Assistant Finance Business Partner (Childrens and Families - Schools)
Job title: Assistant Finance Business Partner
Salary: £38,626 to £41,511
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Temporary for 12 months
Location: Civic Hall 1-2 days a week, hybrid working offered
We are seeking to appoint a permanent Assistant Finance Business Partner to work in the Leeds City Council Financial Services to Schools Team.
The Financial Services to Schools team supports all maintained schools within Leeds. The Assistant Finance Business Partner role is a varied and challenging role in which you will assist in the delivery of our traded financial service to schools. You will be expected to build and manage strong relationships with our client head teachers and business managers. You will support them in setting and monitoring their school budgets as well as providing professional guidance on school financial management. You will also have involvement in providing training and delivering a variety of projects and developments within the team.
As an Assistant Finance Business Partner in Financial Services, you'll thrive on working in a professional, enthusiastic and supportive team, who care about making a difference through high quality service delivery and continuous improvement.
About you
As an Assistant Finance Business Partner:
* You can build credible, collaborative working relationships with officers and other stakeholders.
* You have good analytical and communication skills and use these to present clear financial information and options to decision makers.
* You can work support Finance Business Partners to solve problems, and plan and prioritise your work to meet deadlines.
* You have a good knowledge of core finance processes and are part AAT qualified or equivalent as a minimum.
In your application, please give us examples that show how you meet the requirements in the job description for skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours.
About the role
We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join us as an Assistant Finance Business Partner in our highly regarded, school finance team. You will work closely with a portfolio of schools, providing high quality financial information and advice.
We have a strong track record of helping people develop their Finance careers, alongside our commitment to improving diversity and wellbeing. In addition to training, development and mentoring, employees can also gain experience in our different Finance teams (the job description for this vacancy is generic to reflect this flexibility).
You can also take advantage of our various flexible working patterns including our 'hybrid' working model. Staff within Financial Management at present work both in the office and from home, with an average of 1-2 days worked from the office a week depending on business need.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact: Barbora Dostalova (Senior Finance Business Partner), call 0113 3367372 or email barbora.dostalova@leeds.gov.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job purpose
Working as part of the team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate based and/or school-based senior officers and budget-holders, the post-holder will model the Council's values and behaviours in order to help us achieve our ambition of being the best council in the country.
By helping make sure that accurate, timely and user-friendly financial information is placed at the heart of decision-making, the Finance Business Partner role plays an important role in ensuring that the council is both enterprising and efficient.
Responsibilities
* The post-holder will support Finance Business Partners in the delivery of a range of financial services to directorates and/or schools including:
* Provision of operational financial advice and management information to officers, members and other internal stakeholders to support effective decision-making and the provision of timely responses to enquiries from people/organisations external to the Council
* Collaboration with senior officers and budget-holders to produce:
1. Annual revenue and capital budgets
2. Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans
3. Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports, financial dashboards and financial health reports encompassing both revenue and capital budgets
4. Service Plans/Business plans incorporating 'rolling' medium term financial forecasts that align with directorate operational plans and priorities.
* Provision of financial information and analysis to support investment/disinvestment decisions and the development of complex business cases
* Promoting the efficient and effective stewardship of assets and resources, for example by supporting directorate-based and school-based senior officers to implement the recommendations of Internal Audit
* Preparation of year-end accounts and other financial returns
Responsibilities for Grade:
* Support Finance business partners to provide timely and accurate financial information and advice to budget-holders and other stakeholders
* Work with budget holders to ensure accurate and timely budget monitoring in relation to budgets identified as 'Medium' risk, attending budget meetings as required
* Support the identification of long term trends in demand, demography, inflation and other financial parameters
* Assist budget holders in the planning and monitoring of budgets assessed as 'Low/Medium Risk'.
* Matrix manage others, taking responsibility for their coordination, development and appraisal, supporting people to reach their full potential
* Monitor and support performance improvement and use a coaching approach to develop team members and maximise their contribution, adapting your approach according to individual needs, whilst complying with the council's people management principles and policies.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
* AAT part-qualified or equivalent (which may include substantial relevant work experience within a financial environment)
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
* Ability to produce accurate, user friendly financial analyses and dashboards using computerised financial management systems, windows based applications including excel and other line of business computer systems
* Sound written, oral communication and interpersonal skills
* Ability to support the effective working of a team through supporting and advising colleagues
* Ability to question and analyse data and to present it in a coherent and user friendly format
* Ability to take decisions using your initiative that result in improved service delivery
* Ability to explain financial matters clearly to managers using appropriate means and provide advice on actions required
* Ability to maintain the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
Knowledge Required
* Working knowledge of accountancy in a financial service background including budget planning, monitoring and closure of accounts
* Have a sound working knowledge of standard IT applications used in an office environment and the use a computerised financial ledger
* Understanding of employees' responsibility for health and safety.
Experience Required
* Working experience of all aspects of the annual financial cycle
* Experience of providing financial services in a complex organisation
* Experience of maintaining good working relationships in the delivery of financial advice services
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
* To demonstrate the council's values, behaviours and manager habits in all aspects of your day to day work
* To demonstrate an inclusive and engaging leadership style and positively promote the equalities agenda
* To carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under the Council's Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
* To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
* Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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