6 months contract with a local authority  

Job Purpose

• A member of the Senior Finance Management Team, contributing to the overall strategic and operational management of the provision of financial services in the Council and seek continuous improvement within the service.  Responsibility for decision making and approval of finance process (e.g. payments, reserve requests, grants) and reports. 
  

• Manage, motivate and develop the staff within the team providing support to ensure that priorities are identified, objectives achieved and to enhance its overall level of performance and professional standards. 
  
• Responsibility for all aspects of the Medium Term Financial Planning (MTFP) process for allocated directorates; developing and challenging business cases for pressures and savings, demand projections, strategic lead for service specific funding streams and grants, sensitivity analysis and risk assessment and mitigation. Provide support and advice to lead members and the budget scrutiny process.
  
• Responsibility for reporting of the Council’s financial position to senior management and Cabinet, challenging the team to ensure forecasts are accurate, overspends are mitigated and provide suggestions of actions required and potential cost reductions.  Ensure the long term impact of forecast changes on the budget are understood and captured in the MTFP and that savings targets are delivered. Ensure that the outturn position is closely monitored and any variances are understood and explained.
  
• To ensure that robust financial management systems and processes are in place, whilst seeking opportunities to streamline/e-enable and transform them.  Ensure compliance of Financial Regulations and governance processes within the finance team and the Council as a whole. 
  

Essential Experience Required

• Proven leadership skills and experience of managing and developing staff (including performance management and succession planning).  Ability to inspire and motivate a range of employees and generate a positive working environment. 
  
• Experience of financial planning, control, and reporting in a complex organisation which should include some experience in working in a public sector organisation.
  
• Be able to explain complicated and technical information in a manner that can be understood by others with different levels of knowledge on the subject, including senior stakeholders and councillors using multiple tools; written (preparation of presentations and report writing including cabinet papers), spreadsheets (financial modelling) and deliver presentations. 
  
• Ability to apply innovative and creative thinking to complex service challenges and deliver high quality solutions within a highly pressurised environment.
  

Essential Qualification Required

• Qualified accountant (CCAB) with relevant post-qualification experience and evidence of ongoing CPD is essential.  
  

Additional information to note

• Working hours: 37 hours per week
  
• The role requires DBS.
  
• 1 Saxon Gate, East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ – Wednesday in the office – rest of the week home based
  

The role closes soon, apply ASAP.