Finance Professional

Colbern Limited; Northampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government finance service is seeking an experienced Head of Finance to lead the Finance Team for strategic financial direction. The ideal candidate will manage budget-setting, provide financial advice to directorates, and support the statutory accounting process. This role requires a strong background in financial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder engagement. The position offers an attractive rate within an equal opportunity employer environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a financial leadership role, ideally within a public sector or local government context.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and financial plans effectively.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in financial modelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a Finance Team within the Service Finance and Business Partnering Division.
• Support budget-setting and identify savings strategies.
• Provide financial leadership to guide directorates in developing financial plans.

Skills

Budget management

Strategic financial advice

Financial modelling

Team leadership

Stakeholder relationship management

Job description

Head of Finance – CS and Finance

Hillingdon

Contract

£502.47 per day PAYE or £700 per day limited paid via umbrella company inside IR35

Our client is looking for an experienced Head of Finance – CS and Finance. To lead and manage a Finance Team within the Service Finance and Business Partnering Division, supporting a service directorate, advising on relevant aspects of strategic finance and business partnering, alongside comprehensive financial direction, support, and guidance.

The role includes supporting a directorate in budget‑setting and identifying appropriate savings or strategies to mitigate pressures; budget monitoring and reporting throughout the year; closing of the directorate accounts; and providing strategic financial advice to support the services within the directorate.

To support transformation and business‑led projects within the directorates, ensuring that timely and robust financial information is provided to support decision‑making and take an active role in shaping outcomes of projects. Ensure that budgets are realigned to deliver savings targets, reporting timing differences in delivery.

To ensure that Senior Management and their budget managers are supported to deliver their accountabilities for budget management and that directorates comply with Financial Standing Orders and all other financial policies and procedures as directed by the Corporate Director of Finance.

To provide financial leadership and strategic advice to directorates to enable them to develop robust financial plans and ensure that the future needs of the service are reflected in the Council’s Medium‑Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

To work with and support the Corporate Director of Finance and Corporate Finance Team in reporting on and delivering the Council’s overall strategic financial objectives.

To ensure the provision of high‑quality financial advice and accurate and timely financial information to Corporate Directors, Heads of Service, and budget managers across the directorates. Promote and facilitate a culture that supports a self‑service approach to budget management with strategic financial management support through a business partnering model.

Lead on the financial modelling of demand‑led budgets within the directorates to ensure robust forecasts are established, working in conjunction with relevant senior managers within the Service areas, and to use the trend data and service knowledge to inform MTFS decision‑making.

To support the requirements of the statutory accounting process, external audit process, and legislative changes that may have a financial impact on directorates.

To maintain effective working relationships within the Finance directorate to proactively support the production of strategic financial information, medium‑term financial plans, and the training and development of the wider Corporate Finance service.

To establish effective external working relationships with key stakeholders within the community, government, professional bodies, and other appropriate public and private bodies to ensure the service has the knowledge and expertise to continuously improve its performance.

To coordinate the Corporate Finance training and development programme including the graduate and non‑graduate apprenticeship schemes.

We are an equal opportunities employer.