At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial improvement and transformation across the Council with strategic planning and practical delivery.
- Company: Local Government client focused on rapid financial recovery and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and impactful role in public service.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for significant impact and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in financial management while enhancing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified finance professional with experience in complex financial programmes and stakeholder engagement.
My Local Government client is seeking an experienced and highly credible finance professional to lead a programme of critical financial improvement and transformation activity across the Council. This is about rapid implementation and putting in the relevant controls and processes to implement at pace.
The role will work closely with the 151 and AD of finance to help set a future budget and support rapid improvements to our overspend position. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, bringing strong financial expertise, commercial acumen and change management experience. You will need to work with a range of key service areas.
You will support activity relating to:
- Budget Planning and Financial Recovery
- Developing an overall budget planning timetable to ensure timely approval through the Council's governance framework.
- Leading the management of urgent financial issues that relate to budget overspends, working with services to identify and deliver mitigation plans.
- Introducing and managing urgent financial measures to improve financial resilience and budget performance.
- Supporting the development of ideas and strategies to address the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and ensuring alignment with wider organisational modernisation programmes.
- Financial Sustainability and Performance
- Implementing a solution and associated process to address outstanding invoices, debt management and improving collection performance.
- Identifying commercial opportunities and strengthening the Council's approach to commercial income, fees and charges.
- Identifying and assessing opportunities for investment that improve financial returns, service efficiency and value for money.
- Evaluating performance challenges that may require targeted investment and developing financially robust business cases.
- Strategic Financial Planning
- Providing financial oversight and analysis of regeneration programmes, investment commitments and future development proposals.
- Supporting financial profiling of restructuring activity, workforce planning and reviews of agency staffing arrangements, ensuring opportunities for both efficiencies and invest-to-save initiatives are fully evaluated.
- Governance, Procurement and Transformation
- Supporting the introduction and development of a Procurement Board.
- Supporting the work to review existing contracts, procurement pipelines and contract management arrangements to maximise value and reduce financial risk.
About You
You will be a qualified finance professional (CCAB/CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial experience of leading complex financial improvement programmes within a large and politically accountable organisation. You will be able to demonstrate:
Essential Experience
- Significant senior-level financial management experience.
- Experience of budget recovery, financial sustainability planning and transformation programmes.
- Developing and delivering Medium-Term Financial Strategies.
- Managing financial risks, overspends and recovery plans.
- Leading organisational change and service transformation initiatives.
- Strong commercial and investment appraisal experience.
- Experience of working with senior stakeholders, elected Members and governance boards.
- Contract, procurement and commissioning knowledge.
- Workforce and organisational restructuring financial assessment.
Essential Skills and Knowledge
- Excellent strategic financial planning and analytical skills.
- Strong programme and project management capability.
- Ability to influence and challenge senior leaders constructively.
- Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
- Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to work at pace, manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes within challenging timescales.
- CCAB qualified.
This is an interim role with a rate of £700 to £800 a day inside IR35 with 2 days a week in Essex.
Interim Strategic Finance Lead employer: Morgan Law
As a local authority, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values the contributions of our team members. Our work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development in the field of Local Government Finance. With a focus on meaningful work and community impact, we offer competitive compensation and a supportive environment where your skills can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Strategic Finance Lead
✨Get Involved in Financial Networks
Join local financial associations or forums where you can connect with professionals in financial-controlling. Networking events often lead to temporary positions, as companies look for quick hires when they need extra hands.
✨Showcase Your Skills on Temporary Job Boards
Focus on platforms that specifically cater to temporary roles in finance. Sites like Reed or Totaljobs often list short-term gigs that are perfect for getting your foot in the door, and you can apply directly through our website for roles at Morgan Law.
✨Leverage Your Uni's Career Services
If you're still in university, tap into your career services for internship or temporary job placements. They often have insider info on companies like Morgan Law looking for temporary financial support, and they might help you polish your pitch.
✨Flexible Availability is Key
For temporary positions in financial-controlling, your availability can make a huge difference. Highlight your willingness to start immediately or work irregular hours when speaking to employers. This flexibility can land you that sought-after role!
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Strategic Finance Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Aces:In the financial controlling game, grades and relevant certifications can make a significant difference. Be sure to highlight your academic achievements, like finance-related coursework and any professional certifications you’ve got on your CV that show you’re clued up in this area. It’s all about demonstrating that you’re not just good at numbers but also know your stuff!
Quantify Your Achievements:When applying for a temporary role in financial controlling, make sure your CV reflects any previous experience with real, measurable outcomes. Use numbers to showcase your past successes, like percentage improvements in budgeting or cost savings you’ve achieved in previous roles. This not only gives us insights into your capabilities but also tells us you're results-driven.
Personalise Your Application:We love seeing applicants who take the time to tailor their applications! In your cover letter, mention why you’re particularly interested in the temporary role with Morgan Law and how your specific skills and experiences align with the job. Show us that you see this role as an opportunity to contribute, even if it's for a short stint!
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to highlight your availability in your application. We’re interested in knowing how soon you can start and if you’re open to working flexible hours. This shows us your eagerness to jump right in and adapt to the dynamic needs of our team at Morgan Law.
How to prepare for a job interview at Morgan Law
✨Get Hands-On with Financial Tools
Being in financial controlling means you’ll likely be working with various software like Excel, Power BI, or even SAP. Make sure you brush up on these tools and prepare to discuss your experience using them. Being able to reference specific projects or analyses where you employed these programs will definitely give you an edge.
✨Prepare for Technical Financial Questions
Expect scenario-based questions where you might need to analyse financial statements or suggest budgetary strategies during the interview. Practising common financial concepts like variance analysis or cost control measures will not only boost your confidence but also prove your suitability for the role.
✨Show Your Flexibility and Adaptability
As this is a temporary position, the interviewers will want to see that you can hit the ground running. Be sure to highlight any previous short-term roles or projects where you successfully adapted to new environments quickly – this will showcase your readiness to tackle challenges head-on.
✨Highlight Your Commitment to Precision
In financial controlling, attention to detail is absolutely crucial. Be ready to provide examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to spot discrepancies and ensure accuracy in financial reporting. Your precision could be the factor that sets you apart in a temporary role like this one!
