Strategic Finance Manager - Corporate

Trafford Council; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Greater Manchester is seeking a Strategic Finance Manager to oversee corporate financial matters and deliver financial excellence. Candidates should have a CCAB qualification, at least five years of public sector finance management experience, and strong leadership and communication skills. The role involves budget coordination, strategic advice, and engaging with external partners.

Benefits

Friendly work environment

Personal and professional development

Positive permission culture

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ management experience within public sector finance.
• Experience in managing and developing staff.
• Unblemished registration with substantial post-qualification experience at senior level.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Council’s statutory and management accounts.
• Provide sound strategic financial advice to senior officers.
• Maintain the Medium Term Financial Strategy.
• Coordinate budget monitoring and prepare summary reports.

Skills

Financial expertise

Leadership abilities

Excellent communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

CCAB Qualified Accountant qualification

Job description

Job Title - Strategic Finance Manager - Corporate

Employer - Trafford Council

Address - Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford M32 0TH

Salary - £69,691 to £76,066

Salary Grade - SM4BB

Working Pattern - full time

Working hours - 36.25

Contract type - Permanent

Closing date - 21st November 2025

Interview date - week commencing 1st December 2025

The Role

Trafford Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced Strategic Finance Manager (Corporate) to join our Financial Management Service following an internal promotion. This is a pivotal leadership which reports to the Head of Financial Management/Deputy Section 151 Officer in delivering strategic and operational financial excellence across the Council.

You’ll oversee corporate financial matters including the Council’s statutory and management accounts, budget monitoring, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy. You’ll also provide expert financial advice to senior officers and Members and represent the Council in meetings with external partners across Greater Manchester.

If you have completed the GM Elevate Leadership Development Programme within the last 2 years, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application

About the Role

As part of the wider financial management and internal audit team, the role is one of five Strategic Finance Managers (Corporate, Children & Schools, Adults & Wellbeing, Place & Central Services, Capital & Investments) which are personally responsible for leading the respective professional teams to deliver the financial targets and best financial outcomes for the Council into the medium and longer term. You will need financial expertise to provide high quality, timely, accurate financial information, advice and guidance that will contribute to the effectiveness of the decision making process.

As the Strategic Finance Manager (Corporate), your particular duties will include the following:

• Oversee the development and implementation of the close down of the Council’s Statutory and Management Accounts.
• Maintain an in depth understanding and keep up to date with the relevant accounting regulations, policy and legislation relating to accounting regulations and specifically the Council Tax and Business Rates Collection Fund.
• Coordinate the regular budget monitoring and preparation of summary reports for all council services, with specific responsibility for those budgets managed corporatively (e.g. Business Rates, Council Tax).
• To provide sound strategic financial advice and guidance to senior officers and Members as appropriate on areas affecting their function area.
• To prepare and maintain the Medium Term Financial Strategy and calculation of the overall funding envelope within which the Council operates. This will include the interpretation, assessment and possible challenge to the Council’s finance settlements from the Government and forecasting business rate and council tax revenues and to challenge the financial forecasts provided by officers.
• Support the development of strategy, plans, policies, practices and procedures by being actively involved in the decision making processes of the Council. This includes taking the necessary steps to become involved in partnership arrangements and actively representing the Council on external bodies.
• We are also looking for a person who will instill a culture of continuous improvement, through system enhancements and streamlining business processes.
• To deputise for the Head of Financial Management or the Director of Finance and Systems as required.
• You will be able to demonstrate experience in managing and developing staff, alongside leadership abilities and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You should also have a minimum of 5 years’ management experience within public sector finance and hold a minimum of a CCAB Qualified Accountant qualification with unblemished registration and substantial post-qualification experience at senior level.

Please contact Dave Muggeridge (Head of Financial Management) if you require more information about the team/role on 0161 912 4534 or [e-mail].

About the benefits

You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centered and values-based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.

To learn more about Trafford as a place to work visit and to view more about our awards and benefits please visit: Trafford - Benefits | www.inploi.com (greater.jobs)

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment - greater.jobs | www.inploi.com

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers’ right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licensed sponsor and we won’t be able to support with your work visa.

Privacy Notice - The Council needs to hold and process information about employees, workers and other individuals as appropriate, for various reasons. With the General Data Protection Regulations coming into force we have in place a new privacy notice for staff, contractors, volunteers, trainees, those on work experience and job applicants. To find out more, please click here: Recruitment & Employment Privacy Notice (trafford.gov.uk)