To provide strategic and operational leadership, direction and general management control in the functions delivered by Finance and Property services and to ensure that corporate and service- specific advice is provided as required to the Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executives, elected members and council committees. To ensure that the day-to-day management of service areas within Finance and Property Services is effectively undertaken and that all service activities are effectively integrated and focussed towards agreed council service and business objectives. To contribute, through the Executive Management Team and the Corporate Management Team, to the development of overall council policy and provide strategic direction, in particular in relation to all financial aspects of the council including financial planning, driving efficiency, policy options, performance indicators and financial projections. To act as the council’s Section 95 statutory financial officer. As the chair of the Finance and Property Services management team, take responsibility for the functioning success of the team Job scope The Director of Finance and Property Services reports directly to the Chief Executive of the council and is responsible for ensuring that effective management systems and controls are in place within Finance and Property Services to deliver agreed service outputs to the required quality. The post holder has key responsibility for leading on the council’s revenue, capital and treasury strategies and plans, including chairing the Capital and Asset Management Board. There is a key requirement to contribute to the development of overall council policy in addition to providing the necessary leadership and management direction within service areas. In this respect, the Director of Finance and Property Services post provides a critical link between the operational and service delivery requirements of the council and the formulation and implementation of service and organisational strategy at Executive Management Team and Corporate Management Team level. The post holder will analyse and interpret financial data to provide robust financial control and effective management of council resources, improving performance and mitigating risk. They will positively influence the development of key strategies and plans to ensure they align to corporate priorities and are consistent with agreed financial plans. The Director of Finance and Property Services assumes significant budget, resource and managerial responsibilities as delegated by the Chief Executive and council standing orders and has direct responsibility for a service budget of approximately £36 million and circa 276 FTE staff across the functional areas of Audit, Risk and Counter Fraud; the Anti-Poverty Service; Financial Management Unit; Property Services and the Revenues Unit. The post holder also has direct responsibility for non-service budgets of £72.5 million, such as loans fund, insurance, pensions and benefits payments. The formulation and delivery of service plans and the development and support of employees through the Appraisal and Development Review process is another key requirement of the post. Being responsible for operational effectiveness and service delivery will bring the Director of Finance and Property Services into frequent contact with elected members, other senior managers, community planning partners, external government and other agencies, including COSLA. The post holder will require to form, maintain and develop key internal partnerships to ensure that the other service areas within the council have the opportunity to make their contribution to effective financial planning and tackling poverty, while recognising the key responsibility of the Head of Finance and Property Services. Similarly, the Director of Finance and Property Services will require to maintain and develop key external partnerships in support of corporate and service agendas. They will have a significant impact on the success of West Lothian Council and will have a considerable role to play in influencing its direction. It will therefore be necessary that the Head of Finance and Property Services demonstrates a wide and comprehensive vision of the partnership working arrangements which will be called upon in delivering effective outcomes across public sector services. Allied to this will be the need for the Director of Finance and Property Services to seek opportunities to apply digital solutions to meet existing and future service needs. The need to ensure proper compliance with best value, service audit requirements and quality standards is an important aspect of the job. The areas covered provide a diverse range of services some with a high and sensitive political and public profile and form an important part of the council’s strategic aim to address the needs of service users and communities in West Lothian through effective management and integration of services. To apply please click the Apply Now link below.