Head of Finance

Brackenberry; Greater London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Greater London seeks a Head of Finance for a 3-month contract, likely to be extended. The role involves strategic financial leadership, overseeing budget management and compliance. Candidates must be fully qualified accountants with significant experience in financial services. Responsibilities include developing financial strategies, leading a finance team, and ensuring services meet financial obligations. Immediate availability is required. Competitive daily pay ranges from £500.47 to £698.00.

Qualifications

• Significant post‑qualification experience in relevant financial service areas.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Proven senior management experience leading professional finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of the Council’s financial strategy and MTFS.
• Lead on creating complex financial models to inform strategic decision‑making.
• Oversee robust budget‑setting, monitoring, and forecasting processes.
• Ensure emerging financial pressures are identified and addressed across services.
• Lead and inspire a high‑performing finance team with a strong customer focus.
• Manage, develop, and motivate staff, ensuring effective performance management.

Skills

Discretion

Compliance

Savings

Financial Planning

Budget Management

Directors

Decision‑Making

Government

Performance Management

Continuous Improvement

Communication Skills

Forecasting

Strategy

Accounting

Finance

Planning

Business

Leadership

Management

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA)

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Job description

Rate of Pay: £500.47 - £698.00 per day

We are working closely alongside a Local Authority in Hillingdon to assist with the appointment of a Head of Finance, on a 3‑month contract, highly likely to be extended at client’s discretion. Please apply with your CV for immediate consideration.

Summary

The Head of Finance leads a strategic Finance Team within the Service Finance and Business Partnering Division, providing high‑quality financial leadership, planning, monitoring, and advice to a major directorate (Homes & Communities, Adults & Health, Children & Young People, Place, Finance, or Corporate Services). The role oversees budget setting, forecasting, financial modelling, statutory accounting, and strategic financial planning to ensure services remain financially sustainable and aligned with the Council’s Medium‑Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The postholder acts as a key finance business partner, enabling directors, heads of service, and budget managers to meet financial responsibilities, deliver savings, manage demand‑led budgets, and support transformation programmes. The role also contributes to Council‑wide corporate objectives, supports the development of financial policy and strategy, and ensures compliance with all statutory and regulatory frameworks. As a senior leader, the Head of Finance champions continuous improvement, builds high‑performing teams, and contributes to organisational development and transformation.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of the Council’s financial strategy and MTFS.
• Lead on creating complex financial models to inform strategic decision‑making.
• Oversee robust budget‑setting, monitoring, and forecasting processes.
• Ensure emerging financial pressures are identified and addressed across services.
• Lead and inspire a high‑performing finance team with a strong customer focus.
• Manage, develop, and motivate staff, ensuring effective performance management.

Qualifications / Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Significant post‑qualification experience in relevant financial service areas.

Requirements

• Significant experience in preparing annual budgets, monitoring reports, and final accounts in a local authority.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Proven senior management experience leading professional finance teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex financial information.
• Evidence of delivering cross‑service strategies and programmes.
• Experience leading and managing organisational change and financial transformation.
• Successful track record in developing staff and managing performance.
• Strategic budget management in a comparable public sector environment.
• Experience working effectively in a political environment, providing balanced expert advice.
• Clear understanding of the legal, financial, and political context of Local Government.

Please note

• You should be available to work immediately or at a short notice.
• You should have right to work in U.K.

Disclaimer

Brackenberry Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality in the workplace and are an equal‑opportunity employer. Unless otherwise stated all of our roles are temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer‑term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Important

We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary. If the role requires an enhanced DBS, your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.

Required Skills

• Discretion
• Compliance
• Savings
• Financial Planning
• Budget Management
• Directors
• Decision‑Making
• Government
• Performance Management
• Continuous Improvement
• LTD
• Communication Skills
• Forecasting
• Strategy
• Accounting
• Finance
• Planning
• Business
• Leadership
• Communication
• Management