Financial Improvement Manager

Cedar; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A consulting firm is looking for an Interim Finance Improvement Manager in the UK. This 6-month hybrid role requires a qualified accountant with significant experience in local government finance. Key responsibilities include leading financial workstreams, developing costing models, and ensuring financial governance. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial modelling and stakeholder management. The compensation ranges between £500-£550 per day, Inside IR35.

Qualifications

• Significant local government finance experience required.
• Deep understanding of local government services and public sector funding mechanisms.
• Proven track record of leading complex financial improvement programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial workstream of a service review.
• Develop comprehensive costing models.
• Conduct rigorous options appraisals for financial viability.

Skills

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Political awareness

Effective communication

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)

Job description

We are seeking an Interim Finance Improvement Manager to work on a 6 Month Contract. The role is working on a hybrid basis and the rate on offer is between £500-£550 per day Inside IR35.

The successful candidate will take lead on the next phases of a complex service review within a local authority. This critical role will focus on redesigning services to improve efficiency, enhance financial sustainability, and ensure services deliver maximum impact for communities.

Main Purpose:

You will lead two phases of an ongoing improvement programme, bringing together financial insight and operational collaboration. The role will combine hands‑on financial analysis with high‑level stakeholder engagement to drive meaningful change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the financial workstream of a service review, ensuring strategic alignment and measurable outcomes.
• Develop comprehensive costing models that fully reflect direct, indirect, and overhead costs.
• Benchmark service performance internally and externally to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Undertake financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario planning to inform future delivery models.
• Conduct rigorous options appraisals to evaluate financial viability, risk, and value for money.
• Collaborate across departments to integrate financial insights into broader service redesigns.
• Ensure robust financial governance, data integrity, and transparent reporting.
• Present evidence‑based recommendations to governance boards and senior leadership teams.

Essential Experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with significant local government finance experience.
• Deep understanding of local government services, CIPFA frameworks, and public sector funding mechanisms.
• Advanced capability in financial modelling, scenario planning, and business case development.
• Proven track record of leading complex financial improvement or service redesign programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with political awareness and the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Confident communicator able to deliver impactful reports and presentations.

Should this role sound of interest then please apply and one of the team will be in touch to discuss with you further.

Alternatively, please refer someone for a refferal voucher if they are successfully placed and stay for the duration of the contract.