Corporate Director of Resources in London

About The Role

Are you prepared to make a real difference? Are you ready to help guide one of London’s most vibrant and forward thinking boroughs as it serves its community? Islington is a vibrant, diverse inner London borough, home to over 225,000 residents. We are committed to working together for a more equal future - one where everyone has a chance to thrive. Our ambition for our communities is matched by our drive for innovation and excellence.

We are seeking a strategic, ambitious and personable leader to join our leadership team as Corporate Director of Resources. This is a pivotal role, responsible for ensuring the financial resilience, operational excellence, and transformation of our organisation. You will play a critical part in delivering the council’s vision and Corporate Plan, supporting our values on collaboration, ambition, resourcefulness and empowerment - across teams, with our Members, with our residents, and with our partners.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Islington. As Corporate Director of Resources, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for the Resources Directorate, overseeing Finance, Human Resources, Resident Services, Revenues and Benefits, Information Governance, and Digital Services.
• Act as lead advisor for Finance, HR, Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Digital, Customer Services, Resident Experience, Pensions, Insurance, Audit, Fraud and Risk, and serve as the Council’s Section 151 Officer.
• Drive the development and delivery of key strategies, including the Digital Strategy, Workforce Strategy, and Medium-Term Financial Planning, ensuring long-term stability and sustainability.
• Champion innovation and transformation, challenging the status quo and leading service redesign to meet the evolving needs of our residents and the future resource base of the council.
• Ensure robust risk and assurance frameworks, with strong internal controls and compliance across all areas.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and best value, using technology to transform services, deliver savings, and enhance outcomes for residents.
• Represent Islington Council externally, building strong partnerships and public relations.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for a strategic and ambitious leader with a proven track record of leading and creating strong financial resilience, coupled with a proven track record of delivering transformational change. We want you to live and breathe our purpose and our values. Leading and creating collaborative, ambitious, resourceful and empowered relationships with colleagues, Members, partners and stakeholders is a must.

You need to be able to demonstrate your ability to work with and secure the confidence of Members. We want you to drive innovation and solutions within our organisations coupled with strong governance and a dedication to public service. And finally, we work together for a more equal future and therefore, you need to visibly champion this purpose and our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring those colleagues in our council and our communities in Islington have the opportunity to thrive.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.