Head Of Financial Planning

Birmingham City Council; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

LGPS

Hybrid working

Professional development

Employee wellbeing

Staff benefits

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking a seasoned finance leader to head Financial Planning and drive the transformation of its financial planning function. You will shape the Medium-Term Financial Plan, oversee budget development and deliver robust revenue forecasting to support the Council’s priorities.

The role requires CCAB-qualified leadership with extensive local government experience, strong stakeholder engagement, and a proactive approach to improving financial management at scale.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of medium-term financial planning and budget development.
• Strong understanding of local authority funding, funding formulas and business rates.
• Experience influencing strategic decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and modern approach to financial management and improvement.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and drive better outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
• Oversee annual budget setting and corporate financial planning.
• Monitor and forecast revenue.
• Model funding and income scenarios.
• Handle government returns and statutory reporting.
• Provide strategic financial advice to Members, senior officers and key stakeholders.
• Support the Council's wider financial sustainability agenda.
• Lead and develop a finance team (2 direct reports, 3 indirect).

Skills

Financial planning

Budget development

Stakeholder management

Strategic influencing

Leadership

Team development

Public sector accounting

Communication

Education

CCAB or equivalent

Job description

Head of Financial Planning - Birmingham City Council

Lead the financial planning agenda at one of the UK's most significant local authorities.

Birmingham City Council is continuing an ambitious finance transformation journey and is seeking an experienced finance leader to join the organisation as Head of Financial Planning . As one of two priority leadership appointments within the Finance Directorate, this role will play a critical part in embedding long-term stability, strengthening financial resilience and supporting the next phase of the Council's improvement journey.

This is an outstanding opportunity to help shape the future of the largest local authority in Europe. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Finance (Deputy S151 Officer), you will play a key role in strengthening financial planning, forecasting and decision-making across a revenue budget of approximately £4.7bn, ensuring the Council remains financially sustainable while continuing to deliver vital services to Birmingham's communities.

Your new role

You will lead the Council's Financial Planning function, with responsibility for:

• The Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
• Annual budget setting and corporate financial planning.
• Revenue monitoring and forecasting.
• Funding and income modelling.
• Government returns and statutory reporting.
• Providing strategic financial advice to Members, senior officers and key stakeholders.
• Supporting the Council's wider financial sustainability agenda.
• Leading a team comprising 2 direct reports and 3 indirect reports.

This role will suit someone who enjoys operating at both a strategic and operational level, can translate complex financial information into clear recommendations and is confident shaping decisions across a large and politically sensitive organisation.

What you'll need to succeed

We are seeking a qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with extensive financial planning experience gained within local government.

• Significant experience of medium-term financial planning and budget development.
• Strong understanding of local authority funding, funding formulas and business rates.
• Experience influencing strategic decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and modern approach to financial management and improvement.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and drive better outcomes.

What you'll get in return

In return, you will receive a salary of between £66,627 and £85,845, alongside a strong benefits package designed to support both your career and your life outside work.

• 30 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Access to a generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hybrid working
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Employee wellbeing support
• A range of staff benefits and reward schemes

Beyond the benefits, this is a rare opportunity to:

• Join a Finance function undergoing significant transformation and modernisation.
• Be one of the key leaders shaping how financial planning operates in the future.
• Work at a scale and complexity rarely found elsewhere in local government.
• Influence strategic decisions with direct impact on residents and communities across Birmingham.
• Build your profile within one of the highest-profile councils in the UK.
• Lead and develop an established team while driving continuous improvement.
• Work within a leadership team committed to strengthening capability and delivering excellence.

Most importantly, this appointment offers the chance to modernise processes, strengthen capability and help shape the future of finance within Birmingham City Council.