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Karina Nazarenko
Karina Nazarenko
Recruitment Consultant
I joined CRA Group in 2023, where I am responsible for the company's recruitment efforts. As CRA Group continues to experience rapid growth, I am excited to play a key role in ensuring our recruitment strategy aligns with the evolving needs of the business. Alongside my team, I am committed to supporting the company's impressive growth journey and contributing to its continued success.
Head of Payroll Pensions
Permanent role with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Head of Payroll and Pensions is the strategic lead for Lewisham Council’s payroll and pensions services, covering approximately 3,000 Council employees, 3,000 school employees, and 28,000 pension members. • The role is responsible for the annual payroll of over £170m and the Lewisham LGPS valued at circa £1.85bn. • This senior leadership position oversees compliance with statutory requirements, system integrity, and the delivery of high-quality, efficient payroll and pension administration. • The postholder also acts as the principal expert, advising senior management and stakeholders on payroll and pension matters, legislative changes, and strategic initiatives. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Lead and manage Lewisham Council’s payroll and pensions services, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. • Oversee payroll and pensions systems, including Oracle Cloud and Altair, ensuring integrity, updates, and control systems. • Provide expert advice on LGPS regulations, pensions legislation, payroll law, and taxation matters. • Develop and manage performance, resource allocation, and staff within payroll and pensions teams. • Lead on the engagement and management of external LGPS actuaries, including triennial valuations and contract management. • Maintain relationships with schools, external service providers, and other stakeholders; manage SLAs and cost recovery. • Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting, including HMRC submissions and pension fund accounts. • Advise the Council’s Early Retirement Panel and Executive Director on compensation and pension discretions. • Represent the Council in Pension Fund Officer forums, Pension Board, Pension Investment Committee, tribunals, and audits. • Promote best practice, equality, and professional development within the team. Skills/Experience: • Extensive senior-level experience managing payroll and pensions functions, preferably in local government. • Strong knowledge of LGPS regulations, pensions administration, payroll law, and UK tax legislation. • Expertise in payroll and pension software systems (Oracle Payroll, Altair Pension system). • Proven leadership and team development skills; ability to motivate and manage staff effectively. • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and numeracy skills for complex payroll and pension calculations. • Experience in audit compliance, performance improvement, and implementing effective control systems. • Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills with stakeholders at all levels. • Ability to act strategically while translating objectives into operational deliverables. • Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive working practices. Additional Information: • The closing date: 17/12/2025. • Reports to the Executive Director of Finance; part of the Finance Leadership Team. • Manages 2 fully direct reports (Payroll Manager, Pensions Manager) and partially oversees additional staff (total team 26). • Requires flexibility for occasional evening meetings and work beyond standard hours. • Must be eligible to work in the UK; DBS disclosure may be required.
Permanent
High Needs Block Sustainability Finance Lead
3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The High Needs Block (HNB) Sustainability Finance Lead is a senior finance specialist responsible for leading all financial aspects of Wiltshire Council’s HNB Sustainability Programme. • The role involves strategic planning, detailed financial analysis, and oversight of the £73m HNB budget to ensure financial sustainability of SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) services across the county. • The postholder will provide expert advice to senior officers, Schools Forum, and elected members, contributing to programme delivery, transformation, and mitigation of HNB deficits. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Lead strategic financial planning and sustainability-focused financial management across SEND services. • Provide expert financial advice to senior officers, Schools Forum, and elected members. • Maintain accurate HNB forecasts and ensure reporting compliance with the Education & Skills Funding Agency. • Undertake forensic analysis of SEND expenditure and identify cost drivers and mitigation opportunities. • Develop evidence-based financial dashboards integrating finance and activity data. • Introduce robust financial controls, assurance, and monitoring processes for the HNB budget. • Collaborate with internal and external partners, including DfE-led programmes, to improve value for money. • Support operational and commissioning teams to ensure financially sustainable service delivery. • Contribute to corporate change initiatives and promote innovation in financial management. • Provide constructive challenge to senior managers regarding spend, policy, and service decisions. Skills/Experience: • Extensive experience in local authority finance, preferably within Education or Children’s Services. • Proven track record in strategic financial planning, analysis, and budget management. • Expertise in High Needs Block (HNB) finance, including SEND funding, DSG conditions, and operational guidance. • Experience leading complex, savings-driven programmes or projects. • Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills. • Ability to translate complex financial data into accessible insights for varied audiences. • Knowledge of legislative framework for SEND and local government financial regulations. • Experience in financial assurance, performance management, and value-for-money initiatives. • Ability to work in a political environment and liaise with elected members and senior leaders. Additional Information: • Degree-level qualification; fully qualified accountant (CIPFA/CCAB) desirable. • Full-time role: 37 hours/week, 9:00 – 17:00, 01/12/2025 – 27/02/2026. • Location: County Hall, Wiltshire Council. • Enhanced DBS clearance required. • Occasional travel may be required; UK driving licence desirable. • Participation in DfE SEND programmes and collaboration with external partners expected.
Contract
Resilience Officer
3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Resilience Officer plays a vital role in ensuring Camden Council is prepared for, able to respond to, and capable of recovering from emergencies that may affect the borough. • Working within the framework of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and London Resilience Standards, the postholder will develop and maintain emergency plans, support business continuity arrangements, and build strong partnerships across the Council, with emergency services, and within the local community. • The role enhances Camden’s ability to manage risks, deliver critical services during disruption, and support residents in times of crisis. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Ensure compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and London Resilience Standards, identifying and addressing any gaps. • Undertake risk assessment and horizon scanning to identify emerging and potential threats to Camden. • Lead the development, review and testing of emergency plans and key resilience capabilities. • Support internal services to strengthen business continuity planning and maintain critical service delivery. • Design and deliver training for emergency response teams, Council services, community groups and external partners. • Develop and deliver exercises to test arrangements, capture learning, and inform improvement. • Build and maintain strong working relationships across the Council, emergency services, voluntary sector and community organisations. • Promote a culture of preparedness and resilience across Camden. • Lead post-incident or post-exercise learning, ensuring improvements are implemented and evidenced. • Manage resilience-related projects, independently or as part of the wider team. • Maintain professional competence in line with national and local standards, and produce accurate records, reports and statutory returns. • Participate in the Council’s 24/7 on-call rota as a Resilience Advisor. Skills/Experience: • Experience working within a complex organisation. • Proven experience in emergency or incident response. • Ability to deliver projects and manage challenging situations under pressure. • Strong relationship-building skills with senior leaders and a wide range of stakeholders. • Experience delivering training and exercises to varied audiences. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Strong strategic and analytical thinking abilities. • Highly organised, adaptable and detail-focused while maintaining big-picture awareness. • Calm, decisive and resilient in emergency situations. • Collaborative, influential and committed to continuous improvement. • Ability to produce clear documentation, plans, reports and data analysis. • Ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information. Additional Information: • Hours per week: 36. • Location: 5 Pancras Square, Camden.
Contract
Technical Licensing Officer
3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Technical Licensing Officer will support the delivery and day-to-day operation of Thurrock’s new Selective Licensing scheme, launching in January 2026. • The postholder will assess and process licence applications, apply relevant housing legislation, manage an active caseload, and help ensure that private rented homes across the borough are safe, compliant, and well managed. • The role involves working closely with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies to improve housing standards and uphold statutory responsibilities. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Assess, process, and determine selective licence applications in accordance with the Housing Act 2004. • Apply housing and licensing legislation accurately to ensure statutory compliance. • Manage and prioritise a caseload, ensuring tasks are completed within statutory and service deadlines. • Use digital systems and data tools to record information, track cases, and produce performance reports. • Communicate effectively with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies to resolve issues and promote compliance. • Support housing standards improvement through advice, inspections, and enforcement activity where required. • Maintain accurate records and ensure all data handling complies with internal policies and Data Protection legislation. • Contribute to the smooth implementation of the Selective Licensing scheme as it goes live. Skills/Experience: • Experience in housing, environmental health, property licensing, or a related regulatory role. • Strong understanding of housing and licensing legislation (particularly Housing Act 2004). • Ability to manage caseloads, meet deadlines, and work independently. • Confident using digital systems, databases, and reporting tools. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills for working with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies. • Ability to interpret legislation and apply it consistently to casework. • Commitment to improving housing standards and supporting residents. Additional Information: • The closing date: 04/12/2025. • Location: Thurrock Council. • Hours: 37 hours per week.
Contract
Population Health Management Analyst
6 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Population Health Management Analyst will provide specialist analytical capacity to support the London Borough of Bexley and the Integrated Care System (ICS) at place level. • The postholder will apply public health intelligence, clinical datasets, and PHM methodologies to identify inequalities, design targeted interventions, support service planning, and inform strategic decision-making. • The role bridges local authority public health and NHS partners, ensuring intelligence is aligned, impactful, and used to improve outcomes for residents. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Deliver PHM analytical projects, including segmentation, risk stratification, forecasting, and equity audits. • Translate JSNA, public health, and clinical insights into actionable intelligence for service redesign. • Develop automated reporting tools and dashboards to support real-time monitoring and decision-making. • Provide epidemiological and analytical advice to Public Health, ICB Place teams, and service leads. • Contribute to existing workstreams such as frailty and long-term conditions, supplying PHM insight. • Map and assess local data availability; support readiness for future data integration across health and care. • Ensure high standards of data governance, confidentiality, and compliance with information governance frameworks. • Promote collaborative working across council, NHS, and voluntary sector partners. • Support training and upskilling of colleagues in PHM methods and analytical capability. • Communicate complex findings in clear, accessible language to senior stakeholders, elected members, and non-technical audiences. • Uphold council values including equity, public service, sustainability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Skills/Experience: • Strong knowledge of public health intelligence, population health management, and epidemiological methods. • Advanced applied data analysis skills (SQL, R and/or Python). • Experience working with record-level clinical datasets, particularly primary care data. • Ability to carry out segmentation, risk stratification, impactability modelling, and equity audits. • Experience developing dashboards and reporting pipelines for operational and strategic use. • Understanding of information governance, confidentiality, and secure handling of datasets. • Ability to integrate multiple data sources (clinical, demographic, epidemiological, community insight) to inform service design. • Excellent communication and presentation skills for a wide range of stakeholder groups. • Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and operate across organisational boundaries. • Commitment to continuous professional development and adapting to evolving system needs. Additional Information: • The closing date: 03/12/2025. • Employment Type: Temporary (26 weeks), full-time, 36 hours per week. • Location: Civic Offices, Bexleyheath (hybrid/negotiable).
Contract
Admin Children
2 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • This administrative role supports the DUC People – Children function and is classified under Management, Executive Professionals & Interim. • The position is based in Dorset and runs from 27 May 2024 to 31 July 2026. It requires standard compliance, falls outside IR35, and does not allow expenses. • The role is administrative only (DNU – Admin Function Only) and requires strong organisational and coordination capabilities to support service delivery within the children’s directorate. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Provide day-to-day administrative support to the DUC People – Children function. • Maintain accurate records, logs, and documentation in line with compliance standards. • Coordinate communications, meeting arrangements, and general operational support. • Assist with updating internal systems and ensuring information is kept current. • Support managers and team members with administrative tasks as required. • Ensure administrative processes are followed accurately and efficiently. Skills/Experience: • Proven administrative experience within a public sector or children’s services environment (desirable). • Strong organisational and time-management skills. • Excellent written and verbal communication. • Ability to work accurately with data, logs, and documentation. • Proficient IT skills, including MS Office and administrative systems. • Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines. • Professional, reliable, and able to work independently. Additional Information: • The closing date: 04/12/2025. • Suitable for candidates with a Degree (Admin DNU) or equivalent experience. • Location: Dorset Council.
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