Accounting jobs in United Kingdom

Job Title: Head of Finance

Grade: Head of Service & Technical – £700 a day umbrella

Group: Finance

Service: Financial Management

DBS Check: Standard

Reporting Structure:

Reports to: Assistant Director of Financial Management

Direct Reports: Up to 5

Indirect Reports: Up to 20

Contacts/Stakeholders: Internal: All levels of staff, Directors, Councillors

External: Central Government Departments, other Local Authorities, Professional bodies, NHS, External Audit

Service Responsibilities: All services within one of the following Directorates: Homes & Communities, Adult Services and Health, Children and Young People’s Services, Place, Finance or Corporate Services

Budget Responsibility: Advisory responsibility for Council revenue and capital budgets of approximately £150m

Direct responsibility for managing budgets of approximately £0.6m

Job Purpose:

1. To lead and manage a Finance Team within the Service Finance and Business Partnering Division, supporting a service directorate, advising on relevant aspects of strategic finance and business partnering, alongside comprehensive financial direction, support, and guidance. The role includes supporting a directorate in budget-setting and identifying appropriate savings or strategies to mitigate pressures; budget monitoring and reporting throughout the year; closing of the directorate accounts; and providing strategic financial advice to support the services within the directorate.
2. To support transformation and business-led projects within the directorates, ensuring that timely and robust financial information is provided to support decision-making and take an active role in shaping outcomes of projects. Ensure that budgets are realigned to deliver savings targets, reporting timing differences in delivery.
3. To ensure that Senior Management and their budget managers are supported to deliver their accountabilities for budget management and that directorates comply with Financial Standing Orders and all other financial policies and procedures as directed by the Corporate Director of Finance.
4. To provide financial leadership and strategic advice to directorates to enable them to develop robust financial plans and ensure that the future needs of the service are reflected in the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).
5. To work with and support the Corporate Director of Finance and Corporate Finance Team in reporting on and delivering the Council’s overall strategic financial objectives.
6. To ensure the provision of high-quality financial advice and accurate and timely financial information to Corporate Directors, Heads of Service, and budget managers across the directorates. Promote and facilitate a culture that supports a self-service approach to budget management with strategic financial management support through a business partnering model.
7. Lead on the financial modelling of demand-led budgets within the directorates to ensure robust forecasts are established, working in conjunction with relevant senior managers within the Service areas, and to use the trend data and service knowledge to inform MTFS decision-making.
8. To support the requirements of the statutory accounting process, external audit process, and legislative changes that may have a financial impact on directorates.
9. To maintain effective working relationships with colleagues within the Finance directorate to proactively support the production of strategic financial information, medium-term financial plans, and the training and development of the wider Corporate Finance service.
10. To establish effective external working relationships with key stakeholders within the community, government, professional bodies, and other appropriate public and private bodies to ensure the service has the knowledge and expertise to continuously improve its performance.
11. To coordinate the Corporate Finance training and development programme including the graduate and non-graduate apprenticeship schemes.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

Financial Strategy Development:

• Support the development of a strategic vision for the service to enable the council to meet its future challenges and objectives.
• Undertake a lead role in the development and implementation of the Council’s financial strategy, including the development of complex financial models as required.
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure the best use of limited financial resources, providing the strategic financial advice, insight, intelligence, and support needed.
• Ensure tight budgetary control and prioritise the use of resources and assets to support the delivery of the Council’s objectives and help ensure that the Council receives value for money from its expenditure.
• Oversee the development of financial business cases for business improvement initiatives within the Council’s transformation programme, working with other Council services or in a cross-cutting capacity as necessary.
• Support the Council’s risk management process through continuous review of financial risks and opportunities, across the relevant services and directorate(s), advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited.
• Proactively identify trends and changes in the operating environment (e.g., legislation, technology, policy, etc.) that could financially impact service delivery; provide advice and collaborate on potential solutions.
• Ensure the financial implications for Cabinet and all other reports fully inform service and corporate decision-making.

Financial Management and Reporting:

• Draw on an in-depth knowledge of Council services and the related financial complexities to ensure the provision of systems and procedures that enable effective budgetary control.
• Ensure that variations and emerging financial pressures are drawn to the attention of budget managers, and work with Directors and the management team on options and plans for their resolution at both a directorate and corporate level.
• Promote a culture that empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services and knowledge of key cost drivers.
• Provide in-depth support for the Medium-Term Financial Strategy planning process ensuring that the Council’s transformation plans are achievable and fully reflected in the budget strategy.
• Apply technical accounting knowledge, principles and regulations to a range of projects across the Council within the wider remit of the Council’s transformation programme.
• Develop appropriate financial models and analytics to determine the financial impact of future service demands, changes in legislation, and other factors affecting resource requirements.
• Instigate, develop, and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding that contribute towards identified funding gaps and the Council’s overall financial position. Advise on funding, financial management, and accounting requirements within the relevant service and directorate portfolios.
• Prepare and present informative, high-quality reports to members and other senior stakeholders that aid in informed service and corporate decision-making.
• Advise on investment and funding strategies including investment risk and performance as appropriate.
• Effectively manage performance indicators and relationships within service contracts towards continued service improvement, value for money, and social value.

If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to rebeccabentum@carringtonblakerecruitment.com