At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance partnerships, mentor teams, and drive strategic financial decisions.
- Company: Join a dynamic local authority focused on children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with strong career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's services while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: CCAB-qualified accountant with experience in finance management and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AT
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 6+ Months - typically 2 days in the office per week but varies week on week
Working Hours: 36 hours per week
Pay Rate: PAYE: £650.00 per day
Job Responsibilities:
- Lead the Finance Business Partnering function for Children's Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial support and strategic advice.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Finance Business Partners, promoting high performance, accountability, and continuous professional development.
- Build strong partnerships with senior leadership teams, providing financial insight, challenge, and support to inform strategic decision-making.
- Lead the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, monitoring, and reporting processes for the assigned service area.
- Provide expert financial advice to support the development, delivery, and evaluation of service plans, business cases, and transformation initiatives.
- Drive the development of innovative service delivery models that achieve efficiencies, deliver cost savings, and maximise outcomes for residents.
- Monitor financial performance, identify financial risks and opportunities, and ensure appropriate mitigating actions are implemented.
- Produce accurate, timely, and insightful financial reports, analysis, and management information for senior stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, accounting standards, governance requirements, and organisational policies.
- Support the discharge of Section 151 responsibilities by maintaining high standards of financial stewardship and control.
- Lead on financial aspects of change programmes, service transformation, and strategic projects across Children's Services.
- Develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote collaborative working and informed financial decision-making.
- Contribute to the development of finance policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance service delivery.
- Champion continuous improvement, innovation, and a customer-focused approach within the Finance Business Partnering team.
- Represent the finance function at senior management meetings and provide professional financial leadership across the organisation.
Person Specification:
Essential Requirements:
- CCAB-qualified accountant (or equivalent recognised professional accounting qualification).
- Significant post-qualification experience in finance management, business partnering, or financial leadership roles.
- Demonstrable experience of leading and managing finance teams within a large, complex organisation.
- Strong knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and management accounting.
- Experience providing strategic financial advice and challenge to senior leaders and service managers.
- Excellent understanding of local government finance, public sector financial management, and financial governance.
- Knowledge of statutory financial responsibilities, including the principles supporting Section 151 responsibilities.
- Proven ability to lead service transformation, financial improvement, and efficiency programmes.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information.
- Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience developing robust business cases and supporting strategic decision-making.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within demanding timescales.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills with a commitment to developing high-performing teams.
- Proficient in the use of financial management systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Desirable Requirements:
- Experience working within Children's Services finance in a local authority.
- Experience supporting organisational transformation and change management programmes.
- Knowledge of local government funding arrangements, financial regulations, and statutory reporting requirements.
- Experience working in politically sensitive environments with senior elected members and executive leadership.
- Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering value for money across public services.
Head of Finance Business Partnering (Interim) Bexley 16 in Dartford employer: i-Jobs
i-jobs is an exceptional employer that values collaboration and community impact, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about environmental services. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, the company offers a supportive work culture where innovative ideas are encouraged, and team members can thrive in their roles. Located in Liverpool, employees benefit from a vibrant city atmosphere while contributing to meaningful improvements within the council.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance Business Partnering (Interim) Bexley 16 in Dartford
✨Join Financial Networking Events
Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.
✨Utilise Temp Agencies Specialised in Finance
Reach out to temp agencies that focus on the banking sector. They often have strong ties with various firms and can help you secure short-term gigs that can help beef up your CV and get your foot in the door at firms like i-Jobs.
✨Connect with Alumni from Your Uni
Don't underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network. Many former students are working in banking and can help you find temporary roles or even offer mentorship. Reach out directly or attend alumni events to broaden your circle.
✨Stay Active on Job Boards and Company Websites
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like i-Jobs might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance Business Partnering (Interim) Bexley 16 in Dartford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at i-Jobs will be keen to see in your application.
Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at i-Jobs. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!
Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give i-Jobs confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at i-Jobs
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with i-Jobs.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure i-Jobs that you’re a reliable team player.
✨Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn
In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.
