At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial compliance and manage payroll, reporting, and budgeting processes.
- Company: Join Our Newham Learning & Skills, empowering adult learners in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative work environment focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on residents' lives while driving financial efficiency and growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance with a Level 4 qualification or equivalent; strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Anonymised recruitment process ensures fairness; DBS check may be required for certain roles.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
You will lead the financial and contract compliance functions within Our Newham – Learning & Skills, ensuring the effective management of the service’s financial systems, payroll, and reporting processes. As Finance Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing the service’s financial health, ensuring compliance with funding regulations, and identifying new income streams to diversify revenue.
Working closely with the Head of Operations, you will provide accurate financial forecasts, advise on budget positions, and contribute to strategic decision-making that supports the service’s growth and sustainability. You will manage the service’s cost centres and financial systems, conduct periodic reviews, and lead internal audits to ensure accountability and accuracy.
You will also take a leading role in contract management, ensuring that commercial arrangements deliver value for money and are renewed in a timely manner. As part of your responsibilities, you will identify and secure additional funding opportunities to maximise the impact of the service on Newham residents., As a proactive and collaborative leader, you are committed to improving processes, driving efficiencies, and ensuring financial compliance across the service. You are adept at building relationships with internal and external partners to secure funding and deliver value-for-money services.
You are passionate about supporting adult learners and committed to Newham’s ethos of equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that financial decisions contribute positively to the lives of residents.
You have a proactive approach to taking on additional responsibilities as required to ensure the effective delivery of the service and to support learners in achieving their goals.
About ONLS
Our Newham Learning & Skills is an adult education service providing learning to residents in the borough. We pride ourselves on supporting the needs of our local communities with a firm focus on putting our students at the heart of everything we do. We believe in lifelong learning and empowering people to reach their full potential.
We are part of Newham’s Community Wealth Building strategy, underpinned by the principles of economic, social and environmental justice; so that long-term prosperity, wellbeing and fairness for all our residents in the Borough is achieved.
As well as attracting growth and investment into the borough, the Council’s Community Wealth Building (CWB) strategy will help unleash the potential of residents, businesses and the voluntary sector because they are the source of wealth and talent that will drive a fairer and more prosperous Newham., We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.
We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
You are an experienced finance professional with a track record of managing financial processes and systems, preferably within an education or local government setting. You have a solid understanding of funding rules, payroll procedures, and financial reporting, and you are skilled in providing insightful budget analysis to drive informed decision-making.
You will have a qualification in a financial discipline (Level 4 or higher) or demonstrable equivalent experience, along with proficiency in financial software systems. You bring excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear guidance for non-financial stakeholders.
The CWB strategy will help the Council tackle injustices residents face with an unrelenting focus on poverty in the Borough, as well as addressing racial and gendered disparities that exists.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact David Pearson, Head of Operations (MIS & Learner Experience), by email at David.Pearson@newham.gov.uk
Please view JD here
The closing date for the receipt of applications is Monday 10th March 2025 at 12pm.
You will be notified if your application has been successful.
Interviews to be scheduled w/c 17th March 2025.
Finance Lead employer: Newham Council
Contact Detail:
Newham Council Recruiting Team
David.Pearson@newham.gov.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the Community Wealth Building strategy of Newham. Understanding how this strategy aligns with the financial goals of Our Newham - Learning & Skills will help you demonstrate your commitment to the borough's ethos during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the education and local government sectors. Building relationships with individuals who have experience in financial management within these areas can provide you with valuable insights and potential referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've improved financial processes or driven efficiencies in previous roles. Highlighting your proactive approach will resonate well with the collaborative leadership style they are looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the funding regulations relevant to adult education services. Being knowledgeable about these rules will not only help you in the role but also show your dedication to ensuring compliance and maximizing funding opportunities.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Finance Lead position. Pay attention to the key aspects such as financial compliance, contract management, and the importance of supporting adult learners.
Craft a Strong Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is crucial. Clearly explain how your experience aligns with the job criteria. Use specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your skills in financial management, budget analysis, and compliance with funding regulations.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Make sure to mention your qualifications in finance, especially if you have a Level 4 or higher qualification. If you have equivalent experience, detail this as well. This will help establish your credibility as a finance professional.
Emphasize Your Commitment to Values: Since the role emphasizes equality, diversity, and inclusion, reflect on how your values align with those of Our Newham Learning & Skills. Share any relevant experiences that showcase your commitment to these principles and how they influence your financial decision-making.
How to prepare for a job interview at Newham Council
✨Understand the Financial Landscape
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the financial systems and compliance regulations relevant to the role. Familiarize yourself with funding rules and payroll procedures, as these will likely be key discussion points during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with budget analysis and financial forecasting. Highlight specific examples where your insights led to informed decision-making or improved financial health in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Leadership
As a proactive leader, emphasize your ability to build relationships with both internal and external partners. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated to secure funding or improve processes in past positions.
✨Align with Their Values
Research Our Newham's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute positively to the lives of residents through financial decisions.