Senior Finance Officer

Central Bedfordshire Council; Shefford; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to join the finance team supporting Children’s Services and the Monitoring Officer. The role focuses on accurate budget monitoring, financial control and giving financial advice to stakeholders.

The post involves providing high-quality financial guidance, producing analyses for decision-making, and supporting monthly reporting and budget management.

Qualifications

• Experience managing budgets within a local authority.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to provide financial advice and forecasts to budget managers.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality financial advice, guidance and support to budget managers, helping ensure accurate forecasting and effective financial management through monthly reviews.
• Produce financial analysis and deliver financial management information to aid decision-making for directorate teams.
• Support monthly financial reporting and accounting journals, including accruals, to keep financial records accurate.
• Assist in the preparation, monitoring and management of annual budgets.
• Closure of accounts.

Skills

Local authority experience

Communication

Education

AAT or CCAB

Tools

SAP

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Job Family: Enabling - CBG11 Salary: £42,396- £45,758 per annum pro rata Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed Term for up to 12 months (maternity cover)

Closing Date: 25th November 2026

Interview Date: From 30th November 2026 to 4th December 2026

About the role

We are recruiting a Senior Finance Officer to join our finance team supporting Children’s Services and the Monitoring Officer. This is an important role supporting accurate budget monitoring and financial control where you will provide financial advice and guidance to range of stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality financial advice, guidance and support to budget managers, helping to ensure accurate forecasting and effective financial management through regular monthly review meetings.
• Support directorate teams by producing financial analysis and delivering relevant financial management information to aid decision-making.
• Support monthly financial reporting and accounting journals, including accruals, to ensure financial records are accurate and up to date.
• Assist in the preparation, monitoring and management of annual budgets.
• Closure of accounts.

If you possess strong financial and analytical skills, experience working with budget managers and are an excellent communicator and team player, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Desirable Skills and Qualities

• Experience within a local authority setting.
• Experience with SAP.
• AAT or CCAB qualified.

Training will be provided to the successful candidate.

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack .

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants,it isCentral Bedfordshire Council'spolicy to only consider applications madevia our online applicationsystem and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI.

All new starters will join us on a four - month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well - supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.

Free information, advice and guidance into work or learning