Associate Director – Financial Management, Revenues, Benefits & Debt Management (Deputy S151) in Dudley

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is driving one of the most ambitious transformation and recovery programmes in local government. Our new Operating Model sets out a bold vision of becoming a community focused, financially resilient, collaborative, and sustainable council that delivers excellent services and supports the essential needs of our residents, businesses, and local economy.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join as our Associate Director - Financial Management, Revenues, Benefits & Debt Management. You will provide strategic leadership across financial management, revenues, benefits, and debt, ensuring robust governance, strong financial stewardship, and high-quality resident focused services. As Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will support the S151 Officer in discharging the Council’s duties for financial stewardship, governance and probity, while taking a lead role in reshaping the Finance function to ensure it is resilient, modern, and fit for the future.

What you’ll lead:

• Development and delivery of robust medium-term financial planning ensuring alignment with the Council’s strategic priorities and change/transformation programme.
• Modernising income, revenues, benefits and debt services to maximise the use of technology that drives high performance.
• Delivery of a strong and effective finance business partnering model that enables effective decision making and supports transformation.
• Providing strong financial planning, budget management and strategic advice to achieve longer term financial sustainability.
• Designing and delivering a new financial operating model that is supported by highly skilled and knowledgeable staff.
• Driving the use of technology to support effective finance systems, providing high quality and real time financial information as well as access to finance systems that are effective in their support of our residents, suppliers, clients and customers.
• Accelerating automation, innovation and service improvement and leading on the development and implementation of a new ERP system, aligning financial and HR data.
• Building strong internal and external partnerships and embedding a collaborative, customer focused, high-performance culture.

What you’ll bring:

• CCAB/CIMA qualification.
• Senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation (ideally local government).
• A track record of transformation and measurable improvement.
• Deep knowledge of financial regulations, benefits and debt management.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and political awareness.

Why join Dudley MBC?

This is a rare opportunity to influence borough‑wide outcomes, lead vital frontline services and shape the financial future of a major local authority. You’ll join a supportive, ambitious leadership team with a clear drive for excellence.

For an informal discussion please contact Lisa Kitto, Interim Director of Resources/S151, via Louise Baugh – Louise.Baugh@dudley.gov.uk. For more information and to apply, please visit Dudley Council Jobs.

Application Process:

Applications close: Tuesday 3 March 2026. Please submit your CV and supporting statement/summary with your application. The recruitment process will be to undertake technical interviews with longlisted applicants to confirm the shortlist. Short listed candidates will be invited to assessment centres and attend final interviews. Please indicate any periods you are unavailable.

Workplace Attendance: Working in the office 3+ days a week (pro-rata) or onsite full time.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion. Your personal data will be anonymised when you apply. To comply with our anonymisation process, please remove your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application.

Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy. Online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough. All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK. Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

If you require support completing an online or paper application form and or interview techniques, please contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818 143 or acl@dudley.gov.uk who can support with Digital Skills and Job Applications. If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk.

If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance WM Jobs Help Page. If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk.

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so. The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at Privacy and Disclaimer Statement.

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.