Finance Business Partner

We are seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to provide support to the People Directorate, focusing mainly on Adult Social Care with areas of responsibility also including housing (not HRA), early help and communities.

JOB PURPOSE

Provide high quality financial advice and support to a Directorate Management Team, the Executive Director andotherAssistant DirectorsandMembersonallmattersrelatingtooperationsundertheircontrolinorder that they can properly manage their financialaffairs.

Work closely with a Directorate to understand their challenges and issues and use this understanding to provide them with relevant and timely professional financial advice.

UnderstandtheissuesfacingaparticularDirectorateintermsofservicedeliveryandwork withthe Delivery SupportManagertoensurethatthefinancialsupportavailablefromtheAccountancy Support Pool meets thatrequirement

Keep abreast of the changes in service requirements for a Directorate and plan the personal and functional support required to best support delivery of those changes

Work with Directorate Management teams on their key transformation plans and programmes ofwork andprovideappropriatesupport,challengeandleadershiponthedevelopmentandimplementationof strategies and initiatives as required and specifically in relation to benefitsrealisation.

DESIGNATION OF POST AND POSITION WITHIN DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE

Reports to the Chief Accountant, recognised line of communication to Service Director of directorate supported.

Key relationships with the Executive Director, Assistant Directors and Executive Members and attendance at Directorate Management Team meetings

Shared responsibility for managing the workload of staff in the Accountancy Support Pool.

Line of access to staff across the Finance team involved in delivering financial services to directorate supported

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To be the lead financial advisor to an Executive Director, Members, Assistant Directors and external groups, ensuringthattheDirectorateisfullyinformedandadvisedofkeyissuesincludingnewlegislation, policyandguidanceandrelatedcorporateandotherDirectorateinitiativesandprovidingstrategic support and challenge as necessary to ensure revenue and capital budgets are being effectively managed.

1. Responsible for planning and leading complex projects for a Directorate, including analysing the financialandnon-financialimplicationsofchangesinthelaw,policiesandstrategiesandmaking recommendations to improve financial performance and value for money to the Executive Director, Assistant Directors, other senior managers andMembers.

1. Assess and document financial implications for reports covering a Directorate’s services, ensuringtheyareclearandbroughttotheattentionofMembers, Executive Director,Director: Resources, and Assistant Directors.

UpdatedFebruary 2021 Unrestricted

1. WorkcloselywiththeDirectorate SupportManagertoprioritisetheAccountancySupportPool resources to enable effective revenue and capital budget planning and control within a Directorate, identifying budget pressures, economies, additional income, costing alternative strategies and policies and identifying alternativeoptions.

1. As the Director: Resources’ (S151 officer) representative in the Directorate, make a positive contribution to the efficient execution of the Council’s financial affairs by making recommendations on the implementation of corporate standards of financial probity and monitoringperformanceagainsttheagreedestablishedstandardsandhighlightingareaswhere currentcorporatestandardsinhibitpositiveinnovationthatwouldenhancevalueformoney.

1. Provide timely and accurate information on the issues affecting the finances of the Directorate’s servicesinsupportofthepreparationandmonitoringoftheMediumTermFinancialStrategyand develop where appropriate local procedures or guidance to deal effectively with specific financial issues and risks facing the Directorate such as school budgets, corporate recharges, Downshire Homes Ltd, Waste PFI.

1. Assist in producing the Council’s statutory annual accounts in line with the corporate timetable, relatedstatutoryreturnsandotherfinancialinformationrelatedtotheDirectorate,forapprovalby theExternalAuditor,theCouncilandsubsequentpublicationinaccordancewiththeprogramme.

1. Toleadeffectiveliaison,negotiationsandcommunicationswithawiderangeofstakeholdersand partners to ensure financial management considerations are properly considered in critical decisions, e.g.: Project Boards, contractors, Cost Centre Manager SupportSessions

CCAB qualified

In depth knowledge of local authority accounting guidance and practice.

Substantial experience of working in a finance section in a Public Sector Organisation at a senior level.

Credible strategic advisor to Directors, Chief Officers and Members on a range of financial issues.

Experience of the design, implementation and review of efficient business processes.

Substantial experience of using large computerised financial systems.

Microsoft Word to intermediate level and Excel to advanced level.