Strategic Finance Business Partner X3

Walsall Council and Robertson Bell are yet again exclusively partnering, this time in the recruitment of three Strategic Finance Business Partners on a permanent basis. At Walsall Council, we believe that people are at the heart of everything we do.  In our work, the way we listen and respond to our customers and colleagues will determine the way we grow and bring Council’s vision to life.  To succeed, we must push the boundaries of customer service and added value – hence the addition of these brand-new roles to our structure as an added layer of strategic expertise to our finance team:

• Strategic Finance Business Partner - Adult Social Care Demand and Core & Public Health
• Strategic Finance Business Partner - Childrens Services Demand and Core & Education
• Strategic Finance Business Partner - Economy, Environment & Communities, Resources and Transformation, Capital

Finance Business Partnering is an enabling function, providing solutions, financial insight and intelligence to support and constructively challenge the organisation to help achieve its objectives, underpinned by strong financial management. Reporting into the Head of Finance and Deputy s151, these posts will provide strategic senior and operational capacity, and will have management responsibility for their respective Finance Business Partnering teams for delivery of Service Excellence.

The organisation:

Walsall is situated within the West Midlands and is one of four Local Authorities comprising the Black Country. It contains six urban district centres: Walsall Town Centre lies at the heart of the Borough, surrounded by Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston and Willenhall. The Borough covers 40sq miles and is bisected by the M6 motorway.

We provide an attractive employment package that includes a generous annual leave entitlement of up to 29 days (which rises to 34 days after 5 years continuous local government service), a flexible working scheme that allows up to a further 12 days leave per year, working from home opportunities, with emphasis on an optimum work life balance arrangement and a career average pension scheme.  We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements.

The key duties of these roles are as follows:

• Ensure the Councils Finance Business Partnering service is fit for purpose in order to deliver on all aspects of operational financial management.
• Operate at a strategic level, building strong relationships with internal and external partners and being a key and active member of senior management forums.
• Financial oversight for all duties required under the CIPFA compliance framework including financial forecasting, business cases, modelling, budget setting and Final account preparation for the teams under the roles remit.
• Drive and support the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement across the Council.
• Ensure the provision of high quality advice, information, interpretation and solutions to budget holders to underpin effective decision making and meaningful performance management.
• Maximise new and existing funding streams realise efficiency savings and to deliver the councils aims.
• Influence and drive cultural change towards improved financial management through managing resources, outputs, performance and risk in the achievement of outcomes.

The successful candidate will have:

• Full CCAB or equivalent qualification, with evidence of continued professional development.
• Post qualification experience in a large/complex organisation.
• Ideally, a background working in a local authority, although candidates without will still be considered.
• Extensive experience of strategic and operational planning.
• Substantial leadership and management experience including proven experience in leading and motivating a team to deliver accurate and timely information.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to communicate to people at all levels.
• Enthusiastic and proven ability to establish and continue good working relationships.
• Ability to understand new concepts and translate business objectives into strategic and operation activity.
• Substantial ability to design, understand and maintain complex financial information and models.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 7^th April, with interviews  taking place the week commencing Monday 15^th April. Applications will be under continuous review before the closing date, so please submit your CV to our exclusive search agent Robertson Bell ASAP to avoid disappointment.