At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic finance team and drive strategic financial planning.
- Company: Join Tameside Council, a forward-thinking organisation committed to community growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible hours, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial governance while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a CCAB/CIMA Qualified Accountant with leadership experience.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of learning and innovation with clear pathways for career progression.
The predicted salary is between 44000 - 51000 ÂŁ per year.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade J. Scale 40 - ÂŁ51,356 to Scale 43 - ÂŁ54,495 with a professional bar at SCP 41 ÂŁ52,413
Hours Per Week: 36 hours
Base Location: Tameside One
Assessment Date: 23rd & 25th March 2026
The Role
Tameside Council is transforming its Finance Service to create a modern, ambitious and highly skilled function. We are building a team that is strategic, forward-thinking and committed to continuous improvement—and we are looking for talented people who want to grow with us.
We are seeking driven and ambitious finance professionals to join our recently re-designed service, strengthening our expertise across Treasury Management, Capital Finance, VAT, PFI, and Financial Systems improvements, while also supporting strategic Council priorities that include All Age Commissioning and the Growth and Regeneration of the borough. In addition, we are also looking to enhance our support to Neighbourhood and Operational services and the Adult Services Client Finance team.
If you’re passionate about high-quality financial management and want to work in an organisation where your development truly matters, this is your opportunity to apply for a number of exciting key roles.
A cornerstone of our People Plan is Learning & Growth, and our Finance Development Pathway is designed to support every colleague—from Apprentice to Head of Finance—to build a meaningful and fulfilling career.
Here, your career progression is not left to chance. We provide:
- Clear development pathways showing how your role can evolve over time—from exploring and expanding your skills, to moving sideways for broader experience, to progressing into more senior positions.
- Supported qualifications, including AAT, CIPFA and leadership & management programmes.
- A strong culture of development through My Performance conversations, shadowing, mentoring and structured skills-building.
- Opportunities to move up-and move across.
Career development isn’t always linear. Our Finance Development Pathway supports:
- Moving Up: Progress to the next career step with the right experience and qualifications—supported by a wide range of learning and development options.
- Moving Sideways: Voluntary rotational opportunities (every two years) let you broaden experience, expand your knowledge across finance disciplines and build a stronger professional profile.
- Growing in Your Current Role: Take on new learning opportunities, join employee networks, become a Wellbeing Champion, shadow colleagues, or develop specialist interests.
A supportive, value-driven organisation
Our STRIVE values—Supportive, Team-focused, Respectful, Innovative, Valued, Empowering—shape how we work.
We offer:
- Competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme
- 36-hour working week and flexible working
- Access to eLearning, leadership programmes, coaching and a wide array of short courses
- A culture where your contribution is valued and your ideas are heard
About You
As a Senior Finance Manager, you will be an existing CCAB/CIMA Qualified Accountant with sustained membership who will lead a professional team delivering strategic financial planning, governance, assurance and value-for-money outcomes. You will influence major decisions across the Council, strengthen financial integrity, and support organisational transformation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and develop your finance team, embedding a high-performance culture.
- Oversee the annual revenue budget, MTFS, financial planning and year-end accounts.
- Provide strategic financial advice to senior officers and elected members.
- Drive improvements, transformation and innovation in financial management.
- Provide objective challenge and ensure strong financial governance.
- Build strong relationships across services and support long-term planning.
- Provide expertise in dedicated roles that support a number of functions including Treasury Management, Capital Finance, VAT, PFI, Financial Systems Improvements, All Age Commissioning, Adult Services Client Finance, Neighbourhood and Operational Services, Growth and Regeneration.
Development & Progression
The Development Pathway provides a structured route to becoming a future Head of Finance including:
- Leadership & management qualifications
- Strategic leadership development
- Opportunities to mentor future finance professionals
- Exposure to policy and regulatory interpretation
- Projects linked to innovation and service transformation
To support genuine progression opportunities, all vacancies up to Senior Finance Manager level are initially ringfenced to the Financial Management service, giving internal colleagues priority to step up when ready. We also recognise that many internal colleagues study alongside their role—vacancies remain open for up to six months to allow near-complete qualifications to be achieved.
At Tameside, your growth matters—and we back it with real opportunities.
About Us
At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities.
We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do.
Our employees' skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be.
This position is subject to Basic Disclosure Procedures. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship. We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here.
For further information about this role please contact Heather Green, Head of Finance or Steve Jamieson, Head of Finance.
Senior Finance Manager in Manchester employer: Tameside Council
Contact Detail:
Tameside Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, attend industry events, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand Tameside Council's mission and how your skills align with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in contributing to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in financial management can drive improvements and innovation at Tameside. Tailor your examples to show how you can support their strategic priorities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest in the role and highlighting a key point from your conversation can keep you fresh in their minds. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and engaged!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Finance Manager role. Highlight your CCAB/CIMA qualifications and any relevant leadership experience to show us you’re the right fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about financial management and how you can contribute to our ambitious team at Tameside. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities—share your successes! Whether it’s driving improvements in financial governance or leading a high-performance team, we want to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tameside Council
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial planning and governance. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've influenced major decisions in previous roles. This shows you’re not just familiar with numbers but can also apply them strategically.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership
Highlight your experience in leading and developing finance teams. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've motivated your team to achieve high performance and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. This aligns perfectly with the role's focus on building a strong, professional team.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Tameside Council is looking for someone who can drive improvements and innovation in financial management. Prepare to discuss past projects where you’ve implemented strategic changes or improvements. This will demonstrate your forward-thinking approach and ability to support organisational transformation.
✨Align with STRIVE Values
Familiarise yourself with Tameside’s STRIVE values—Supportive, Team-focused, Respectful, Innovative, Valued, Empowering. During the interview, weave these values into your responses to show that you resonate with their culture. This will help you stand out as a candidate who fits well within their organisational ethos.