About the role
The finance department is at the forefront of the Council’s exciting plans for the future. We are an ambitious and forward thinking Council with a strong financial position and a growing tax base and commitment to continuous improvement.
We are recruiting a Financial Analyst to join the Adult’s Social Care team within the Financial Performance and Support team in Central Bedfordshire Council.
You will be assisting the Senior Finance Business Partner in developing accounting, budgeting, and financial advice while offering financial guidance in the effective management control of the authority’s medium-term financial strategy, revenue budgets, capital programme, and the annual statements of accounts processes. This role reports into the Senior Finance Business Partner.
Key responsibilities will include:
1. As finance analyst you will be responsible for managing a small team, reporting to the Senior Finance Business Partner.
2. Manage, motivate and develop the Senior Finance Officer’s through co-ordinating and planning their workload and monitoring progress to ensure that work complies with statutory regulations and organisational policies and objectives that are in place.
3. Providing support to the Senior Finance Business Partner.
4. Lead on timely and accurate budget monitoring (revenue and capital), ensuring forecasts are received from budget managers and provide robust challenge. Produce quarterly draft financial reports to be sent to; Corporate Management Team (CMT).
5. To liaise with and advise budget holders particularly in relation to budgetary management, forecasting, savings and associated matters.
6. Contribute to the Financial Planning processes, advise and recommend solutions to issues that may arise in the production of a Medium-Term Financial Plan.
7. Providing financial advice, guidance and support across revenue and capital projects.
8. Maintenance of accounting arrangements in respect of one or more Service Groups including: Maintenance and reconciliation of appropriate revenue accounting records. Preparation of year end accounts. Provision of financial management information to service groups. Preparation of Grant claims. Preparation of statutory returns. Financial appraisal of projects and initiatives (including the effects of new legislation).
9. Ability to use business intelligence to develop and evaluate financial options
10. Preparation of reports to members, briefing notes and publications on the Council's financial plans and budgets.
Please note that this list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and you may be required to undertake any activity specified within the job family attached.
About you:
11. You will be CCAB (or equivalent) qualified or working towards qualification, with the drive, determination and enthusiasm to deliver a high-quality service for those you will support.
12. Have public sector accounting and budgetary experience.
13. Have knowledge and experience on the reporting requirements for local authorities.
14. Staff management experince
15. Experience of working on own initiative with limited supervision or direction.
16. Able to analyse and interpret information for several sources and presenting the outcome in an appropriate format to meet reporting deadlines.
17. Extensive knowledge of financial IT systems.
18. Excellent presentation and communication skills both written and oral.
19. Systematic approach.
20. Ability to understand and disseminate complex and detailed technical and professional issues.
21. Ability to establish and continue good working relationships and work effectively as part of a team.
22. Ability to work effectively under pressure.
If you have strong analytical and financial modelling experience and are an excellent communicator and team player, we would love to hear from you. Experience of working within a local authority is desirable for this role, but not essential, and we will provide full training and support.
What we can offer you
As well as joining a friendly, dedicated, and hardworking team you will have access to numerous benefits, including:
23. A hybrid working arrangement giving you the option to work from home and access any CBC office location. We recognise and value the importance of supporting our employees to balance their home and work life and to be able to work in the most efficient way.
24. A £250 one-off hybrid worker payment to help you adapt your home for safe and suitable working conditions
25. A comprehensive IT package to support you to work safely and effectively
26. The ability to work abroad for up to a month a year
27. Generous family friendly policies and practices
28. A welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers differences
29. Friendly and supportive staff networks
30. Annual leave allowance 25 days + statutory holidays rising to 32 days with length of service.
31. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This is a valuable part of our rewards package for employees and includes Life Assurance. You can find out more on the .
32. An exceptional Employee Assistance Programme which helps support employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues
33. A huge variety of courses and role-specific training and learning to help you succeed and develop
34. Access to discounts on top UK retailers and local retailers
Central Bedfordshire Council has its own vision and values that are integral to everything we do. Our area vision is to make Central Bedfordshire 'A great place to live and work’.
Sustainability matters to us. We aim to lead by example in tackling climate change. Read more about the action we’re taking on our website:
Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer.