Finance Strategy Lead — Budget & Value (Local Gov)

To lead a team and work collaboratively with colleagues, providing efficient and cost‑effective financial service across a range of services across the authority. To inform decision‑making of Operational Managers, City Managers, Corporate Directors and schools to enable them to achieve best value in managing limited resources and delivering services to stakeholders. To work with finance managers and with colleagues from other services to provide coordinated, customer‑focused support to deliver the objectives and priorities of their service areas.

Responsibilities

• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
• Customer focus – visible in gaining customer insight, communicating with clients to meet operational needs and providing a proactive, customer‑focused service through budget setting, monitoring and annual account processes. This includes support, advice and challenge to Operational Managers, Assistant City Managers, City Managers and Schools.
• Performance management – support Service Managers and Senior Finance Officers in delivering continuous improvement and value for money across services. Manage a team of Finance Officers to achieve targets and support their continuous improvement.
• Leadership – provide strategic direction and effective performance management to a team of Finance Officers to ensure efficient and effective implementation of budgetary and financial planning processes. Includes building future‑year budgets, interpreting service‑area budget forecasts, and closing annual accounts for specified service areas.
• Ensure adherence to Financial Regulations and the council’s strategic planning and policy‑making processes.
• Implement effective financial management systems and controls, ensuring they are adhered to by Operational Managers, City Managers and Schools. This allows Corporate Directors to provide assurance that statutory and fiduciary requirements are fulfilled.
• Interpret legislation and respond to consultation proposals on financial aspects.
• Provide technical guidance on necessary changes to financial systems and controls to maintain probity and efficiency.
• Support Principal Finance Officers and the Assistant City Treasurer in developing and implementing the council’s value‑for‑money and efficiency strategies.
• Prepare reports with recommendations for council committees, critically appraise and comment on financial aspects of reports circulated by service officers to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and policies.
• Represent the Director of Finance and Transformation on internal working groups and assist Business Finance Partners and Principal Finance Officers in developing partnership/pooled budget arrangements.
• Deputise for Principal Finance Officers at meetings as necessary.
• Contribute to development and enhancement of financial services.
• Actively participate in business support activities to enhance operational managers’ management capabilities.
• Promote, monitor and report on timely submission of grant claims and support Principal Finance Officers and the Assistant City Treasurer in meeting funders’ and auditors’ requirements.
• Maintain good employee relations through effective communication and consultation.
• Assist in recruitment, induction, training, development and motivation of staff to provide a flexible, efficient, and effective service to operational managers and stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• AAT level 4 or equivalent qualified finance professional.
• Experience of delivering financial services, understanding of financial systems and procedures, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in providing customer‑focused financial support, advice and challenge to service areas.

Salary & Benefits

£39,862.00 – £42,839.00 per annum. Benefits include:

• A competitive salary
• Excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave (plus 8 public holidays and 3 additional days off – one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New‑year period)
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses
• Supportive and forward‑thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Equal Opportunities & Diversity

This is a disability‑confident employer. We are committed to increasing diversity, equality and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and to create an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.