Deputy CFO and Deputy S151 Officer 119444

Triumph Consultants Ltd; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government consultancy is seeking an Interim Deputy CFO and Deputy S151 Officer for a 6-month role. The successful candidate will lead the Council’s budget setting process and provide strategic financial guidance, requiring a fully qualified CCAB accountant with substantial local government finance experience. The position entails hybrid working, requiring attendance in the office 1 to 2 days a week for key meetings.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leadership roles with S151 responsibilities.
• Experience with the Medium Term Financial Plan development.
• Understanding of local government finance regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Council’s budget-setting process.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior management.
• Oversee preparation of financial plans for a gross revenue spend of c.£1bn.

Skills

Fully qualified CCAB accountant

Leadership experience in local government finance

Strategic financial advice

Communication skills

Education

Qualified CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, ACA

Tools

ERP (Oracle)

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Deputy CFO and Deputy S151 Officer

Ref: Dorset 119444

Pay rate: £535.52 per day PAYE

Role length: Anticipated 6 months

Working arrangements: Hybrid working – 1 to 2 days per week in the office as required for key meetings

The role

We are seeking an Interim Deputy S151 Officer who will lead the Council’s budget setting process working directly to, and with, the Council’s Chief Finance Officer and deputising for them. This is a key opportunity to play a pivotal role in ensuring the financial resilience and stability of the organisation during a critical period.

To be successful in this role, you need to be a fully qualified CCAB accountant with extensive leadership experience in local government finance, including S151 responsibilities and experience of delivering robust financial management along with in depth understanding of local government finance regulations, challenges, and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Section 151 Officer in delivering robust financial management and statutory duties under the Local Government Act 1972
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior management and elected members
• Oversee the preparation the Medium Term Financial Plan papers and reports for a gross revenue spend of c.£1bn
• Lead on financial risk management and value for money for a Council wide transformation programme savings and efficiency plans
• Ensure the finance teams readiness for ERP (Oracle) implementation and oversee the development of a product team
• Mentor and support finance team members to ensure high performance and continuous improvement

What the client is looking for

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant (e.g. CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, ACA)
• A proven track record of working effectively in a leadership role with exposure to S151 responsibilities
• Experience leading on the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan for a large local authority, translating emerging plans into deliverable budget options
• Experience supporting and driving Council wide multi-year transformation and change programmes working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Desirable experience of preparing for implementation of a new ERP system (Oracle) including change management and business process redesign
• Experience of managing relationships with internal/external auditors and responding to audit findings
• Highly developed communication skills and the ability to influence and negotiate across a range of diverse subjects and stakeholders, working with minimum supervision
• In depth understanding of local government finance regulations, challenges, and best practices

How to Apply

Quote the Job Title and Reference Number in your application. Submit your CV in Word format. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early submission is recommended.

We will also add your details to our mail out lists. Please note you may receive details of roles outside of your immediate vicinity, as many candidates are able to relocate temporarily for work. Please disregard any such emails that are not of interest and let us know if you would rather not receive such mailouts and/or if you wish us to delete your details and prefer to apply direct to our advertised roles.

If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us.

Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.

Job Ref: Dorset 119444