Finance Business Partner - Children & Education

Bristol City Council; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol City Council is seeking a senior finance leader to shape services that change children's lives. You will provide strategic financial leadership across Children's Social Care, SEND, education funding and major transformation programmes.

You will lead a high-performing finance team, advise senior officers and elected members, drive budget setting, planning and performance reporting, and oversee the delivery of complex change initiatives including the Stable Homes Programme and wider SEND

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading finance teams in a complex organisation.
• Strong finance business partnering with large-scale and complex budgets.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decisions.
• Experience within children's social care, SEND or education funding environments including familiarity with governance of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing finance team to support Children’s Services and related programmes.
• Advise senior officers and elected members on financial strategy and performance.
• Drive budget setting, financial planning, and reporting across the portfolio.
• Oversee delivery of complex change programmes including SEND transformation and the Stable Homes Programme.

Skills

Leadership experience

Finance business partnering

Strategic influence

Analytical skills

Public sector finance

Governance knowledge

Education

Full CCAB qualification

Job description

Full time, PermanentShape the future of services that change children's lives in one of the UK's most ambitious local authoritiesThis is far more than a finance leadership position.

Below, you will find a complete breakdown of everything required of potential candidates, as well as Good luck.

You will provide strategic financial leadership for a circa £500 million portfolio at the heart of Bristol City Council, influencing critical decisions across Children's Social Care, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), education services and major transformation programmes.

Opportunity

Leading a high-performing finance team, you will be the trusted advisor to senior officers and elected members, driving financial sustainability, service transformation and improved outcomes for children and young people.

You will play a pivotal role in budget setting, financial planning, performance reporting and the delivery of complex change programmes, including the Stable Homes Programme and wider SEND transformation initiatives.

What you will bring

• Significant experience leading finance teams in a complex organisation
• Strong finance business partnering expertise with large-scale and complex budgets
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decisions
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, balancing financial discipline with service outcomes
• Experience within children's social care, SEND or education funding environments including familiarity with governance of the Dedicated Schools Grant
• Full CCAB qualification (essential)

You will be motivated by complexity, inspired by public service and excited by the opportunity to help shape services that have a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people and families.

If you are looking for a career-defining leadership role where your expertise will influence major strategic decisions, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community.

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve.

We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised candidates, Disabled candidates, young people and LGBTQ+ candidates, who are currently under-represented within this service area of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

This role is subject to a standard DBS check.

Closing date: Sunday 1st November 2026.

Basis: Full time