Finance Business Partner
- Temporary (6 months), Full Time
- Up to £400 per day umbrella
- Location: Castlepoint
Job purpose
The postholder is at the forefront of innovation and the Council's continuous improvement and transformation journey. It will bring expertise, insight and knowledge of best practice to drive transformation and provide effective challenge to the organisation using data to inform evidence-based decisions, initiatives and improvements.
Working collaboratively across a range of Council services this role requires Finance expertise to partner the business in implementing transformation, promoting a culture which empowers budget holders, supports the delivery of value for money services and understanding of key cost drivers. The postholder will have significant professional credibility to raise the profile of the Finance team and be able to take the leadership team with them on the transformation journey. The role will work with Assistant Directors and Managers to support them with financial modelling required for service transformation, monthly budget monitoring and annual budget setting.
Key accountabilities:
- Delivery of a comprehensive suite of professional financial business partnering services including strategic financial advice, specialist and technical financial support, supporting services with financial and resource management, grant & internal financial control management and support the compilation of Statutory Annual Accounts.
- Provide advice and financial input into the Council's financial planning processes including input and guidance into business plans and service reviews, utilising financial modelling, options appraisal and risk analysis tools and techniques as appropriate.
- To keep abreast of regulatory changes and best practice initiatives by undertaking an appropriate programme of continuing professional development and collaborating with external partners and agencies as required. Advise budget holders and other stakeholders of the financial implications of changes in national legislation or local practice.
- Actively support the continuous cycle of business re-engineering ensuring improvements across all service areas to drive forward efficiencies by continuously adapting, designing, monitoring and reviewing working practices, procedures and systems, making suggestions and implementing improvements to enable continued development.
- Ensure compliance with Council financial regulations, protocol and guidance, including Financial Regulations, Contract Procedure Rules, and Schemes of Delegation
- Provide robust challenge to budget holders as necessary, acting as a critical friend, to ensure their financial plans and projections are accurate and realistic.
- Identify and support the business to become more commercial in its thinking.
- To identify, investigate and support the reduction of cost pressures, saving opportunities and solutions through robust business cases. To develop and maintain effective working relationships to support co-operative ways of working, effective decision-making and management of financial resources.
- To provide oversight and detailed technical support in one of either Housing Revenue Account, Capital accounting or Commercialism, depending on the directorate supported.
- Support the Council to deliver its strategies with an understanding and inputting into the analysis of changes to accounting and reporting requirements.
- Lead, manage and develop the finance team to support the effective delivery of Council and service priorities.
The Experience You Will Bring
- CCAB or CIMA qualified
- Extensive experience in Public Sector (preferably Local Authority) budgeting and accounting procedures.
- Strong consulting and negotiation skills, including excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to make strong and influential relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, providing both challenge and support
- Ability to translate and explain complex technical accounting concepts into formats easily understood by non-finance staff
- Ability to create detailed financial models which are easily maintained and understood by others
- Demonstrates experience of providing advice, challenge and support to business/service areas in order to obtain the best possible outcomes and value for money
- Extensive experience in the use of financial modelling and options appraisal techniques, particularly the use of spreadsheets and business intelligence tools.