Service Director for Finance

Sellick Partnership; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 144,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

Sellick Partnership is recruiting on behalf of a large local authority for the role of Service Director for Corporate Finance in Bedfordshire. The post is interim for 6 months with a day rate of £900, offering hybrid working arrangements.

The successful candidate will lead the Council's finance function, overseeing financial planning, treasury management, capital programmes and financial reporting, while providing strategic leadership to ensure financial resilience.

Qualifications

• CCAB/CIPFA qualification and strong public sector expertise.
• Senior leadership in complex public sector environments.
• Budget setting, reporting, treasury, and governance proficiency.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading large teams and organisational change.
• Effective stakeholder management at executive/political levels.
• Collaborative, commercially minded service delivery approach.
• Political awareness for navigating governance environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Council's corporate finance strategy and planning.
• Oversee capital programme development and financing strategy.
• Direct treasury management and investment/borrowing decisions.
• Ensure statutory accounting compliance and professional standards.
• Manage revenues, council tax and benefits services.
• Drive financial resilience, transformation and continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic leadership to a sizeable finance team.
• Build relationships with elected members and external stakeholders.
• Support organisational change and service improvement initiatives.

Skills

CCAB qualification

CIPFA qualified

Senior leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Commercial mindset

Education

CIPFA/CCAB qualification

Job description

Salary: £900 per day
Location: Bedfordshire (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Interim, 6 months

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and strategically focused finance leader to join a large local authority as Service Director for Corporate Finance. This is a high-profile leadership position, reporting directly to the Executive Director of Resources and playing a critical role in safeguarding the Council's financial resilience and supporting the delivery of key corporate objectives.

The Opportunity

As Service Director for Corporate Finance, you will provide strategic leadership across the Council's finance function, overseeing financial planning, financial control, treasury management, capital programmes, financial reporting, revenues and benefits services, and local taxation functions. You will also act as Finance Director for associated Council-owned businesses and future commercial ventures.

Working as a key member of the Corporate Management Team, you will provide expert financial advice to elected members, senior officers and stakeholders, ensuring robust governance, effective decision-making and long-term financial sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Council's corporate finance strategy and financial planning framework.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the capital programme and capital financing strategy.
• Lead treasury management activities, providing strategic advice on investment and borrowing decisions.
• Ensure compliance with statutory accounting requirements and professional financial standards.
• Manage revenues, business rates, council tax and benefits services.
• Drive financial resilience, transformation and continuous improvement across the organisation.
• Provide strategic leadership to a sizeable finance and operational team.
• Develop strong relationships with elected members, senior leadership teams and external stakeholders.
• Support organisational change, innovation and service improvement initiatives.

About You

We are seeking an accomplished local government finance leader who can demonstrate:

• CCAB qualification, ideally CIPFA qualified.
• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex public sector environment.
• Strong expertise in budget setting, financial reporting, treasury management and financial governance.
• Excellent understanding of accounting standards, financial legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading large, high-performing teams and delivering organisational change.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at executive and political level.
• A collaborative and commercially minded approach to service delivery and continuous improvement.
• Political awareness and the ability to navigate complex governance environments.

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to join a forward-thinking authority in a key statutory finance leadership role. You'll have the opportunity to shape strategic financial decisions, influence organisational transformation, and make a significant impact on the delivery of vital public services.