Strategic Director of Finance (s151 Officer) in Cardiff

Location: Sbarc | Spark, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

Start Date: ASAP

Contract Duration: 6+ Months

37 hours per week

Working Hours: Mon - Fri, 09:00 - 17:00

Pay Rate: £55.00 Per Hour

Job Responsibilities:

• Enact the statutory role of Responsible Financial Officer, ensuring proper administration of financial affairs.
• Ensure effective stewardship of public funds and contribute to a Medium-Term Financial Plan.
• Inform, challenge, and support investment fund work and commercial interests, building alliances across business units.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of commercial and investment structures to support complex programmes.
• Develop frameworks for sustainable funding, leveraging various fiscal levers to maximize asset use.
• Provide strategic leadership, guiding organizational development and fulfilling legal and political mandates.
• Oversee risk, compliance, and assurance functions, ensuring good governance and decision‑making.
• Lead the business unit, fulfilling CJC Regulations, and directing the Target Operating Model implementation.
• Oversee the CCR Assurance Framework, ensuring compliance with UKG 'Green Book' requirements.
• Lead internal audit interactions and develop the Audit and Governance Committee.
• Ensure compliance with Financial and Contractual Policies, overseeing Procurement and Commissioning functions.
• Drive collaboration with the s151 Officer's group, informing financial strategies and plans.
• Oversee commissioning and act as the client for outsourced Transactional Services.
• Provide advice to the Chief Executive, CCR Board, and stakeholders, promoting openness and probity.
• Liaise with the Auditor General for Wales, ensuring compliance with the statutory year‑end process.
• Form connections with contemporaries across the UK to stay updated on devolution deals and best practices.
• Demonstrate and promote CCR values, creating a culture of openness and psychological safety.

Essential Requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, with continuous professional and personal development.
• Evidence of a chartered accountancy body qualification.
• Successful leader with board/executive‑level experience in the public or private sector.
• Significant experience engaging with developers, investors, businesses, and universities.
• Experience in shaping and delivering financial plans that support corporate priorities.
• Experience with service delivery amidst economic and political challenges.
• Ability to understand complex subjects and lead by consensus.
• High degree of political sensitivity and experience with complex stakeholder issues.
• Proven ability to deliver targets and prioritise projects.
• Established senior leader with five years of board/executive‑level experience.
• Experience as a chief financial officer in a business or Local Government setting.
• Ability to think and act strategically, developing innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Strong technical and financial proficiency, evidenced by solving complex problems.
• Outcome‑focused with the capability to drive the agenda forward.
• Demonstrates clear leadership skills, supporting others to achieve good performance.
• Shows a personal commitment to the work and values of the organisation.
• Resourceful, resilient, and able to self‑direct.
• Commitment to the organization's Equal Opportunities Policy.

Desirable Requirements:

• Ability to communicate in the Welsh language, or commitment to learn.
• Knowledge of sustainable development initiatives.
• Experience of working in public/private partnerships.
• Commercially proficient with experience delivering schemes with the private sector.
• Strong understanding and exemplification of ESG values.

Special Circumstances:

• Undertake other duties as required.
• A full and valid driving licence would be an advantage.