Finance Business Partner - Coastal Team in Havant

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team managing coastal flood and erosion risk on the south coast. Coastal Partners provides a Coastal Risk Management Service to Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Gosport Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council and Chichester District Council improving community resilience, and enhancing the natural environment in response to the risks from flooding and coastal erosion. This area includes three major harbours of significant environmental importance and over 246km of coastline.

We have an opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic Finance Business Partner to join our Assurance team. Working within our Assurance team, we provide project, administration, communications, customer service, people and financial support and advice across the partnership. The Assurance team also provides governance, business development and implementing service wide improvement.

We are ideally looking for someone with local government experience as this post forms an integral part of the partnership covering a wide range of finance and business administration functions ensuring the partnership operates within the policies and processes set by each of our partner authorities.

• To provide financial assurance to the Coastal Partnership in accordance with the Partnership’s Financial Protocol.
• To support our Project Managers in providing financial assurance to the coastal engineering projects within the Coastal Partnership.
• To influence and challenge where required on the development and delivery of the Coastal Service Business Plan, ensuring that financial issues are at the centre of service delivery.
• To identify areas where financial intervention/change could create further efficiency.
• To support the wider activities of the Coastal Service.
• Carry out budget setting, budget monitoring and financial forecasting.
• Supporting audit processes and ensuring best practice in all aspects of financial governance.
• Collaborate with our five partner authority finance teams to ensure that all parties have the information they require to inform their own budgeting and reporting processes.
• Supporting the assurance team with the delivery and implementation of change to contribute to overall business improvement.

• Professionally Qualified Accountant (CCAB body) or extensive relevant experience working in a local authority finance environment with appropriate accounting qualification.
• Experience of providing customer focused services that have added value.
• Wide knowledge of financial systems and accounting techniques.
• Experience of providing and presenting timely, accurate and regular financial information to a range of audiences.
• Skilled in the use of IT applications, including advanced knowledge of MS Excel.
• Excellent numeracy and analytical skills with the ability to draw conclusions and develop recommendations.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• A demonstrable high level of ability to achieve programmed objectives and targets within agreed time scales.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to see the broader picture.
• Ability to work closely with a wide range of people at various levels and to work corporately across organisational boundaries.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a wide range of tasks with conflicting pressures for completion.
• Positive and enthusiastic with a can-do attitude.
• High level of Integrity.

• A competitive salary.
• Support for your continuous professional development.
• Generous Leave Allowance.
• Free Parking.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Flexible working/Hybrid working to support your work-life balance.
• Family Friendly Packages.
• A comprehensive benefits package.

This role is advertised full time 37 hours per week, although we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working and would consider part-time hours if this is an option you’d like to explore. The role will require attendance at our offices, blended with home working.

We want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities, therefore, we encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. Our council is an inclusive employer and appoints on merit. We are a Disability Confident Employer and have a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Veterans.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff members to share this commitment. Havant Borough Council is a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. All employees of the Authority will be expected to support any necessary actions required during an emergency response.