At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape financial decisions and influence senior stakeholders in a transformative role.
- Company: Join the Forest of Dean District Council, dedicated to community empowerment and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, health cash plan, and a supportive pension scheme.
- Other info: Agile working environment with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while developing your finance career.
- Qualifications: CCAB qualified or part-qualified with strong progress; experience in financial management preferred.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About The Role
Are you a finance professional who wants more than just reporting numbers? Do you want to shape decisions, influence senior stakeholders, and play a central role in transforming public services? We are looking for a talented and motivated Finance Business Partner to support our Finance Manager and Deputy Section 151 Officer in delivering high-quality financial leadership across the Council. This is a rare opportunity to step into a visible, impactful role at the heart of strategic and operational decision-making. This isn't a back-office finance position. Please note this role is open to both full time and part time applications.
You’ll be:
- A trusted advisor to senior managers and elected members
- A driver of change, supporting transformation and savings programmes
- A key player in shaping how services are delivered to communities
- Leading improvements in financial reporting, forecasting, and insight
Some of your responsibilities:
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of financial reporting frameworks and systems, enabling smarter decision-making
- Provide robust budget monitoring, forecasting, and financial insight across revenue and capital programmes
- Play a key role in the annual budget setting process and Medium-Term Financial Strategy
- Support year-end accounts closure, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and professional codes
- Provide technical financial advice to senior stakeholders, including the impact of new legislation and professional standards
You will need:
- Ideally CCAB qualified (or part-qualified with strong progress)
- A-Level (or equivalent) and GCSEs including Maths and English
- Background in financial management, business partnering, or management accounting
- Experience working closely with budget holders or cost centre managers
- Proven ability to operate effectively within a team and stakeholder environment
- Proactive, organised, and comfortable working under pressure
Special Conditions:
- BPSS Check
- Ability to travel
What we can do for you:
- Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
- Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
- 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
- In addition, you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
- Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
- Generous contributory local government pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
About The Organisation
Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity.
We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.
Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.
Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.
Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.
Business Partner- Finance Accountant in Coleford employer: Publica Group
At Forest of Dean District Council, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values the contributions of our finance professionals. With a commitment to agile working and flexible arrangements, we offer a supportive environment where you can thrive while making a meaningful impact on public services. Our focus on employee well-being is reflected in generous leave policies, a comprehensive health cash plan, and opportunities for professional growth, all within a vibrant community dedicated to sustainability and social equity.
