Southend-on-Sea City Council is seeking a proactive and experienced Interim Finance Business Partner to join the Children's Services finance team on a 6-month contract on a mainly remote working basis. This is a pivotal role in supporting strategic financial management and decision-making across a high-profile service area. Due to demand, the Children's Social Care Budget is the most pressurised area of spending for the council, and you will work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure financial sustainability, value for money, and improved outcomes for children and families. The budgets are under additional scrutiny and there is a lot of additional reporting and tracking of placements. Key Responsibilities Provide expert financial support to Children's Services leadership Lead budget setting, monitoring, and forecasting processes Deliver insightful cost and activity analysis to inform service planning Ensure compliance with year-end procedures and general ledger accuracy Act as a trusted advisor to Directors and Heads of Service Candidate Profile CCAB-qualified accountant or equivalent experience in Children's or Adults Social Care finance Strong background in local authority finance Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills Confident communicator with senior stakeholders and external partners Able to hit the ground running in a fast-paced, dynamic environment What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays