Senior Finance Officer

West Sussex County Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in West Sussex is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to manage the financial aspects of the Connect to Work programme. The ideal candidate should possess strong stakeholder management skills and a degree in accountancy. This role involves establishing financial controls, maintaining records for audits, and developing relationships with stakeholders. The position offers a salary of £39,862 to £42,839, with opportunities for remote work.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Local government pension scheme

Opportunity to buy additional leave

Staff discounts and benefits

Qualifications

• High level of applied knowledge in accountancy and performance services.
• Experience in programme/project, contract, and business financial management.
• Skilled in analysing complex data sets to generate clear insights.

Responsibilities

• Establish reporting requirements and ensure adherence.
• Maintain accurate records for audit purposes.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Strong stakeholder management skills

Analytical skills

Financial management

Numeracy

Communication skills

Education

Degree or equivalent in accountancy

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced finance professional capable of analysing complex data sets to deliver clear and concise insights?

Do you have strong stakeholder management skills, demonstrating the ability to foster positive relationships?

Do you want to shape the success of Connect to Work, a new supported employment programme launching across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove?

If the answers are yes, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a dedicated Senior Finance Officer to ensure that the financial aspects of Connect to Work are expertly managed, serving as a trusted representative on behalf of West Sussex County Council as the accountable body.

If you are eager to discover more about the Connect to Work programme and see how it can create life-changing opportunities by unlocking the world of work for people across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove, visit our Connect to Work Careers Page.

Salary: £39,862 to £42,839 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2030. Final start and end dates will be agreed with the successful candidate.

Working Pattern: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Location: County Hall, West Street, Chichester PO19 1RQ with required countywide travel.

Interview Date: week commencing Monday 13 October 2025

Regular attendance at your base location will also be necessary. There will be opportunities for remote work, with final arrangements to be confirmed with the successful candidate.

Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.

About the Job

As a Senior Finance Officer, you will collaborate closely with the Connect to Work management team, including the Programme Manager and Reporting and Compliance Lead, to establish robust financial controls.

Your dedication will ensure that every financial activity of the Connect to Work programme aligns with the parameters outlined in our grant agreement with DWP, safeguarding the integrity and success of this initiative.

Working on the Connect to Work programme promises to offer a unique experience each day, filled with unexpected challenges and rewards! There are several key responsibilities that will be integral to this role, including:

• Establish reporting requirements and ensure their adherence, completion in a timely and accurate manner, including the processing of purchase orders, journal transfers, cost recovery, and financial coding.
• Maintain accurate records of financial transactions for audit purposes, and complete quarterly financial reviews and audits in collaboration with DWP, addressing any queries or concerns promptly.
• Develop effective and proactive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Business Leads and Corporate Finance, to ensure the efficient operation of services in alignment with broader Council financial objectives.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and feel a genuine passion for being part of a close-knit team, committed to supporting colleagues and making a real difference in the lives of West Sussex residents, we want to hear from you!

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Degree, or an equivalent qualification or experience, demonstrating a high level of applied knowledge in accountancy and performance services, particularly within a public sector environment.
• Experience in programme/project, contract, and business financial management, demonstrated through effective monitoring and management of budgets to ensure alignment with customer requirements and business needs.
• Skilled in analysing, monitoring, and integrating financial information.
• Proven experience working within budget management systems and practices, providing comprehensive support.
• Demonstrate strong numeracy and solid technical expertise.
• Effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at various levels and foster positive partnerships.
• Able to analyse complex data sets to generate clear and concise insights, presenting information in a straightforward and accurate manner to support understanding and collaboration.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

You will benefit from 27 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 5 years' service plus the opportunity to buy additional leave and an excellent local government pension scheme.

A range of discounts give our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform.

For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is EIE01464.

Does this sound like the opportunity for you? Click apply below, upload your CV, and complete the application form, explaining how you meet the key skills in the attached job description and experience you can bring to the role.

Please ensure all that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.

Struggling to apply? Book onto a Digital Support Session in a library near you to get help navigating our application form (subject to availability)

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

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