Interim Finance Partner for SEND Reform & Transformation

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

Job summary

Ackerman Pierce is recruiting an Interim Finance Business Partner to support Somerset Council's SEND Reform Programme. The role focuses on designing and embedding a new financial operating model, strengthening budget management and providing financial insight for sustainable reform.

Join a high-impact assignment delivering strategic financial leadership, challenging commercial thinking and robust governance across major education transformation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with strategic finance experience.
• Experience in financial business partnering and transformation.
• Strong knowledge of local government finance and SEND funding.
• Experience building operating models, budgets and forecasts.
• Clear communication with senior leaders and boards.

Responsibilities

• Design and embed a SEND financial operating model with controls and reporting.
• Lead budget setting, monitoring and long-term forecasting.
• Manage grants and deficit-related budgets within SEND reform.
• Provide financial advice across reform initiatives with affordability checks.
• Develop financial models and business cases for reform proposals.
• Prepare reports for programme boards and education authorities.

Skills

Strategic finance

Finance partnering

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Communication with senior leaders

Transformation programmes

Education

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

Job description

Ackerman Pierce is recruiting an Interim Finance Business Partner to support Somerset Council's SEND Reform Programme. The role focuses on designing and embedding a new financial operating model, strengthening budget management and providing financial insight for sustainable reform.

Join a high-impact assignment delivering strategic financial leadership, challenging commercial thinking and robust governance across major education transformation initiatives.