Head of Strategic Finance (Grade 5)

Somerset Council; England; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in England is seeking a Head of Strategic Finance to provide strategic financial advice and manage the Council's financial health. Responsibilities include leading budget processes, treasury management, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate must be a fully qualified accountant with substantial experience in complex organizations. This role is a temporary position covering a 3-month absence.

Qualifications

• Significant post qualification experience in complex organizations.
• Evidence of work-related continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality strategic financial advice.
• Lead budget setting and monitoring processes.
• Manage the Council's treasury and investment activities.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance in financial strategies.

Skills

Expertise in local government finance

Data analysis and reporting

Leadership in finance management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Fully qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent)

Job description

Job Category : Financial – Senior Posts

Location : County Hall, Somerset Council

Hours Per Week : 37.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09 : 00

End Time : 17 : 30

Salary : £39.53

The Head of Strategic Finance is responsible for providing high-quality financial, strategic accounting advice to major services within the Council. They are responsible for the financial health of Somerset Council, working closely with the Service Director Finance & Procurement to ensure the development of the financial strategy, assessing investments, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

Leads and co-ordinates the Council’s key financial processes of Budget Setting, and Budget Monitoring for both revenue and capital funding and spend. Lead the Council’s Tax Setting and managing the Collection Fund.

Undertake strategic and tactical financial analysis, modelling, and evaluation to support leaders with data-driven decision making. Ensuring the Council meets its saving targets and other financial aims and objectives.

Leads and co-ordinates the Council’s key financial processes of Budget Setting, and Budget Monitoring for both revenue and capital funding and spend. Lead the Council’s Tax Setting and managing the Collection Fund.

Responsible for Somerset Pension fund and the Council’s Treasury Management activities around investments and debt management. The fund’s investment will be managed to achieve a return that will ensure solvency of the fund and provide long term cost efficiency and effectively manages risk

Responsible for the Council’s capital programme, including the Council’s investment portfolio and Council owned or part owned investment companies. Work closely with the capital team to lead the improvement of the budget setting process, and monitoring of the programme. Make authoritative recommendations that have a significant impact on the business over the short and long term. Recommendations could be technical or professional in nature.

Lead the development and implementation of strategy for an important area of responsibility within a function, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities, whilst ensuring integration with wider functional strategy.

This position is to cover 3 months long term absence.

Qualification / Knowledge / Experience / Skills

Qualifications

• Be a fully qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) and with significant post qualification experience of working in complex organisations. Essential
• Evidence of work related continuing professional development. Essential

Skills

• Applies expertise to act as the Council’s ambassador for developing appropriate plans or performing necessary actions based on recommendations and requirements.
• Uses expertise to act as the lead on planning, organising, prioritising, and overseeing activities to efficiently meet business objectives.
• As part of the Finance Management Team leads on analysing data trends for use in reports to guide decision making.
• As part of the Finance Management Team leads on developing, monitoring, interpreting, and understanding policies and procedures, making sure they match council strategies and objectives.
• As part of the Finance Management Team leads on interpreting and applying knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies.
• Has extensive knowledge of local government finance including detailed knowledge of local government funding and pensions.
• Evidence of dealing with governance.
• Evidence of working with and influencing stakeholders and partners.

Experience

• Experience level enables post holder to provide leadership to others regarding work related systems, processes, and challenges.
• Experienced in strategic management and leadership across company functions directing substantial resources over long-time frames.