Finance Business Partner

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Mindfulness workshops

Generous Pension Scheme

Discounts on cafés, restaurants, shops

Costco membership

Gym memberships

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking a senior finance leader to join the Finance Leadership Team and shape financial decisions for major projects, including the HIF programme. You will deputise for the Head of Finance, provide expert advice, and connect financial strategy with service priorities to deliver value for money.

You will lead on complex funding oversight, build partnerships, and influence senior decision-making while steering delivery of multi‑million pound schemes and transformation

Qualifications

• Fully qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant with degree-level education.
• Significant finance experience in a large, complex organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of local government and sector influences.
• Experience in long-term financial planning and leading teams.
• Ability to influence decisions and build partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Work across delivery teams and council-owned companies to provide coordinated financial advice and support.
• Provide clear financial reports to the HIF Board (Cabinet) to support informed decision-making.
• Oversee more than £100 million of funding from Homes England and HS2.
• Support the HIF programme's expected completion within two years.
• Contribute to improvement projects within the Financial Planning & Capital Programme Team.
• Deputise for Head of Finance when required, represent finance in senior decision‑making forums.

Skills

Strategic financial leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Financial reporting

Risk management

Analytical thinking

Education

CCAB or CIMA qualification

Degree level education

Tools

Microsoft Office & Excel

Finance systems

Job description

As a senior member of our wider Finance Leadership Team, you'll help shape financial decisions and support the delivery of the Council's major projects. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you'll work closely with service leaders and finance colleagues to provide expert advice, constructive challenge and practical solutions that connect financial strategy with service priorities. You'll help the Council understand its options, manage financial risk and achieve value for money. You'll also deputise for the Head of Finance when required, represent finance in senior decision‑making forums and take a flexible approach to leading finance support for major projects. A key focus will be acting as Lead Finance Advisor for the HIF programme, supporting the completion of the following projects: You'll support the completion of the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR). You'll also support the Woodlands project as it moves into its delivery phase.

• + Work across delivery teams and council-owned companies to provide coordinated financial advice and support.
• + Provide clear financial reports to the HIF Board (Cabinet) to support informed decision-making.
• + Oversee more than £100 million of funding from Homes England and HS2.
• + Support the HIF programme's expected completion within two years.
• + Contribute to improvement projects within the Financial Planning & Capital Programme Team.
• You’ll combine strong technical expertise with the ability to see the bigger picture. Comfortable working through complexity, you'll ask the right questions, explain the implications and help others move from analysis to action. We’re looking for:
• A fully qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant, educated to degree level or an equivalent standard.
• Substantial relevant professional finance experience in a large, complex organisation, with applied technical expertise.
• Extensive knowledge of local government and the wider influences affecting the sector.
• Significant experience of long-term financial planning, alongside proven business, people and change management experience.
• The credibility to build effective partnerships, negotiate confidently and influence decisions.
• Strong strategic judgement, initiative and the ability to prioritise a demanding workload.
• Excellent digital skills, including Microsoft applications and specialist finance systems.
• Experience of managing significant financial projects and coaching or developing colleagues would be valuable.
• Please read the accompanying job summary for the full essential and desirable criteria. As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.
• Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
• We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are - Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy. By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:
• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events
• We know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation. From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued.
• Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments. We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.
• Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.