At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and modernise finance services, ensuring efficiency and compliance across Somerset Council.
- Company: Somerset Council, committed to community-focused financial services.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, 33 days annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with opportunities for growth in a complex public sector environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance with innovative technologies and make a real impact in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance operations, strong leadership, and knowledge of financial systems required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Full-time (37 hours), 18-month fixed-term contract.
33 days’ annual leave (additional to Bank Holidays).
Flexible and Hybrid working opportunities.
If you’re an experienced finance leader ready to shape and modernise services at scale, this is a unique opportunity to take ownership of Somerset Council’s transactional finance and financial systems. You’ll lead critical services such as payments, income, and debt recovery, ensuring they operate efficiently and compliantly while supporting essential services across our communities.
This role offers the chance to drive meaningful transformation, leading the adoption of new technologies, AI, and automation while influencing how financial services are delivered across the organisation. You’ll play a key role in strengthening financial resilience, improving performance, and embedding innovative, future-focused ways of working across a large and complex council environment.
Role Summary
As our Exchequer and Systems Manager, you’ll provide strategic leadership across transactional finance and financial systems, ensuring efficient, compliant, and customer-focused services. You’ll drive improvements in financial resilience, support organisational transformation, and enable the Council to deliver its priorities through strong financial governance and modern service delivery.
What you’ll do – Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage Exchequer and Transactional Finance services, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Debt Recovery and Cashiers.
- Oversee and develop financial systems, ensuring they are efficient, resilient, and aligned with organisational and IT strategy.
- Drive continuous improvement and transformation of financial services, including integration into the Council’s Target Operating Model.
- Act as the lead for financial system incidents, coordinating with ICT and suppliers to ensure timely resolution.
- Develop and implement policies and procedures covering income management, debt recovery, procurement compliance and cash handling.
- Lead fraud prevention activity and ensure strong financial governance and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee debt recovery processes, including analysis, reporting and legal proceedings.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, schools and external partners to ensure effective service delivery.
- Manage relationships with system vendors and service providers, ensuring performance and compliance.
- Monitor performance and drive service improvements to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
What we’re looking for – Knowledge, Experience, & Skills
- Significant experience in transactional finance operations and financial systems management within a complex organisation.
- Strong knowledge of financial systems, particularly ERP platforms such as Microsoft D365, alongside high IT literacy and data analysis skills.
- Experience of working collaboratively across Finance and ICT, including service management, performance monitoring, incident handling and continuous improvement.
- Experience in policy development, compliance, audit processes and fraud prevention.
- Strong understanding of public sector finance, governance and statutory reporting.
- Experience managing debt recovery processes, including legal proceedings and aged debt analysis.
- Proven leadership and people management experience, including managing large or matrix teams.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Knowledge of AI and automation tools within financial systems.
- Understanding of traded services and school finance operations.
- Familiarity with open banking and digital payment strategies.
- Experience with income management systems and e-payment platforms.
- Experience working in a local authority or public sector environment.
- Experience conducting service reviews and audits to improve efficiency and quality.
- Project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or Agile.
Additional Information
Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.
Finance Systems Lead – Exchequer & Transactions (Hybrid) in Taunton employer: Somerset-Council-1
Somerset Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth, offering 33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and flexible hybrid working arrangements. As a Finance Systems Lead, you will have the unique opportunity to drive meaningful transformation in financial services while working within a supportive and collaborative environment that values innovation and resilience. Join us to make a significant impact on our communities and enhance your career in a dynamic public sector setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Systems Lead – Exchequer & Transactions (Hybrid) in Taunton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who work in local authorities. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest trends in financial systems and AI tools. Show us you’re not just a candidate but a thought leader ready to drive transformation in finance services.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Exchequer and Systems Manager. Highlight your leadership skills and how you’ve improved financial processes in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Systems Lead – Exchequer & Transactions (Hybrid) in Taunton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your expertise in transactional finance and financial systems management, as this is what we’re really looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Finance Systems Lead role. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in financial services or led teams in the past.
Showcase Your Tech Savvy:Since we’re keen on modernising services with new technologies, don’t forget to mention your experience with ERP platforms like Microsoft D365 and any knowledge of AI and automation tools. We love a tech-savvy candidate!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Somerset-Council-1
✨Know Your Financial Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of financial systems, especially ERP platforms like Microsoft D365. Be ready to discuss how you've used these systems in previous roles and how they can be leveraged for efficiency and compliance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, particularly in managing large teams or complex projects. Think about times when you've driven transformation or improved service delivery, as this will resonate well with the role's responsibilities.
✨Understand the Public Sector Landscape
Familiarise yourself with public sector finance, governance, and statutory reporting. Being able to discuss how these elements impact financial operations will demonstrate your understanding of the environment you'll be working in.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be prepared to talk about your experience in building relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Highlight any successful collaborations that led to improved service delivery, as this is crucial for the role.
