Interim Finance Business Partner – Send Reform | £650 Per Day

Ackerman Pierce Company; Westhay; On-site; GBP 104,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Ackerman Pierce is partnering with Somerset Council to recruit an Interim Finance Business Partner to support the SEND Reform Programme. The role focuses on designing and embedding a new financial operating model, strengthening budget management and delivering sustainable reform.

You will work with finance teams, programme leaders and senior stakeholders to ensure financial decisions are robust, transparent and aligned with education department expectations, while shaping the long-term financial

Qualifications

• Recognised professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA/ACCA/CIMA/ACA) or equivalent.
• Experience in financial business partnering or financial transformation.
• Knowledge of local government finance, education finance and DSG budgets.
• Experience building financial operating models, budget frameworks and long-term forecasts.
• Strong financial modelling, analysis and options appraisal capabilities.
• Ability to communicate complex financial matters to senior leaders and boards.
• Experience with SEND financial reform or deficit recovery programmes is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Design and embed a new SEND financial operating model.
• Develop budget-setting, monitoring and forecasting frameworks.
• Lead financial planning for the Experts at Hand grant and deficit management budget.
• Provide financial advice across SEND reform initiatives.
• Develop robust financial models and business cases for reform proposals.
• Prepare clear financial reports for programme boards and Department for Education meetings.
• Support SEND funding policy reviews and banding structures.
• Strengthen financial governance and evidence-based decision-making across the programme.

Skills

Financial modelling

Strategic finance

Stakeholder management

Communication to senior leaders

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA/ACCA/CIMA/ACA)

Job description

Interim Finance Business Partner – SEND Reform | £650 Per Day

Somerset Council | Strategic Finance & Transformation

Location: Somerset
Daily Rate: £650 per day
Contract: Interim
Specialism: Strategic Finance | SEND Reform | Local Government

Ackerman Pierce is recruiting an experienced Interim Finance Business Partner to support Somerset Council's SEND Reform Programme.

Offering an attractive £650 daily rate, this is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute, strategically focused finance professional to help reshape financial planning, governance and sustainability across one of the Council's most important transformation programmes.

You will play a central role in designing and embedding a new financial operating model for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), strengthening budget management and providing the financial insight required to deliver sustainable reform.

Working collaboratively with existing finance teams, programme leaders and senior stakeholders, you will help ensure that financial decisions are robust, transparent and aligned with Department for Education expectations.

The Role

As Interim Finance Business Partner, you will provide specialist financial leadership, strategic challenge and technical expertise across the SEND Reform Programme.

This is a high-impact assignment requiring the ability to combine detailed financial analysis with wider organisational thinking, translating complex information into practical, sustainable financial decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Financial Operating Model: Design and embed a new SEND financial operating model, establishing robust processes, controls and reporting arrangements aligned with Department for Education expectations.
• Strategic Financial Planning: Develop and maintain effective budget-setting, financial monitoring and forecasting frameworks to support long-term SEND financial sustainability.
• Grant & Budget Management: Lead financial planning, monitoring and forecasting for the Experts at Hand grant and the residual Deficit Management Plan budget.
• SEND Reform & Transformation: Provide financial advice, constructive challenge and strategic support across reform initiatives, ensuring proposed changes are affordable, financially viable and sustainable.
• Financial Modelling & Options Appraisal: Develop robust financial models and business cases to assess reform proposals, investment decisions and potential financial risks.
• Senior Stakeholder Reporting: Prepare clear, accurate and timely financial reports for programme boards, Department for Education meetings, Schools Forum and elected members.
• SEND Funding Policy: Support the review and development of SEND funding arrangements, including banding structures and funding approaches across educational settings.
• Financial Governance: Strengthen financial accountability, transparency and evidence-based decision-making throughout the programme.

About You

We are seeking an accomplished finance professional with the technical expertise, strategic judgement and stakeholder management skills to operate effectively within a complex local government transformation environment.

You will ideally demonstrate:

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification, such as CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA or ACA, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience in financial business partnering, strategic finance or financial transformation.
• Strong knowledge of local government finance, ideally including education finance, SEND funding arrangements or Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budgets.
• Experience developing financial operating models, budget frameworks and long-term financial forecasts.
• Excellent financial modelling, analytical and options appraisal capabilities.
• The ability to communicate complex financial matters clearly to senior leaders, programme boards and non-finance stakeholders.
• Confidence providing constructive financial challenge and influencing strategic decisions.
• Experience working within complex transformation programmes, balancing financial sustainability with service delivery priorities.
• Previous involvement in SEND financial reform, local authority education funding or deficit recovery programmes would be particularly valuable.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

£650 Per Day
An attractive daily rate reflecting the strategic importance and specialist expertise required.

Influence Major SEND Reform
Help develop the financial frameworks and operating structures supporting a significant local authority transformation programme.

Strategic Leadership & Visibility
Work with senior stakeholders, finance teams and programme leaders, contributing to decisions presented to the Department for Education and elected members.

Meaningful Financial Transformation
Move beyond routine financial reporting to design improved systems, strengthen financial governance and influence long-term sustainability.

An Opportunity to Deliver Lasting Change
Apply your expertise to reforms that support responsible financial management and the delivery of essential SEND services.

Take the Next Step

If you're an experienced Finance Business Partner or senior finance transformation professional looking for your next interim opportunity, we'd welcome a confidential conversation.

Ackerman Pierce | Specialist Interim & Executive Recruitment