Chief Finance Officer

ICAEW; Maidstone; Sur place; GBP 90 000 - 120 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Kent Police invites applications for a Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Section 151 Officer. You will shape the finance strategy, oversee governance, and safeguard public funds with independence and professional judgement.

As a senior leader, you will also manage Estates and major assets, ensuring efficient financial management, compliance, and value for money across policing operations in Kent.

Qualifications

• CCAB-qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience.
• Senior financial leadership in a complex public sector or regulated environment.
• Ability to influence at Board/Executive level and provide clear, independent challenge on strategic matters.
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk, audit and stewardship of public funds.

Responsabilités

• Lead development and delivery of a comprehensive finance strategy aligned to Kent Police priorities.
• Provide senior leadership for Estates, assets, budgets, and contracts.
• Ensure high standards of financial stewardship, governance and statutory compliance.
• Act as Delegated Scheme manager for the Police Pensions Scheme on behalf of the Chief Constable.

Connaissances

CCAB-qualified

Strategic leadership

Public sector governance

Audit & risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Integrity & ethics

Formation

CCAB-qualified accountant

Description du poste

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a strategic and commercially astute finance leader to join Kent Police as our Chief Finance Officer (CFO).

As CFO and Section 151 Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and long-term sustainability of the organisation. As the Chief Constable's principal professional adviser on finance and financial governance, you will provide clear, independent advice to support executive decision‑making and ensure that public money is safeguarded and used economically, efficiently, and effectively.

Why Join Us?

This is much more than a finance role. It is an opportunity to help shape the future of policing in Kent, which has a diverse county of 1.7 million people living in urban, rural and coastal communities. You will work as part of the senior leadership team in a complex and high‑profile public service environment, where your financial expertise will have a direct impact on the communities we serve. You will be supporting responsible use of public funds, contributing directly to sound governance, organisational resilience, value for money and the effective delivery of policing services.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Support Services but directly responsible to the Chief Constable on financial matters this senior leadership position will lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive finance strategy aligned to the operational and strategic priorities of Kent Police. You will ensure the highest standards of financial stewardship, governance, control, and statutory compliance, while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen management insight and maximise the impact of public funding.

The role will also provide senior strategic leadership of the Estates function, maintaining oversight of delivery, risk, performance, budgets, assets, and contracts, while drawing on appropriately qualified specialists for technical property, surveying, engineering, and building safety advice.

You will oversee and lead the Force’s financial strategy and budget planning, ensuring financial management information and assurance arrangements are in place to strengthen organisational insight and monitor financial performance. The role will act as Delegated Scheme manager for the Police Pensions Scheme on behalf of the Chief Constable.

About You

You will be a CCAB-qualified accountant with significant post‑qualification experience in senior financial leadership, ideally gained within a complex public sector, or similarly regulated environment. You will combine strong professional judgement with the ability to influence at Board /Executive level and provide clear, independent challenge on strategic, financial, and organisational matters.

Experience of strategic oversight of estates, major assets or another substantial technical service would be advantageous, but is not essential. You will need the leadership capability to quickly establish yourself and provide effective strategic leadership across both Finance and Estates, drawing on qualified technical estates expertise where appropriate.

You will bring:

• A strong track record of strategic leadership, professional influence and effective challenge at Board or Executive level.
• Expert knowledge of financial strategy, governance, statutory reporting, risk, audit, and the stewardship of public money.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to identify and deliver efficiencies, investment opportunities, and sustainable organisational value.
• The ability to interpret complex information and provide clear, timely and evidence‑based advice to senior decision‑makers.
• Excellent communication, political awareness, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative, inclusive and values‑led leadership style, with a clear commitment to ethical standards, integrity, and public service, with the ability to lead, develop and inspire high‑performing professional teams and promote continuous improvement.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusionare central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.