Head of Finance

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary:

• The Head of Finance will lead and manage a finance team within the Service Finance and Business Partnering Division, providing strategic financial leadership, advice, and direction across a major council directorate.
• The role is responsible for delivering high-quality financial management, including budget setting, budget monitoring, forecasting, year-end closure, and long-term financial planning aligned to the Council's Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).
• The postholder will act as a senior business partner, supporting service transformation, shaping strategic decision-making, and ensuring compliance with Financial Regulations.
• They will also drive financial improvement initiatives, lead demand-led financial modelling, and ensure robust financial governance across all directorate services.

Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):

• Lead, manage, and develop a professional finance team within the Service Finance & Business Partnering function.
• Provide strategic financial advice to directors, Heads of Service, and senior stakeholders, ensuring budgets, forecasts, and financial plans are robust and aligned to the MTFS.
• Lead directorate budget setting, identification of savings, and financial strategies to address cost pressures.
• Manage in-year budget monitoring, forecasting, variance analysis, and regular reporting.
• Oversee the closure of directorate accounts and contribute to the statutory accounts and external audit process.
• Support service transformation and business-led change projects with high-quality, timely financial information.
• Lead financial modelling of demand-led services and use trend analysis to inform strategic decisions.
• Ensure compliance with Financial Regulations, Financial Standing Orders, and corporate finance policies.
• Promote a self-service approach to financial management while providing specialist support through the business partnering model.
• Deliver financial training to managers, budget holders, and senior leadership to improve financial capability.
• Build effective internal and external relationships with senior officers, elected Members, partner agencies, and professional bodies (e.g., CIPFA).
• Contribute to Council-wide corporate initiatives, cross-departmental projects, organisational development, and business continuity planning.
• Drive continual improvement, process optimisation, and changes required under the Finance Modernisation Programme.
• Lead internal service reviews to improve value for money and support efficiency programmes.
• Represent the Finance Directorate professionally and support the Corporate Director of Finance in delivering the Council's strategic financial objectives.

Skills/Experience:

• Significant post-qualification experience in local government finance.
• Proven experience of preparing annual budgets, monitoring reports, and final accounts for a local authority.
• Strong senior-level management experience, with direct leadership of professional and managerial staff.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver strategies, policies, and programmes across service areas.
• Strong communication, influencing, and negotiation skills with the ability to present complex financial information clearly.
• Experience in leading and managing change across large, multidisciplinary organisations.
• Proven involvement in service improvement and major transformation programmes.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Additional Information:

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Hours: 36 hours per week.
• Working Pattern: 09:00 – 17:00.

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA).