Head of financial planning

Head of Financial Planning

Permanent

Grade 7 - £66,627 - £85,845

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

About the Role

Birmingham City Council is the largest local authority in Europe, serving over one million residents and delivering essential services to one of the UK’s most diverse and dynamic cities. As we continue our financial reset and transformation journey, we are seeking a highly capable and strategic leader to join us as Head of Financial Planning.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of the Council’s financial recovery and long-term sustainability programme. You will lead the Council’s financial planning function, shaping the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), overseeing budget setting and monitoring, and supporting the delivery of our improvement and transformation priorities.

Working closely with the Corporate Leadership Team, Commissioners, and Elected Members, you will provide authoritative financial advice and play a key role in restoring financial resilience and embedding best practice financial management across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of Birmingham City Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy, aligning resources to corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities
• Oversee the annual budget setting process and multi-year financial planning within a complex, high-profile environment
• Produce and interpret robust and dynamic financial planning and settlement funding models. Understand the key inputs and drivers of such models.
• Provide strategic financial advice to Directors, Cabinet Members, and senior stakeholders, including Commissioners
• Drive the Council’s financial recovery programme, identifying sustainable savings, efficiencies, and income generation opportunities
• Ensure robust financial governance, compliance with CIPFA standards, and transparency in financial decision-making
• Strengthen financial planning processes, modelling, and scenario analysis to support informed decision-making
• Lead and develop a high-performing financial planning team, building capability and resilience
• Support major transformation programmes and service redesign with expert financial insight
• Maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including auditors, central government, and regional partners

About You

We are looking for an experienced and resilient finance professional with the credibility and leadership skills to operate effectively in a complex and high-profile environment.

You will bring:

• A CCAB qualification (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA) or equivalent
• Experience in strategic financial planning, ideally within local government or the wider public sector
• Strong understanding of local government finance, including finance settlements, funding pressures, statutory requirements, and regulatory frameworks
• Demonstrable experience of leading financial recovery, transformation, or large-scale savings programmes
• Proven ability to influence and challenge at senior officer and political levels
• Strong leadership skills, with experience building and developing high-performing teams
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills

Why Join Birmingham City Council?

• A unique opportunity to play a leadership role in one of the most significant financial recovery programmes in UK local government
• The chance to make a lasting impact on the future of the city and its communities
• Work at scale in a complex, fast-paced, and high-profile organisation
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme and employee benefits
• Commitment to professional development and continuous improvement

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements before any employment offer can be confirmed.