Finance Manager

Salford Council; Swinton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Learning and development opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

Salford City Council is seeking an experienced Commercial Finance Manager to join the Place Finance Team. You will lead financial support across a diverse portfolio and partner with senior officers to shape decisions that impact residents and services.

The role blends technical finance excellence with strong commercial awareness, offering hybrid working, professional development, and a chance to influence investment decisions across housing, property and related services.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with CCAB/CIMA or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in financial management, budgeting, forecasting and analysis.
• Strong business partnering skills and credibility with senior leaders.
• Experience in complex service environments and prioritising.
• Excellent communication and ability to explain financial information to non-financial audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership to the Place Directorate.
• Lead a team of finance professionals across a broad portfolio.
• Develop financial strategies, support investment decisions, identify risks and opportunities.
• Translate complex financial information into actionable insight and influence decisions.
• Coach and develop finance staff.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Business partnering

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant (CCAB/CIMA) or equivalent

Job description

About us

At Salford City Council, we're ambitious for our residents, communities and businesses. We're investing in our city, delivering major regeneration, supporting sustainable communities and ensuring our services provide the best possible outcomes for local people.

Finance is at the heart of those ambitions. Our Finance Division works closely with services across the Council, providing strategic advice, constructive challenge and commercial insight to support decision-making and deliver value for money.

We're now looking for an experienced and talented Commercial Finance Manager to join our Place Finance Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work across some of the Council's most high-profile and commercially significant services, helping to shape decisions that will have a lasting impact on the city. The role sits within the Finance Division's Accountancy Group and leads financial support across a diverse portfolio of services.

We operate a hybrid working model, with colleagues typically working from the office at least two days per week.

About the Role

This is a highly visible and influential business partnering role within the Place Directorate.

You will lead a team of finance professionals supporting a broad portfolio which includes:

• Property Services
• Commercial Property
• Housing Revenue Account (HRA)
• Housing Strategy
• Housing Options and Homelessness Services
• Supported Housing
• Housing Regulation Services
• Housing Benefit Subsidy
• PFI contracts
• Financial oversight and partnership working with Dérive, the Council's external housing company

Working closely with senior officers and service leaders, you will provide strategic financial leadership, commercial insight and constructive challenge to support effective decision-making.

You'll play a key role in developing financial strategies, supporting investment decisions, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring resources are used effectively to deliver organisational priorities.

The role combines technical excellence with strong commercial awareness and relationship management. You'll be expected to translate complex financial information into meaningful insight, influence decision-makers and help services navigate a challenging and evolving financial environment.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an ambitious finance professional who enjoys partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing strategic decisions.

You will be a qualified accountant (CCAB/CIMA) or be able to demonstrate equivalent relevant professional experience.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in financial management, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Strong business partnering skills and the ability to build credibility with senior leaders.
• Experience of working within complex service environments and managing competing priorities.
• The confidence to provide challenge and support in equal measure.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify practical solutions to financial challenges.
• Experience of leading, coaching and developing finance staff.
• A proactive and collaborative approach, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Experience in local government, housing, property, commercial operations or regulated service environments would be advantageous, but we welcome applications from candidates with transferable commercial finance experience from a range of sectors.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to work on issues that genuinely matter.

From supporting the delivery of housing services and managing significant property portfolios, to influencing long-term investment decisions and helping shape the future of services across Salford, you'll have exposure to a varied, challenging and rewarding portfolio.

You’ll join a supportive and collaborative finance team committed to professional development, innovation and delivering high-quality financial services.

What We Can Offer You

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Access to extensive learning and development opportunities.
• Leadership development programmes.
• Professional development support.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Employee wellbeing support.
• Continuous Service Commitment for eligible Greater Manchester public sector employees.
• The opportunity to make a real difference to residents and communities across Salford.

Supporting Documents

Role Profile

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Hollie Faulkner at [e-mail].