Strategic Finance Lead

CRA GROUP RECRUITMENT AND PAYROLL LTD; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Trowbridge is seeking a Team Manager for a 3-month contract to oversee a team within a specific service area. This role involves managing budgets, providing high-quality financial accounting, and ensuring effective delivery of annual accounts. Candidates should have extensive management experience in finance, excellent technical skills, and relevant qualifications. The position demands strong leadership to motivate and guide finance teams successfully, ensuring strategic financial advice supports key decisions.

Qualifications

• Extensive management experience in a financial environment.
• Strong track record of managing and delivering technical financial projects.
• Excellent technical accounting skills and experience with contract account reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Provide high‑quality financial accounting and strategic management information.
• Lead the preparation of the annual Statement of Accounts.
• Manage the delivery of the council’s annual accounts and returns.

Skills

Management experience

Interpreting financial regulations

Delivering financial projects

Leading finance teams

Technical accounting skills

Education

Degree in a relevant subject

Relevant professional qualification

QCF level 7 in leadership

Programme management qualification

Job description

3-month contract position with a local authority

Summary

• This is a 3-month contract position with a local authority, seeking a Team Manager to oversee a small team of specialist and professional staff or a large team of operational staff within a specific service area. The role involves managing a direct budget for staff resources and reporting to a Level 3 head of service or director. The position is crucial for providing high-quality financial accounting and strategic management information, ensuring the delivery of annual accounts, and offering strategic financial advice to support decision‑making processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide high‑quality financial accounting and strategic management information.
• Lead the production of the statement of accounts, a complex and technical project.
• Serve as the council’s professional lead on the delivery of annual accounts and financial data assurance.
• Offer strategic financial advice for decision‑making processes, including financial modelling.
• Lead the preparation of the annual Statement of Accounts.
• Manage the delivery of the council’s annual accounts and returns, including grant claims and VAT returns.

Requirements

• Extensive management experience in a financial environment.
• Proven experience in interpreting complex financial regulations.
• Strong track record of managing and delivering technical financial projects.
• Experience in leading and motivating finance teams with successful outcomes.
• Excellent technical accounting skills and experience with contract account reconciliations.
• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Relevant professional qualification at a postgraduate level.
• QCF level 7 in leadership and management.
• Programme management qualification or equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience.

Additional Information

• Working hours : 37 hours per week.
• Requires access to the UK government Public Services Network (PSN) and is subject to a BPSS check.

The role closes soon, apply ASAP.