At a Glance
- Tasks: Support public realm projects with financial insights and budget management.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Brent, committed to transformation and community support.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, training opportunities, and discounts through My Brent Rewards.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on your community while developing your finance career.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with strong communication and budget management skills.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a supportive team environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hybrid - 3 days in the office, 2 days from home
Your new organisation
At London Borough of Brent, finance is more than just producing the accounts, it’s about enabling transformation, safeguarding public resources, and helping shape the future of our borough. Working closely with colleagues across the council to ensure that financial insight is at the heart of decision-making. Their work is grounded in fairness, inclusion, and respect, and great pride is taken in creating a team environment where every voice is heard, and every success is celebrated. These values are not just aspirations, they are embedded in how they lead, how they support each other, and how they deliver for Brent's communities.
Your new role
We are recruiting for a Senior Finance Analyst for Capital (Public Realm and Assets) within the Capital, Treasury and Commercial Team. As the Senior Finance Analyst you will be working as a business partner and be responsible for providing specialist accounting support to the public realm area of the council's capital programme. The SFA will work with the public realm capital area providing professional advice on a broad range of financial issues to support the council's objectives. In addition, they will lead on ensuring the fixed asset register is accurately updated - track asset values, planning for replacement/maintenance and forecast depreciation. The Senior Finance Analyst will report to the relevant Head of Finance.
Key activities will include:
- Public-realm projects often involve multiple contractors, phases, and risks. You will monitor spending against budget, flag cost pressures, ensure financial controls are followed and help project managers make informed decisions.
- Manage budgets for long-term infrastructure and improvement projects.
- Public-realm improvements often rely on managing complex funding mixes: capital grants, developer contributions, borrowing, using internal capital reserves. You will ensure these are used correctly and compliantly.
- Managing and leading staff to achieve high performance and effective operational delivery, including developing and improving staff capabilities.
What you’ll need to succeed
- You will be a fully qualified accountant.
- Excellent communications skills and the ability to challenge and influence a range of stakeholders.
- Experience of supporting budget management, you will ideally understand capitalisation policies, asset register management, depreciation and impairment, revaluations, IFRS-based public-sector accounting and local government capital finance regulations.
What you’ll get in return
- Benefits include: the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Generous holiday entitlements starting from 27 days' holiday a year.
- A full range of family-friendly policies, including generous maternity and paternity entitlements and childcare schemes.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Good travel links in and out of Wembley and a range of cost saving travel schemes.
- Access to My Brent Rewards, our dedicated website for staff with big brand discounts and local offers.
- Work at the outstanding state-of-the-art Brent Civic Centre.
- Season ticket loan for public transport.
- Cycle to work scheme and good onsite facilities.
Closing date 15th March. Please do not wait until the closing date to apply. We will be assessing candidates as they apply.
Senior Finance Analyst - Capital (Public Realm and Assets) in London employer: Brent Council
Contact Detail:
Brent Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Analyst - Capital (Public Realm and Assets) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the London Borough of Brent on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding their values. Since they focus on fairness, inclusion, and respect, think about how your experiences align with these principles. Be ready to share examples that showcase your teamwork and commitment to these values.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your financial expertise! Brush up on public-sector accounting and be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets and complex funding mixes in past roles. This will demonstrate your fit for the Senior Finance Analyst position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply! The sooner you submit your application through our website, the better. We’re assessing candidates as they come in, so get your foot in the door early!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Analyst - Capital (Public Realm and Assets) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Analyst. Highlight your experience with budget management, asset register management, and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about finance in the public sector and how you can contribute to Brent's objectives. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves influencing stakeholders, make sure to demonstrate your excellent communication skills in your application. Whether it's through examples in your CV or your cover letter, show us how you can effectively engage with different audiences.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the closing date to submit your application. We’re assessing candidates as they come in, so get your application in early through our website. It shows enthusiasm and gives you a better chance to stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brent Council
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Analyst, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets in the past. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've monitored spending against budget and flagged cost pressures.
✨Understand the Public Realm
Familiarise yourself with public realm projects and the complexities involved, such as managing multiple contractors and funding mixes. Show that you understand the unique challenges these projects face and how your expertise can help navigate them effectively.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Excellent communication skills are crucial for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can influence stakeholders and provide professional advice, and prepare to give examples of when you've successfully done this in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since you'll be managing and leading staff, be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you've developed team capabilities in the past. Share specific instances where you've motivated your team to achieve high performance and effective operational delivery.