Head of Finance Full Time in London

Reference: 4834479Job ID: 5418424Posted: 2026-10-05Closing date: 2026-10-26Location: LondonSalary: 79814 - 93,163 plus benefits below (per annum)Job type: PermanentWorking pattern: Full time / Flexible workingIndustry: Government & Public Services / Senior Finance QualifiedCompany: HaysConsultant: Jan McQuakerHays office: London-Central — 4th Floor, 107 Cheapside,Phone: 020 7259 8745Email: jan.mcquaker@hays.comYour 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 The Head of Finance is part of the Council's core senior managers' group and provides strategic financial leadership across the Neighbourhoods & Regeneration and Finance & Resources directorates. As the senior finance lead for these directorates, the post holder will support a diverse portfolio of services including public realm, environmental services, property and asset management, climate action, corporate finance, human resources, organisational development, governance and other corporate services. The role will focus on providing strategic financial leadership, robust financial planning, financial sustainability and effective performance management across a range of complex revenue budgets and service areas. Key responsibilities include: Providing strategic financial advice and building strong, trusted relationships with Members, the Neighbourhoods & Regeneration andFinance & Resources Directors and senior managers across the Council. Leading all aspects of financial and management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and medium-term financial planning across the revenue budgets, ensuring robust financial control and long-term financial sustainability. Providing financial leadership for major strategically significant service contracts, including the Council's waste, recycling and street cleansing arrangements, ensuring robust financial monitoring, performance challenge, contractual compliance and value-for-money outcomes. Delivering high-quality insight, challenge and value-added analysis to Directors and Heads of Service on all aspects of financial performance, identifying emerging pressures, risks and opportunities and supporting timely corrective action where required. Supporting the delivery of service transformation, savings programmes, income generation opportunities and continuous improvement initiatives across all directorate services. Working collaboratively with service managers to manage financial risks associated with demand-led and contract-driven budgets, providing strategic advice on budget mitigation, efficiencies and service sustainability. Managing significant revenue budgets and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, financial regulations, corporate governance arrangements and internal control frameworks. What you need to succeedYou will be a qualified accountant and have established leadership experience in local government finance. This role requires a highly skilled finance professional who combines technical excellence, commercial acumen, leadership capability and the influencing skills needed to operate across a broad and complex strategic agenda. You will have the ability to act as a senior leader within the Finance service, contributing to corporate financial strategyBenefits includecompetitive salarythe opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Schemegenerous holiday entitlements starting from 27 days' holiday a yeara range of family-friendly policies, including generous maternity and paternity entitlements and childcare schemesflexible working patterns, including hybrid workingtraining and development opportunitiesgood travel links in and out of Wembley and a range of cost-saving travel schemesaccess to My Brent Rewards, our dedicated website for staff with big brand discounts and local offerswork at the state-of-the-art Brent Civic CentreThe closing date will be 26th October. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be identified. We therefore encourage early applications and advise candidates not to wait until the closing date to apply. The salary quoted is the full salary range for the role. Starting salary will typically be appointed at a point within the range, with progression subject to performance and organisational policy. #4834479 - Jan McQuaker