Job title: Finance Business Partner
Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds City Council – Civic Hall 1‑2 days a week with 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 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 a Finance Business Partner to support the core business transformation team and how it supports the ongoing change project for the Council.
About You
* You must be AAT qualified or equivalent (which may include substantial relevant work experience within a financial environment).
* 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 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.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join us as a Finance Business Partner in our highly regarded Financial Services team.
About The Finance Manager Role
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.
You will be expected to build and manage strong relationships with senior 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.
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.
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.
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 per week worked from the office depending on business need.
Job Purpose
Working either as part of a team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate based senior officers, 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 post-holder will report to a Senior Finance Business Partner / Senior Finance Manager and may be deployed within a directorate‑facing/Finance Business Partner Team.
Services Delivered
* Provision of expert operational financial advice and management information to officers, members and other internal stakeholders in order to support effective decision‑making and respond to enquiries from people/organisations external to the Council.
* Utilisation of service data and financial forecasts to ensure that budgets are effectively managed, budget‑holders are given appropriate levels of support, risks are identified and actively managed and services areas are supported to optimise income generation.
* Provision of independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information to identify inefficiencies, irregularities and performance variances and opportunities for improved service delivery.
* 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.
* 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 year‑end accounts and other financial returns.
* Line management of a small number of Assistant Finance Business Partners and/or Finance Officers.
Responsibilities For Grade
* Manage/supervise a small number of finance staff.
* Display customer focus and role‑model the behaviours expected of a manager.
* Provide accurate and timely financial information, challenge, insight and advice to directorate/school‑based budget‑holders and managers.
* Apply a risk‑based approach to the monitoring of capital and revenue budgets, attending budget meetings for high‑risk revenue/capital budgets.
* Support directorate/school‑based budget‑holders to analyse and understand the key cost drivers within their services.
* Lead on the compilation of challenging and robust revenue and capital budgets for a range of directorate/school‑based services.
* Contribute to the identification and development of service reviews and other savings plans.
* Advise on the optimisation of all current/potential sources of income and alternative approaches to achieve full cost recovery.
* Explain complex data to non‑financial stakeholders to help inform and challenge decision‑makers.
* Provide financial support and challenge to invest‑to‑save business cases and other option appraisals.
* Maintain financial systems, processes and procedures.
Qualifications
AAT qualified or equivalent (which may include substantial relevant work experience within a financial environment).
Skills Required
* Ability to provide independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information.
* Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal partners/professionals.
* Ability to plan and organise own work and that of others competently with minimum supervision, and to meet strict deadlines.
* Sound problem solving and analytical skills.
* Ability to clearly present financial information in a manner appropriate to the recipients of the information.
* Ability to understand and meet customer expectations.
* Ability to establish credibility with senior management and other stakeholders.
Knowledge Required
* Up to date knowledge of current financial and accounting developments.
* Sound working knowledge of core financial business processes including budget planning, budget monitoring and reporting and closure of accounts.
* Good knowledge and understanding of the specific financial and business context facing a service directorate and the relevant legislative requirements.
* Understanding of managers’ responsibility for health and safety.
Experience Required
* Practical experience of providing financial support to directorate‑based managers with non‑financial expertise.
* Management experience including staff supervision, training and development.
* Experience of providing financial support to decision making.
* Experience of supporting service delivery improvements within a financial setting.
Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required
* Take ownership of own personal development.
* Demonstrate a positive attitude.
* Credible and reliable.
* 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 Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
* Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up‑to‑date knowledge and skills.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate with grade.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Equality and Diversity Statement
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
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