Senior High Needs Funding & Budget Lead

North Northamptonshire Council; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Hybrid & flexible working

28–33 days leave + bank holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Benefits Scheme

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council seeks an experienced High Needs Funding Team Manager in a role within Children’s Services. The post leads the High Needs Funding Team and ensures accurate allocation of the High Needs Block Budget to educational providers, with strong financial controls and forecasting.

The role requires budget expertise, data analysis skills, and the ability to lead a team while maintaining compliance with national guidance.

Qualifications

• Experience in budget setting, monitoring, forecasting and managing complex financial processes.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex datasets.
• Proficiency in IT systems, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Experience managing teams and supervising staff.
• Ability to manage high workloads and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage payments approved from the High Needs Block Budget with forecast and reporting.
• Lead the High Needs Funding Team to deliver funding allocations to educational providers across payment methods.
• Extract, analyse and interpret data to support budget planning and financial analysis.
• Maintain high-quality financial records, reconcile accounts and provide reports to senior leadership.
• Provide expert support to SEN budget managers to understand and manage their budget positions.
• Ensure compliance with statutory High Needs Funding guidance and keep up to date with national requirements.
• Develop and refine processes to improve efficiency and respond to changing service needs.

Skills

Budget management

Forecasting

Data analysis

Team leadership

Excel

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

North Northamptonshire Council seeks an experienced High Needs Funding Team Manager in a role within Children’s Services. The post leads the High Needs Funding Team and ensures accurate allocation of the High Needs Block Budget to educational providers, with strong financial controls and forecasting.

The role requires budget expertise, data analysis skills, and the ability to lead a team while maintaining compliance with national guidance.