. To support the requirements of the statutory accounting process, external audit
process and legislative changes that may have financial impact on directorates
8. To maintain effective working relationships with colleagues within the Finance
directorate to proactively support the production of strategic financial information,
medium term financial plans and the training and development of the wider
Corporate Finance service.
9. To establish effective external working relationships with key stakeholders within
the community, government, professional bodies and other appropriate public and
private bodies to ensure the service has the knowledge and expertise to
continuously improve its performance.
10. To coordinate the Corporate Finance training and development programme
including the graduate and non-graduate apprenticeship schemes.
Responsibilities & Accountabilities
Financial Strategy Development
• Support the development of a strategic vision for the service to enable the
council to meet its future challenges and objectives;
• Undertake a lead role in the development and implementation of the Council’s
financial strategy, including the development of complex financial models as
required;
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure best use of limited financial
resources, providing the strategic financial advice, insight, intelligence and
support needed;
• Ensure tight budgetary control and prioritise use of resources and assets to
support the delivery of the council’s objectives and help ensure that the council
receives value for money from its expenditure;
▪ Oversee the development of financial business cases for business improvement
initiatives within the Council’s transformation programme, working with other
council services or in a cross-cutting capacity as necessary;
• Support the Council’s risk management process through continuous review of
financial risks and opportunities, across the relevant services and directorate(s),
advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited;
• Proactively identify trends and changes in the operating environment (e.g.
legislation, technology, policy, etc.) that could financially impact service delivery;
provide advice and collaborate on potential solutions;
• Ensure the financial implications for Cabinet and all other reports fully inform
service and corporate decision-making;
Financial Management and Reporting
• Draw on an in-depth knowledge of Council services and the related financial
complexities, to ensure the provision of systems and procedures that enable
effective budgetary control;
• Ensure that variations and emerging financial pressures are drawn to the
attention of budget managers, and work with Directors and the management
team on options and plans for their resolution at both a directorate and corporate
level
• Promote a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of
value for money services and knowledge of key cost drivers
• Provide in-depth support for the medium-term financial planning process.
(MTFF) ensuring that the Council’s transformation plans are fully reflected;
• Apply technical accounting knowledge and principles to a range of projects
across the council within the wider remit of the council’s transformation
programme.
• Develop appropriate financial models and analytics to determine financial
impact of future service demands, changes in legislation and other factors
affecting resource requirements
• Instigate, develop and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding
that contribute towards identified funding gaps. Advise on funding, financial
management and accounting requirements within the relevant service and
directorate portfolios.
• Prepare and present informative, high quality reports to members and other
senior stakeholders that aid in informed service and corporate decision making
• Advise on investment and funding strategies including investment risk and
performance as appropriate
• Effectively manage performance indicators and relationships within service
contracts towards continued service improvement, value for money and social
value;
Value for money and compliance
• Drive the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement and cost
reduction plans across the Council aligned to the transformation strategy;
• Together with the senior finance leadership, team take ownership of the
Council’s financial control environment including the proactive assessment,
monitoring and implementation of effective financial controls;
• To advise on business processes and financial compliance issues within the
Council’s transformation projects, identifying proposals for improvement and
ensuring the purpose of the process, key controls and operational steps
prioritise the needs of residents and customers and maximise value for money;
• Manage the annual statutory accounts process for your team(s), support the
external audit opinion and deliver appropriate financial returns
• Provide a lead on relevant internal and external audit processes and ensure
recommendations are implemented as appropriate
• Ensure that all activities within the service areas comply with the council’s
constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health and safety and
safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the
service to manage performance and risk.
• Support the Service Area in the assessment of key suppliers or prospective
suppliers to monitor supplier resilience and mitigate the impact of any potential
supplier failure on council services
• Ensure that all financial systems within the Directorate(s) are fit for purpose, link
with Corporate financial systems, meet statutory requirements and financial
regulations.
Customer Focus & Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as a key financial advisor and service delivery partner for internal and
external stakeholders, providing strategic support and constructive challenge
through exercising negotiation and influencing skills
• Contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused finance
service that is proactive and creative, looking for ways to shape and influence
service decisions and taking joint responsibility for the outcomes achieved.
• Ensure members of the team, directors and budget holders receive the financial
management training required to be effective in their roles, including awareness
of Financial Regulations and financial approval requirements prior to taking
decisions;
• Work with service managers at all levels to develop the financial business cases
for the Council’s Business Improvement projects;
• Develop and maintain relationships with the relevant professional bodies (e.g.
CIPFA) to support the service’s training offer.
Corporate Leadership & Accountabilities
Leadership and Management
• Provide leadership that encourages staff to recognise their contribution to the
strategic objectives the council has set
• Foster a high-performance culture including carrying out internal service
reviews to improve value for money and efficiency
• To develop and promote positive people management that ensures appropriate
performance management, quality standards, monitoring and review are used
to optimise employee motivation and satisfaction
• Build a credible and responsive team who are respected for their depth of
knowledge, expertise and customer focus
• Enable and encourage a flexible working environment in accordance with the
Council’s flexible working policy
• Contribute to corporate areas of activity, organisational development and
council-wide, cross departmental strategies, projects or policies, as required
from time to time.
• Support and develop the business continuity process for Corporate Finance and
participate in the Council’s wider business continuity processes as required.
Continuous Improvement
• Support the implementation and review of change management programmes to
deliver continual improvement
• Proactively seek and take responsibility for implementing internal process
improvements, demonstrating the business case for change and benefits
achieved
• Support opportunities for council-wide transformation and alternative service
delivery models
• Contribute to the development of a digital culture within the service by
embracing technology in every-day activities and seeking digital improvement
opportunities in support of a service-wide digital strategy
• Drive the development of commercial opportunities that are aligned with the
Council’s vision of ‘Residents First
If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to rebeccabentum@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
