Head of Finance (Corporate) in London

Reading Borough Council is recruiting for a Head of Finance - Corporate role which has the key responsibility of leading the Council's strategic financial planning function. This includes maintaining the Medium Term Financial Strategy financial model, interpreting the likely financial impact on the Council from Central Government policy changes, coordinating the budget setting process and providing financial advice to Directors and Members. The role also leads the business partnering team for the Resources Directorate and is responsible for the Council's treasury management team.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

A permanent full-time vacancy has arisen for an experienced finance professional to join a friendly and collaborative Finance Leadership Team in Reading. You will be working with other Heads of Finance and the Chief Accountant (Deputy S.151 Officer) to manage the Council's finance teams and provide excellent support and advice to the Council. The role co-ordinates all strategic internal financial reporting, including budget monitoring, progress against savings and collection fund performance. This is a key role which supports the annual budget setting process.

Working with colleagues across finance, the role influences the provision of timely financial reports and is a trusted business partner for the Resources Directorate's services including IT, HR, Legal and Customer Services where there is a great opportunity to help shape service developments. You would also be able to guide a number of CIPFA apprentices and promote training and improvement of finance skills across the Finance Directorate. You'll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

• Work Together: work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency: show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency.
• Take Responsibility: for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious: be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference: to Reading maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

The ideal candidate will have superior local government finance accounting skills, and have successfully managed the co-ordination of formal budget setting reports to Council and budget forecast reports to a Leadership Team on a regular basis. Having a proven track record of advising and working with Directors and Members would be an advantage.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment. A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including: Generous holiday entitlement - 31 days holiday each year plus.