Assistant Director, Finance (Shared Services)

Publica Group; Cirencester; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working (home/office)

33 days paid annual leave

Two volunteering days per year

Health cash plan

Pension up to 7%

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrifice car lease

Sickness cover

Income protection

Life assurance

Job summary

Publica Group Ltd is seeking an exceptional Assistant Director of Finance (Shared Services) to lead finance and shared services across councils, providing strategic and operational leadership in a complex, changing environment.

Based in Cirencester with agile working options, the role drives ERP modernisation, transformation programmes, and service improvement, while engaging with senior leaders, elected members and Board-level stakeholders to shape long-term financial strategy.

Qualifications

• CCAB/CIPFA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Senior finance leadership experience, ideally in the public sector.
• Experience at executive/board level.
• Proven transformation and change programme leadership.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Balance strategic leadership with delivery and outcomes focus.

Responsibilities

• Drive evolution and improvement of shared services across the partnership.
• Lead finance systems modernization, ERP transformation, and automation.
• Prepare for delivery of LGR; represent Publica operating model in LGR programmes.
• Improve service performance, efficiency and customer experience.
• Provide strategic advice to Board and senior leaders.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across finance, revenues & benefits, treasury and transactional services.
• Foster a culture of innovation and high performance.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Executive/Board experience

Stakeholder management

Change management

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Education

CCAB/CIPFA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Assistant Director, Finance (Shared Services)

• Assistant Director, Finance (Shared Services)

About The Role

Assistant Director – Finance
£102,447 per annum, 37 hours per week
Cirencester/Coleford/Witney/Agile Working
We are looking for an exceptional finance professional who will lead our finance and shared service provision for multiple councils and stakeholders, playing a pivotal role in shaping our future at Publica as we approach our tenth birthday.
You will bring extensive experience and be highly skilled in strategic and transactional finance, and shared service provision incorporating Council Tax, Business Rates and Benefits Administration across councils and third parties, which will complement the strong technical expertise already in place across the organisation. You will be committed to delivering high-quality, value-driven services that leverage the best of both public and commercial environments.
You will work directly with senior leaders, elected members and Board-level stakeholders, providing strategic advice and guidance to ensure we have robust governance arrangements, drive innovation, improve performance and shape long-term strategy within a complex and evolving environment.
As part of the senior leadership team, you’ll be trusted to challenge thinking, bring fresh ideas and shape the future of the finance and shared service provision, as well as representing Publica, its services and operating model in both Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire to help prepare for the outcomes of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). We are in a period of significant change in the Public Sector, so you will need to be a leader who can take people on the journey, create clarity and inspire confidence during this period of transformation and opportunity as we seek to re-wire local government services with our partners
This is a rare opportunity to combine strategic influence with hands‑on leadership in a highly visible role, offering significant scope to shape organisational direction while gaining career-defining experience. The position also presents a clear pathway for progression to a Board-level Executive role.

Some of the key areas of responsibility and projects include:

• Driving the continued evolution and improvement of our shared services across our partnership
• Leading finance systems modernisation, including ERP transformation and automation initiatives
• Preparing services and people for the potential delivery of LGR (or other outcomes), and representing Publica and its operating model in LGR programmes across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire
• Improving service performance, efficiency and customer experience across finance and other transactional services
• Providing strategic advice and guidance to the Board, senior leaders, and Council Section 151 Officers
• Leading multidisciplinary teams across finance, revenues & benefits, treasury and transactional services
• Embedding a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and high performance

About you

We are looking for a credible, commercially minded and forward-thinking finance leader who can operate confidently within a complex environment and build strong relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.

You will bring:

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification (CCAB/CIPFA or equivalent)
• Significant senior-level finance leadership experience, preferably in the public sector
• Experience operating at executive, board or committee level
• A strong track record of leading transformation, improvement and change programmes
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with operational delivery
• A collaborative and resilient leadership style
• Strong commercial awareness and a focus on outcomes and continuous improvement

Special conditions:

• Ability to travel
• BPSS
• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament.

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.
Shortlisting dates: Week Commencing 9th November 2026
SLT Interview: 23rd November 2026
Stakeholder Interview: 26th November 2026

What we can do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• JNC Chief Officer Terms and Conditions, which includes 33 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays
• Two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of up to 7% of your earnings
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric and low emission cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
• Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
• Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary

About Us

You will be employed by Publica Group Ltd which was created by four partner Councils (West Oxfordshire District Council, Cotswold District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Forest of Dean District Council) to deliver more efficient and improved services.

Publica is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.

Publica is a unique place to work, established to transform the way local services are delivered, fundamentally rethinking the way our services are designed and delivered in a digital era, making us a customer-focused organisation driven by real user needs.