Strategic Head of Finance

Salford Council; Swinton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Salford Council is seeking a Strategic Head of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership for Place, Housing and Corporate Services. You will partner with Executive Directors and Members to shape major investments, policy decisions and financial governance across the council.

You will lead a high-performing finance team, translate complex financial issues into clear advice, and influence delivery of the Council's medium and long-term financial objectives, including housing regeneration

Qualifications

• Fully qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant with leadership experience.
• Proven track record in strategic financial leadership within a complex organisation.
• Experience managing large, multi-faceted service portfolios.
• Strong business partnering, governance, risk management and decision support.
• Ability to translate complex financial issues into clear, practical advice.
• Housing finance, regeneration, capital investment or major transformation experience is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial leadership across Place, Housing and Corporate Services.
• Provide financial governance, challenge and decision-support to executives and Members.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to shape investment and policy decisions.
• Develop and lead a high-performing finance team and influence across the organisation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Large portfolios leadership

Business partnering

Financial governance

Influencing senior leaders

Team development

Clear advisory communication

Housing finance experience

Education

CCAB or CIMA qualification

Job description

Strategic Head of Finance

Place, Housing & Corporate Services
Band D | Hybrid Working | Salford

Help Shape the Financial Future of One of the UK's Most Ambitious Cities

Salford is a city with ambition.

From major housing investment and regeneration programmes to organisational transformation and financial sustainability, we are delivering significant change whilst responding to the challenges facing local government.

We are looking for an exceptional finance leader to join our senior finance leadership team as Strategic Head of Finance.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, this is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of the organisation. You will provide strategic financial leadership across Place, Housing and Corporate Services, helping shape major decisions, strengthen financial governance and support delivery of the Council's financial strategy.

This is far more than a traditional Head of Finance role.

You will be a trusted adviser to Executive Directors, senior managers and elected Members, leading a significant finance portfolio whilst helping embed a culture of strong financial management, accountability and continuous improvement across the organisation.

The Opportunity

This role combines four key areas of leadership:

Strategic Financial Leadership

Lead the provision of strategic financial advice and business partnering across Place, Housing and Corporate Services, supporting major policy, investment and transformation decisions.

Housing, Regeneration and Investment

Provide senior financial leadership for the Housing Revenue Account, housing investment programmes, regeneration activity and significant capital projects that will help shape the future of Salford.

Financial Governance and Sustainability

Champion strong financial governance, accountability and decision-making. Leading financial challenge, improving financial resilience and supporting delivery of the Council's medium and long-term financial objectives.

Leadership and Organisational Influence

Lead and develop a high-performing finance team, providing strategic leadership for Strategic Finance Managers and wider finance professionals whilst building strong relationships with Members, Executive Directors and senior stakeholders.

About You

You will be a fully qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant with significant leadership experience in a complex organisation.

You will bring:

• A strong track record of strategic financial leadership.
• Experience leading large and complex service portfolios.
• Excellent business partnering and influencing skills.
• Strong understanding of financial governance, financial sustainability and risk management.
• Experience supporting senior leaders to make informed strategic decisions.
• The credibility to work effectively with Members, Executive Directors and corporate leadership teams.
• Experience developing high-performing professional teams.
• The ability to translate complex financial issues into clear and practical advice.

Experience of housing finance, regeneration, capital investment or major transformation programmes would be particularly valuable.

Why Join Us?

Few local government finance roles offer this breadth of opportunity and influence.

You will play a key role in helping deliver the Council's financial strategy; strengthening financial governance across the organisation; shaping major housing, regeneration and investment programmes; and developing the future finance leaders of the organisation.

If you are looking for a role that combines strategic leadership, organisational influence and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

What we need from you if you are invited to interview:

• Passport/ID - You will be required to provide original documentation confirming your right to work in the UK. Successful candidates will also be required to provide proof of address.
• Qualifications/registrations if applicable for the role

Want to know more about Salford?
As an authority we are dedicated to improving the lives of our residents, and as an employer we are passionate about helping individuals to thrive in their work. We are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive culture and are proud of our professional accreditations which champion this.

Find out about our city as a place to live, work & grow, and learn more about the amazing work we are doing. You'll also find out about the wealth of benefits we have to offer you on our Salford pages!

Privacy Statement and Data Protection
Our core data protection obligations and commitments are set out in the council's primary Recruitment and Employment Privacy Notice which can be found at https://www.salford.gov.uk/gdpr

Supporting Documents

Role Profile