Job title: Senior Finance Business Partner
Salary: £48,474 to £51,515
Grade: PO6
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Civic Hall 1-2 days a week, hybrid working offered
Leeds is made up of 812,000 people - from a diverse range of backgrounds, speaking over 175 different languages. A city with a unique geography - a vibrant urban centre surrounded by towns, villages and more rural areas, each with their own distinct history and character. We are proud to be a welcoming city, where our rich culture and diversity is celebrated and accessible for all. Every person in Leeds counts and should have the opportunity to contribute their strengths to Team Leeds. Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees and we seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
As a Senior 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.
We are seeking to appoint two Senior Finance Business Partners to work in teams delivering support to directorate services.
About you
As a Senior Finance Business Partner:
1. You can build credible, collaborative relationships with senior officers and other stakeholders, understanding their needs but providing challenge where needed.
2. You have good analytical and communication skills and use these to present clear financial information and options to decision makers.
3. You can work independently to solve problems, and plan and prioritise your work to meet deadlines.
4. You can lead a small team of Finance Business Partners helping them to focus on the priorities and motivate them to fulfil their full potential
5. You have a good knowledge of core finance processes required for a Local Authority
6. You hold a relevant CCAB qualification or equivalent and have experience of working at a senior level within a finance setting
About the role
We are looking for two enthusiastic and proactive individuals to join us as Senior Finance Business Partners in our highly regarded Financial Services team.
7. You will work closely with a portfolio of services, providing high quality financial information and advice, using your business acumen to help senior leaders develop innovative transformation solutions.
8. You will be expected to build and manage strong relationships with Chief Officers who deliver front line Council Services, supporting them in developing, delivering and monitoring robust budget plans as well as providing professional guidance on sound financial management.
9. 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).
10. 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.
What we offer you
11. We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
12. a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
13. flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
14. a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
15. a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Applications close at 23:30 on Monday 26th August 2024 – with in person interviews scheduled for the week commencing Monday 2nd September 2024.
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.
Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. Read our guidance for further advice.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles, please contact either:
Dave McNutt, Head of Finance (supporting Communities, Housing & Environment directorate)
Alun Ellis, Head of Finance (supporting Adults and Health directorate)
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. 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. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Leeds City Council Job Profile
Job purpose
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Provision of expert operational and strategic financial advice and management information to officers and members in order to support effective decision-making.
21. Collaboration with directorate senior officers and budget-holders to produce:
22. Annual revenue and capital budgets.
23. Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans.
24. Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports and financial health reports encompassing both revenue and capital budgets.
25. Service Plans/Business plans incorporating ‘rolling’ medium term financial forecasts that align with directorate operational plans and priorities.
26. Provision of financial information and analysis to support investment/disinvestment decisions and the development of complex business cases and service reviews
27. 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
28. Preparation of financial information required for the year-end accounts and preparation of other financial returns
Responsibilities
29. 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
30. Display excellent customer focus and emotional intelligence, effectively role-modelling the Council’s core values and behaviours expected of senior managers
31. 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
32. 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
33. Work with directorate-based senior officers and school leaders to build a culture of accountability and strong budget management
34. Co-ordinate month-end/year-end financial processes and reporting in line with organisational deadlines
35. Ensure there is appropriate alignment between directorate Service Plans and Medium Term Financial Plans
36. 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
37. 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
38. Work with finance staff to identify and apply cost effective means of delivering improvements to business processes
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
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 It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
39. 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
40. Advanced problem solving and analytic skills
41. Ability to work in cross functional teams to deliver projects and support the development of complex financial business cases
42. 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
43. Ability to operate effectively in an environment of volatility, ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity and recommend practical solutions
44. 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
45. Be able to attend and actively participate in key project boards within a Directorate or on a cross cutting council theme.
46. Able to supervise and motivate staff
47. Up to date knowledge of current financial and accounting developments
48. Thorough understanding of core financial business processes including budget planning, budget monitoring, reporting and closure of accounts
49. Thorough knowledge and understanding of the specific financial and business context facing a service directorate
50. Have an understanding of and be able to support the implementation of new technology
51. Understanding of managers’ responsibility for health and safety
52. Experience of working at a senior level in the finance function of a large organisation
53. Experience of leading, developing and motivating teams including the identification and delivery of improvements within the finance service, managing risks, conflict and changes appropriately
54. Experience of successful coaching, mentoring and developing staff
55. Experience of working in cross functional teams to deliver projects
56. Experience of working with non-finance teams and shared services to influence them to implement best financial working practices
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics
57. Understand and embrace and codes of conduct.
58. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
59. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
60. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
61. Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
62. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
63. Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
64. Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
65. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
66. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
67. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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