At a Glance
- Tasks: Support public realm projects by managing budgets and providing financial insights.
- 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.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a supportive team environment celebrating every success.
- 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.
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) employer: Brent Council
Brent Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and culturally diverse environment for Educational Psychologists. With generous benefits such as up to 33 days of annual leave, excellent pension contributions, and the flexibility of hybrid working, employees are encouraged to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in Greater London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Analyst - Capital (Public Realm and Assets)
✨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 might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the council's recent projects and financial strategies. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how finance shapes their community.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! You’ll need to influence stakeholders, so role-play common scenarios with a friend. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Analyst - Capital (Public Realm and Assets)
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 capitalisation policies and asset management, as these are key for us at Brent. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about public finance and how you can contribute to our team. Remember, we value fairness and inclusion, so let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since you'll be working with various stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication skills in your application. Share examples of how you've influenced decisions or managed budgets effectively in the past.
Apply Early!:Don’t wait until the closing date to submit your application. We assess candidates as they come in, so get your application in early through our website. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brent Council
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Analyst, you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial management. Brush up on key financial concepts like capitalisation policies, asset register management, and IFRS-based public-sector accounting. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Excellent communication is crucial for this role. Prepare examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or navigated challenging conversations. Think about times when you had to present complex financial information in an understandable way – this will show your ability to engage with various audiences.
✨Understand the Public Realm Context
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges and opportunities within public realm projects. Research recent initiatives by the London Borough of Brent and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their objectives, especially regarding budget management and funding mixes.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Potential
Since the role involves managing and leading staff, think about your leadership style and past experiences. Prepare to share how you've developed team capabilities and achieved high performance in previous positions. Highlight any mentoring or training initiatives you've led.
