Head of Finance

London Borough of Brent; London; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for the Head of Finance - Service Reform and Strategy at a vibrant London borough. The successful candidate will lead a team, shaping financial strategy while ensuring alignment with corporate priorities. You will build strong partnerships and have a pivotal role in supporting the council's transformation agenda.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

Generous employer pension contribution

Flexible working hours and remote work

Family friendly policies

Access to affordable parking

Zipcar scheme access

Employee Assistance programme

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams of finance professionals.
• Ability to provide strategic financial advice.
• Strong understanding of budget management and financial insight.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal financial adviser to council leadership.
• Oversee financial support across diverse portfolios.
• Shape and deliver the department's financial strategy.

Skills

Financial strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Budget management

Financial modelling

Job description

Job Description

Salary range: £74,868 - £87,389 p.a. inc. London weighting

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 40 hours per week

Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time

Head of Finance - Service Reform and Strategy

Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent's diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here.

The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us.

The Post

As a key member of Brent Council's senior finance leadership team, this role serves as the principal financial adviser to the Section 151 Officer, Deputy S151 Officer, Elected Members, and the Corporate Director for Service Reform & Strategy. The position plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the department's financial strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and fiscal sustainability.

The role involves building and maintaining strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including health sector partners, and leveraging financial insights to support strategic decision-making and policy development.

The Person

Leading a team of Finance Business Partners (2 Senior Finance Analysts, 2 Finance Analysts and graduate trainee), the postholder oversees financial support across a diverse portfolio, including Adult Social Care, Strategic Commissioning and Capacity Building, Public Health, Leisure & Parks, Integrated Care Partnerships, and Communications, Insight & Innovation.

The team provides expert financial advice, robust challenge, and strategic support to service directors-enabling effective budget management, financial modelling of policy and corporate initiatives, and the delivery of savings and service efficiencies in line with the Council's values and objectives.

Our Offer to You

In addition to your salary, you will also get to enjoy the following benefits:

• 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 31 days plus 8 bank holidays after 5 years continuous service
• Very generous employer pension contribution
• Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home 2 days per week (laptop provided)
• A wide range of family friendly policies such as parental leave
• Access to affordable parking nearby
• Access to our Zipcar scheme
• Access to our Employee Assistance programme for free confidential counselling
• Season ticket loan for public transport
• Cycle to work scheme and good onsite facilities
• Access to My Brent Rewards for big brand discounts, local offers and money off for travel, cinema and shopping vouchers.

Closing date: 7 July 2025 (23:59)

Additional Information

If you are interested in applying for this job, please start by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. You must provide a supporting statement as part of your application that clearly shows how you meet the criteria on the Person Specification. We will accept a CV in support of your application, however, you should still provide a supporting statement.

Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application.

We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.

The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas and your data protection rights, can be found here.

Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.

As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including "non-visible" disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on [e-mail]

Job Description