Strategic Finance Business Partner

CRA GROUP RECRUITMENT AND PAYROLL LTD; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Greater London is seeking an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner to lead financial management for the Housing Revenue Account. Key responsibilities include providing strategic financial advice, managing a small finance team, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Candidates should have significant local authority experience, strong stakeholder management skills, and be a fully qualified accountant. This is a hybrid role, requiring at least one day in the office each week.

Qualifications

• Experience managing significant budgets in a public sector organization.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into accessible advice.
• Post-qualification experience of at least two years.

Responsibilities

• Lead revenue financial management for the Housing Revenue Account.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior leaders.
• Manage and mentor a team of Assistant Finance Business Partners.
• Assist with year-end close-down processes and compliance requirements.

Skills

Experience with Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

Understanding of statutory local government regulations

Budget management experience

Finance team leadership

Financial modelling skills

Stakeholder management

Excel proficiency

Political awareness

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA)

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

Job Description

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary

• The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner to lead revenue financial management for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
• This is a pivotal role during the finalisation of the Council’s 2026 / 27 budget proposals and the preparation of the HRA 30-year Business Plan.
• The successful candidate will provide high-level financial advice, strategic analysis, and business partnering to senior leaders, ensuring that all revenue implications of acquisitions, developments and stock investment are properly reflected in the HRA’s financial strategy.
• Working closely with the Head of Finance and Capital Finance Business Partners, the postholder will also support year-end processes, statutory accounting requirements, and will manage a small team of Assistant Finance Business Partners.

Key Duties / Accountabilities (Sample)

• Lead the revenue side of the Housing Revenue Account and maintain the HRA 30-year Business Plan.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior officers, Members, budget managers and service leads.
• Work closely with Capital Finance colleagues to ensure revenue impacts of capital schemes are reflected in financial planning.
• Support the development of medium-term financial plans and contribute to budget setting for 2026 / 27 and beyond.
• Assist with year-end close-down processes, including preparation of notes for the Statement of Accounts.
• Manage, support and mentor a team of Assistant Finance Business Partners.
• Present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders and provide constructive challenge where required.
• Ensure compliance with Financial Standing Orders, statutory accounting requirements, and professional standards.
• Lead or contribute to cross-cutting finance projects, transformational work and service improvement initiatives.
• Represent the Head of Finance at senior management meetings, briefings and committees as required.

Skills / Experience

• Essential experience of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and local authority financial frameworks.
• Strong understanding of the statutory and regulatory financial environment for local government.
• Demonstrable experience of managing significant budgets within a large, complex public sector organisation.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams, with proven line management capability.
• Advanced financial modelling, capital and options appraisal, forecasting and analytical skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into clear, accessible advice for senior decision-makers.
• Experience developing financial strategies and delivering cross-cutting change or transformation programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence at senior levels, including elected Members.
• High level of competence with Excel and financial systems, with the ability to extract and manipulate data.
• Political awareness and understanding of the governance and decision-making environment within local authorities.

Additional Information

• This is a hybrid role, inside IR35, requiring at least one day per week in the office.
• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA) with at least two years’ post-qualification experience.
• Full-time role : 36 hours per week.

Requirements

• Essential experience of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and local authority financial frameworks. • Strong understanding of the statutory and regulatory financial environment for local government. • Demonstrable experience of managing significant budgets within a large, complex public sector organisation. • Experience leading and developing finance teams, with proven line management capability. • Advanced financial modelling, capital and options appraisal, forecasting and analytical skills. • Ability to translate complex financial data into clear, accessible advice for senior decision-makers. • Experience developing financial strategies and delivering cross-cutting change or transformation programmes. • Strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence at senior levels, including elected Members. • High level of competence with Excel and financial systems, with the ability to extract and manipulate data. • Political awareness and understanding of the governance and decision-making environment within local authorities.