Head of Finance - ASC/PH/Communities

Venn Group; London; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading London borough seeks an Interim Head of Finance to provide strategic leadership and financial management for a major directorate. This 6-month role includes overseeing a substantial budget, strategic reporting, and acting as the statutory CFO's deputy, ensuring compliance and high-performance standards across a finance team.

Benefits

Recommendation Scheme for vouchers

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level finance experience in local government or a complex organization.
• Experience managing finance teams of up to 20 staff.
• Strong familiarity with financial reporting and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy and management reporting for a department with a £250m budget.
• Deputise for the s151 officer and ensure financial governance.
• Oversee senior relationships with stakeholders and manage commercial negotiations.

Skills

Financial accounting

Strategic management accounting

Budgeting

Commercial advice

Financial controls

Team leadership

Education

Qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)

Job description

Interim Head of Finance

Based in West London, hybrid working

Length: 6-Months (Potential for extension)

Inside IR35

We’re working with a progressive London borough to appoint a senior interim Head of Finance to lead financial strategy, management reporting, and operational delivery across a major directorate. This is a pivotal role that also deputises for the statutory Chief Finance Officer (s151 officer), offering both strategic and high-level operational leadership.

Key Responsibilities of the Interim Head of Finance:

• Provide high-quality financial accounting, strategic management accounting, budgeting, and commercial advice for a department with a budget up to £250m
• Act as lead adviser to the CFO, Strategic Directors, and Cabinet Members, offering expert fiscal planning and reporting guidance
• Deputise for the s151 officer as required, ensuring robust governance, compliance, and financial controls
• Lead and manage a team of finance professionals, promoting a culture of high performance and professional development
• Oversee senior relationships with partners, contractors, and internal stakeholders, including managing commercial negotiations
• Apply advanced financial techniques, including modelling, option appraisals, and regulatory/tax analysis, to support cost-saving and investment decisions
• Ensure delivery of all statutory and managerial financial reports to a high professional standard
• Use ERP systems to improve standards of financial control, reporting, and operational efficiency

Skills, experience and knowledge required of the Interim Head of Finance:

• Significant senior-level finance experience in local government or a comparable complex organisation
• Confident leading large-scale financial functions, including managing teams of up to 20 staff
• Qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, or equivalent), ideally with experience deputising for a s151 officer

To apply for this role or to find out about other jobs, please contact Dan Williams on the London Local Government Recruitment team on 020 7557 7667 or send your CV to [e-mail]

*Venn Group’s “Recommendation Scheme”: if you recommend a candidate who is subsequently placed by Venn Group (for a minimum of 2 weeks) you will be eligible for vouchers from a choice of high street organisations