3-4 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • This role sits within the Shared Finance Service (SFS) and is part of a wider team collectively responsible for supporting the organisation’s ambition to add value and inspire success. • The post holder will provide financial business partnering support across both corporate core and front-line service areas, ensuring robust financial management and the delivery of high-quality advice in a challenging financial environment. • Acting as a critical friend, they will offer insightful analysis and strategic guidance to inform decision-making, support change initiatives, and help safeguard the financial health of the organisation. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Provide professional, high-quality finance business partnering support to service areas, covering both revenue and capital budgets. • Deliver insightful financial analysis to inform service improvement, operational efficiency, and transformation programmes. • Support strategic finance partners and senior budget holders across the full financial cycle: planning and budgeting, in-year monitoring, and year-end processes. • Advise budget holders in the financial management of complex funding arrangements including capital programmes, revenue savings plans, and shared budgets (e.g., pooled funds). • Identify and support the mitigation of financial risks, ensuring these are appropriately reflected in medium-term financial planning. • Collaborate with internal and external partners, including health bodies and other public sector organisations, to promote joint working and improve financial outcomes. • Assist with the financial aspects of funding applications, grant monitoring, and the disbursement of capital funds. • Provide a financial perspective in service-level decision-making to support the fulfilment of statutory financial responsibilities. • Support the management of debt, working closely with other finance and resident support teams to deliver coordinated and effective solutions. • Represent the organisation in external meetings or forums as required, promoting best practice and safeguarding financial interests. • Where applicable, act as the finance lead for specific strategic partnerships or funding streams such as the Better Care Fund, ensuring accurate reporting and compliance with financial requirements. Skills/Experience: • Proven experience of working in a financial management or business partnering role within a complex organisation. • Strong understanding of public sector financial processes including budget setting, financial monitoring, and year-end closure. • Ability to interpret and analyse complex financial information to support decision-making and drive business improvement. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders. • Skilled in identifying financial risks and developing practical, sustainable solutions. • Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure. • Experience of working collaboratively across service areas and with partner organisations. • Proficient in the use of financial systems and Microsoft Excel to support robust financial reporting and analysis. Additional Information: • Finance Business Partner to support Place Directorate.