Chief Finance Officer (S151) (Full Time) in England

Cornwall is a place like nowhere else, with a proud identity, strong communities and a clear ambition to shape its own future. Following the Government’s announcement that Cornwall Council will become England’s first single strategic authority, securing deeper devolution on a Cornwall-only footprint, the Council is entering a significant period of change that offers a real opportunity to influence how Cornwall develops in the years ahead.

Cornwall Council is one of the largest unitary councils in England, serving more than half a million residents across a large rural area, and it has a strong track record of delivering good services and finding practical solutions to the challenges it faces.

THE ROLE

As Chief Finance Officer and statutory Section 151 Officer, you will lead the Council’s financial strategy, delivering our balanced Medium Term Financial Plan while supporting our ambitions for Cornwall and making the very best use of our resources. You will be responsible for the effective stewardship of the Council’s resources, covering a gross revenue budget of around £1.6bn and a capital programme of around £1.8bn. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer as a key member of the Council’s leadership team, you will lead a finance function covering accountancy, treasury management and pensions, revenues and benefits, including assessment, billing and collection, and performance and business planning.

Our balanced three-year plan gives us a strong platform to build from, but delivering it depends on savings of more than £150m over the period, alongside continued investment in Together for Families and adult social care, where demand and cost pressures remain significant. You will lead the delivery of that plan with a tight grip on budget monitoring and savings, making sure our budgets fit the job we need to do while services cope with the pressures they face, and working with Strategic Directors to change the cost profile of our highest-spending services as part of the wider transformation of the Council.

As Cornwall becomes England’s first single strategic authority, you will play a central role in building the financial sustainability the Council needs to make the most of its new status, using it as a catalyst to do things differently. You will lead the Council’s financial relationship with Government, including the opportunities that come with deeper devolution and a multi-year settlement, and act as lead financial officer for the Council’s group of companies. You will also be a trusted adviser to the Leader, Cabinet and all Members, explaining complex financial choices clearly and giving candid advice in a politically varied environment, while building capability and confidence across the finance team so that it works as a partner to services right across the organisation.

We are looking for a qualified, senior finance leader with experience across large, complex organisations, who meets the professional qualification requirements for the role of Section 151 Officer and can live within commutable daily travel of the Council.

Timeline

• Closing Date: Monday 7th December
• Longlist Meeting (Candidates not required): 17th December 2026
• Preliminary Interviews (Teams): W/C 4th January 2027
• Shortlist Meeting (Candidates not required): 12th January 2027
• Final Panel Interviews (In-Person): 1st February 2027