Head Of Finance Business Partnering

Need to have been a Head of Finance for Place Directorate

Responsible for:

Overall day to day responsibility for managing staff up to10 FTE and the staffing budgets of up to £500k. This will include a mixture of directly managed and project (matrix managed staff) at any point in time.

Providing financial management advice to service managers with budget responsibility of up to £200m.

Functional links with:

Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Deputy Director of Finance and Property, Chief Accountant, Head of Strategy, Treasury and Pensions, Service Department Directors, Deputy Directors and Heads, Cabinet Members, Relevant Partner organisations

Main purpose of the job:

Each Head of Finance Business Partnering is responsible for leading and implementing the Business Partnering function for the specified service area. They will act as a partner with the service leadership teams to develop, challenge and support service plans and project delivery and take responsibility for managing and reporting on operational performance for the Business Partnering team.

The post-holder’s primary activity is to ensure the provision of an effective Business Partnering function across all authorities which will challenge the status quo and work in partnership with services to develop new delivery models to deliver significant cost savings and maximise the outcomes for residents.

Heads of Finance Business Partnering will work to ensure that finance staff deliver to customers in an efficient manner, within a professional business framework. As a senior Finance Manager, you will be expected to be a professional lead within your respective area of Finance, provide expertise and high quality financial services to senior stakeholders, proactively contribute to the achievement of the finance service’s vision and contribute towards an innovative, high performance and continuous improvement culture. The post holder will have a body of theoretical and practical knowledge commensurate with a fully qualified accountant.

This role helps discharge Section 151 responsibilities and will lead by example, striving to help build a sustainable, high effective service that delivers exceptional value for its residents through leadership on financial stewardship, insight and innovation.

The post will support the council’s leadership at all levels and develop a strategic and workable response to the financial challenges the council faces. The post holder will have a body of theoretical and practical knowledge with a

CCAB or equivalent qualification.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

To proactively lead the financial advice and support within Business Partnering, particularly with reference to delivering savings and maximising service outcomes to residents.

To ensure that financial information is relevant and balanced and is received by decision-takers at the appropriate level and in the appropriate form.

To proactively identify areas of weak financial management, risks and pressures and to work with the relevant service to improve them

To work with directors and senior stakeholders to ensure they have the information and tools and develop the skills to manage their finances themselves.

To lead, manage and motivate staff through excellent communication, professional guidance, support and development in accordance with the council’s policies and procedures.

To be customer-focussed and to develop self-service underpinned by reducing finance support.

To collaborate with stakeholders to proactively identify areas where finance can add value, including in particular better use of financial data analytics.

Contributes to the development and monitoring of service level agreements, KPIs, defining respective roles and responsibilities and quality service delivery.

To provide advice and support to Members, management board, directors and deputy directors on the full range of issues within the scope of the job.

To deliver the wider finance activities such as closure of accounts, budget development.

Lead in providing strategic financial advice to enable services to deliver continuous improvement in line with corporate priorities and the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, encouraging services to always be looking several years ahead.

(a) Education & Formal Training

Full member of CCAB or equivalent accountancy body

Post qualification experience

Participation in formal Continuing Professional Development

(CPD)

(b) Relevant Technical Experience, Knowledge &

Skills/Abilities

Knowledge & Experience

Knowledge of Local Government finance framework, including S151, other statutory requirements and code of practice and the key influences on the strategic finances of the authority

Senior management experience

Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for relevant service areas

Excellent interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, financial and non-financial, throughout the organisation

Evidence of successful resources management in a multi-disciplinary environment, as well as a successful track record in managing large budgets, business planning, quality and performance management including formulating budgets and financial models, resolution of conflicting priorities, applying rigorous planning challenge and appropriate control procedures

Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards

Strategic financial management experience, including translating organisational drivers into strategic objectives, longer term plans, new