Job title: Senior Finance Business Partner / Senior Finance Manager
Salary: £49,764 to £52,805
Grade: PO6
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds City Council - Civic Hall 1-2 days a week with hybrid working offered.
As a Senior Finance Business Partner or Senior Finance Manager 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.
We are seeking to appoint two individuals: a Senior Finance Business Partner to work in teams delivering support to directorate services and a Senior Finance Manager to support the strategic finance function to the Council.
About you
* You can build credible, collaborative relationships with senior officers and other stakeholders, understanding their needs but providing challenge where needed.
* You have good analytical and communication skills and use these to present clear financial information and options to decision makers.
* You can work independently to solve problems, and plan and prioritise your work to meet deadlines.
* You can lead a small team of Finance Business Partners / Finance Managers helping them to focus on the priorities and motivate them to fulfil their full potential.
* You have a good knowledge of core finance processes required for a Local Authority.
* You hold a relevant CCAB qualification or equivalent and have experience of working at a senior level within a finance setting.
What we offer you
* 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
You can also take advantage of our various flexible working patterns including our ‘hybrid’ working model. Staff within Financial Services at present have the option to 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.
How to apply
Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 2nd February – with in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 13th and Friday 14th February 2025.
To give yourself the best chance of being shortlisted for interview, please ensure you describe how you meet the essential requirements for the role, using appropriate examples where appropriate.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles, please contact either:
* Naomi Eastwood, Head of Finance - Strategic
* Alun Ellis, Head of Finance (supporting Adults and Health directorate)
Job Description
Job purpose
* Working either as part of a team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate-based and/or school-based senior officers or working as part of Corporate Finance, 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 financial information is placed at the heart of decision-making, the role plays an important part in ensuring that the council is both enterprising and efficient.
* The Senior Finance Business Partner/Senior Finance Manager will support the delivery of transformational projects within the financial management service, managing their area of service and/or leading on projects/initiatives to ensure that costs, benefits and risks are fully evaluated.
* The post-holder will take the lead on providing financial guidance, support to major projects and other transformational initiatives within a directorate that require a high level of financial support.
* Reporting to a Head of Finance, the post-holder will directly line manage a small number of Finance Business Partners/Finance Managers in the delivery of a range of financial services including:
* Provision of expert operational and strategic financial advice and management information to officers and members in order to support effective decision-making.
* Collaboration with directorate senior officers and budget-holders to produce:
o Annual revenue and capital budgets.
o Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans.
o Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports and financial health reports encompassing both revenue and capital budgets.
o 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 and service reviews.
* Promoting the efficient and effective stewardship of assets and resources, for example by supporting directorate-based senior officers to implement the recommendations of Internal Audit.
* Preparation of financial information required for the year-end accounts and preparation of other financial returns.
Responsibilities
* Manage a small number of Finance Business Partners/Finance Managers delivering a range of financial support services to a Directorate or a corporate finance function.
* Support the Finance Leadership Team to embed a strong culture of performance management.
* Display excellent customer focus and emotional intelligence, effectively role-modelling the Council’s core values and behaviours expected of senior managers.
* Develop and maintain professional working relationships with members and directorate-based/school-based senior managers, fulfilling the role of ‘Trusted Advisor’ and challenging and influencing operational decision-makers to ensure that financial considerations are placed at the heart of decision-making.
* Oversee the application of a risk-based approach to the monitoring of a range of capital and revenue budgets and monitor/assess the effectiveness of the approach.
* Work with directorate-based senior officers and school leaders to build a culture of accountability and strong budget management.
* Co-ordinate month-end/year-end financial processes and reporting in line with organisational deadlines.
* Ensure there is appropriate alignment between directorate Service Plans and Medium Term Financial Plans.
* Provide strategic financial advice and guidance to elected members and senior officers, representing the financial management service at Directorate Leadership Team meetings as and when required.
* Evaluate existing service provision taking into account feedback and broader external developments, to ensure innovative solutions are proposed to maximise service quality, efficiency and continuity.
* Work with finance staff to identify and apply cost effective means of delivering improvements to business processes.
Qualifications
* Hold a relevant CCAB qualification or equivalent and have experience of working at a senior level within a finance setting.
* Evidence of continuous professional development.
Essential requirements
* Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with good negotiation and influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners / professionals.
* Advanced problem solving and analytic skills.
* Ability to work in cross functional teams to deliver projects and support the development of complex financial business cases.
* Ability to develop effective working relationships with members and directorate-based senior managers and other finance professionals to ensure business and financial objectives are met.
* Ability to operate effectively in an environment of volatility, ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity and recommend practical solutions.
* Ability to identify ways of improving financial systems and of being able to evaluate and support the financial needs of long term/large scale projects.
* Be able to attend and actively participate in key project boards within a Directorate or on a cross cutting council theme.
* Able to supervise and motivate staff.
* Up to date knowledge of current financial and accounting developments.
* Thorough understanding of core financial business processes including budget planning, budget monitoring, reporting and closure of accounts.
* Thorough knowledge and understanding of the specific financial and business context facing a service directorate.
* Have an understanding of and be able to support the implementation of new technology.
* Understanding of managers’ responsibility for health and safety.
* Experience of working at a senior level in the finance function of a large organisation.
* Experience of leading, developing and motivating teams including the identification and delivery of improvements within the finance service, managing risks, conflict and changes appropriately.
* Experience of successful coaching, mentoring and developing staff.
* Experience of working in cross functional teams to deliver projects.
* Experience of working with non-finance teams and shared services to influence them to implement best financial working practices.
Essential Behavioural and 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.
* Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity.
* 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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