Deputy Director - Local Government Finance Policy and Sustainability in Wales

The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Advertising basis: Permanent

The role is at Deputy Director level (SCS1) and the starting salary is circa £86,000 although some flexibility may be available for an exceptional candidate up to £105,000.

Work pattern: Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group: Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group

Directorate: Local Government and Planning Directorate

Location(s): Pan Wales

Purpose of post:

Local government is a principal partner to the Welsh Government. It delivers over 700 public services and accounts for more than 25 per cent of the annual revenue budget. As such, the sector is central to the provision of services to people, business and communities; and is engaged in the implementation and delivery of almost all Welsh Government programmes. Successfully delivering the Programme for Government is also dependent on the participation of local government.

It follows that the mechanism for funding local authorities is a critical part of Welsh Government business. Managing and developing the underpinning formula and the range of consultative mechanisms and ensuring that those work – and are considered by all to be – fairly and impartially – is important. This role sits at the centre of that work.

The postholder manages a Division including statisticians, accountants and more generalist skills. It is a busy role with significant financial responsibilities, including holding budgets worth a total of £5bn. In addition to a number of distinct policy responsibilities, the postholder plays a vital role in relationship management externally with local authorities and internally with colleagues across the Welsh Government reflecting the importance to local government to the delivery of a wide range of policy and delivery agenda.

The annual financial cycle drives a significant element of the work which involves advising ministers on annual decisions on the funding of local authorities and delivering over £6.6bn in revenue and capital settlements. Within the local government finance aspects of the role, there is also an ongoing policy role overseeing the financial framework for local government and the reform of the funding formula which distributes the annual revenue settlement. Beyond this, the post leads and oversees work on the local government contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Key tasks:

• Delivery, through the team and with partners within and beyond Welsh Government, of advising Ministers on the assessment of funding need and risk including engagement with other policy areas and ministers as appropriate on the pressures in specific service areas.
• Delivery of the annual revenue and capital settlements including maintenance and development of arrangements for the fair distribution of revenue and capital funding between local authorities.
• The Welsh Government component of the core un-hypothecated revenue funding for the Police in Wales: Engagement with the Home Office as appropriate including on the implications for Welsh police forces and local council tax payers.
• The legislative and guidance framework for the effective conduct of local government finances.
• The Welsh Government policy towards the funding of local government and the financial health of local government in the round including responsibility for the WG response to critical financial failure or challenge.
• Emergency funding arrangements for local government in the event of significant emergencies.
• Relationships with the finance community in Local Government and the police.
• Strategic approach to Local Government climate change mitigation and adaptation including supporting the leadership and contribution of local government to the Welsh carbon budgets.
• Advising on local government workforce related matters within a context which is largely not devolved. This includes leading on any issues relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Developing and maintaining links with relevant UKG and Scottish Government colleagues.
• Management and leadership of the division (12) which includes relevant technical disciplines (statisticians, accountants).
• Contribute appropriately to the wider corporate and policy responsibilities of the Welsh Government.

Welsh language requirements:

Welsh language skills are not essential for this opportunity; you do not need Welsh language skills to apply. However, as the Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation, Welsh language skills are desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.