Strategic Finance Business Partner

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

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Occasional office attendance

Job summary

Shropshire Council is seeking a Strategic Finance Business Partner on an interim basis for an initial 6-month contract. The role will provide high-level financial advice to Corporate and Service Directors, lead budget setting, and drive financial performance across services.

The post requires strong leadership of a finance team, excellent stakeholder management, and extensive experience in local government finance. Hybrid working with occasional office attendance is expected.

Qualifications

• Significant senior finance business partnering experience.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading finance teams and budget monitoring.
• Strong track record in presenting financial reports to directors and elected members.
• Knowledge of local government finance and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial planning across services.
• Coordinate annual budget-setting process for the council.
• Prepare cabinet and leadership reports and dashboards.
• Provide high-quality financial advice and challenge to senior stakeholders.
• Deputise for Strategic Finance Manager when required.
• Lead a team of finance professionals.

Skills

Senior finance business partnering

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Financial reporting

Strategic financial planning

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

• 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: ASAP