Strategic Finance Business Partner

Opus People Solutions Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Shropshire Council is seeking an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner on an interim basis for six months. The role is central to providing high level financial advice and leading budget setting across council services.

You will oversee strategic financial planning, medium term financial planning, and produce reports for senior leadership and Cabinet, driving financial performance. This position offers hybrid working with attendance in the office approximately 1–2 times per month and

Qualifications

• Significant senior finance partnering experience in Local Authority contexts.
• Experience coordinating council-wide budget-setting processes.
• Proven ability to present financial reports to senior leadership and elected members.
• Ability to provide strategic challenge and influence at Director level.
• Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial planning across service areas.
• Coordinate and oversee the council's annual budget-setting process.
• Support preparation of Cabinet and senior leadership reports.
• Develop robust medium term financial plans and resource projections.
• Provide high quality financial advice to Corporate Directors and senior teams.
• Lead revenue budget monitoring activities and identify risks/opportunities.
• Support services in delivering value for money and mitigation plans.
• Analyse and communicate complex financial, technical and performance data.
• Support contract negotiations and commercial initiatives.
• Contribute to annual accounts and benchmarking exercises.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of 6.4 FTE finance professionals.

Skills

Senior finance partner

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

CCAB/CIPFA qualified accountant

Job description

Strategic Finance Business Partner

Shropshire Council | Interim Contract | 6 Months | £500 per day Hybrid Working | Office attendance required a couple of times per month

We are working with Shropshire Council to recruit an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner on an interim basis for an initial 6 month contract.

This is a key leadership role within the Finance function, supporting the strategic financial management of the Council and providing high level financial advice to Corporate and Service Directors. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in budget setting, financial planning, business partnering, and strategic decision-making across the organisation.

The Role

As Strategic Finance Business Partner, you will lead the provision of high-quality financial advice, analysis, and challenge to senior stakeholders, ensuring informed decision making and effective financial management across council services.

You will be responsible for coordinating the Council's budget setting process, supporting medium term financial planning, producing reports for senior leadership and Cabinet, and driving financial performance across service areas.

You will also deputise for the Strategic Finance Manager when required and provide leadership to a team of finance professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial planning across service areas, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities.
• Coordinate and oversee the Council's annual budget-setting process.
• Support the preparation of Cabinet and senior leadership reports.
• Develop robust medium term financial plans and resource projections.
• Provide high quality financial advice and constructive challenge to Corporate Directors, Executive Directors, and senior management teams.
• Lead revenue budget monitoring activities, identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Support service areas in developing mitigation plans and delivering value for money.
• Analyse and communicate complex financial, technical, and performance information.
• Support contract negotiations, procurement exercises, and commercial initiatives.
• Contribute to the production of annual accounts and financial benchmarking exercises.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of 6.4 FTE finance professionals.

About You

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience working in a senior finance business partnering role within a Local Authority.
• Previous management of a revenue budget monitoring and/or finance business partnering team.
• Proven experience coordinating council wide budget-setting processes.
• Strong experience producing and presenting financial reports for senior leadership teams and elected members.
• The ability to provide strategic challenge and influence decision-making at Director and Executive Director level.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.
• A strong understanding of local government finance, governance, and financial regulations.

Essential Experience

• Local Government finance background.
• Strategic financial planning and budget management.
• Revenue budget monitoring.
• Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) development.
• Business partnering with senior stakeholders.
• Leadership and management of finance teams.
• Financial risk management and performance reporting.

Desirable

• CCAB/CIPFA qualified accountant.
• Experience supporting Cabinet, Executive Leadership Teams, or equivalent senior governance structures.
• Experience driving commercial and efficiency programmes within a Local Authority setting.

Contract Details

• Role: Strategic Finance Business Partner
• Organisation: Shropshire Council
• Contract Length: Initial 6 months
• Rate: £500 per day
• Working Arrangement: Hybrid
• Office Attendance: Approximately 1-2 times per month
• Start Date: ASAPThis opportunity would suit an experienced local government finance leader who can quickly establish credibility with senior stakeholders, provide strategic financial challenge, and immediately support the delivery of the Council's financial objectives