Senior Finance Lead - Public Sector & Budget Strategy

National Fire Chiefs Council Limited.; England; Remote; GBP 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service is seeking a Deputy Head of Finance to shape resource management and informed decision-making across the service. You will lead day-to-day delivery, develop the Finance Department, and partner with the Head of Finance and Treasurer to strengthen financial reporting, budgeting, and controls.

You will oversee TechnologyOne processes, data improvements, and provide robust professional reviews.

Qualifications

• You must be a recognised CCAB-qualified accountant with current professional membership and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience in leading public-sector finance delivery, including responsibility for financial statements or major elements of accounts closure and external audit.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the integrated Finance work programme, including budget monitoring, budget setting, accounts, treasury, statutory returns and assurance.
• Line manage the three Finance leads, setting clear objectives, balancing workloads and supporting performance, development, succession and resilient cover.
• Direct accounts preparation and recovery activity, reviewing material reconciliations, accounting judgements and the audit trail from the ledger to the financial statements.
• Quality-assure revenue and capital forecasts, the annual budget and medium-term financial plan, challenging assumptions, risks and affordability.
• Maintain and improve the financial control framework, including authorisations, journals, reconciliations, system access, segregation of duties and audit actions.
• Act as Finance business owner for TechnologyOne process and data improvement and coordinate financial input to business cases, savings, benefits and value-for-money reviews.
• Support clear reporting and advice to senior leaders and Members, and deputise for the Head of Finance and Treasurer on specified professional and management matters.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Budgeting & financial planning

Financial reporting

Stakeholder partnering

Education

CCAB-qualified accountant

Tools

TechnologyOne

Job description

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service is seeking a Deputy Head of Finance to shape resource management and informed decision-making across the service. You will lead day-to-day delivery, develop the Finance Department, and partner with the Head of Finance and Treasurer to strengthen financial reporting, budgeting, and controls.

You will oversee TechnologyOne processes, data improvements, and provide robust professional reviews.