PurposeProvide senior financial leadership to stabilise the organisation’s financial position, strengthen core financial processes, and improve the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting. Work closely with the Board, Chief Executive, and Executive Team to support financial recovery and ensure effective information flow across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Leadership &pliance
1. Apply strong knowledge of local authoritypanies and public‑sector financial, legal, andernance frameworks.
2. Ensurepliance with financial regulations and internal controls.
3. Lead assigned financial projects, delivering agreed oues on time and within budget.
Financial Stability & Controls
4. Strengthen financial controls, ie collection, and credit management.
5. Oversee timely, accurate management accounts and financial reporting.
6. Ensure robust systems for payments to suppliers, contractors, and staff.
7. Review and rationalise banking arrangements and financial processes.
8. Oversee risk management, financial resilience, and business continuity planning.
Budgeting & Financial Planning
9. Lead annual and in‑year budget setting, ensuring realistic and evidence‑based financial plans.
10. Strengthen budget management through timely reporting, variance analysis, and corrective action.
11. Build financial capability across the organisation and support budget holders.
12. Ensure alignment between budget monitoring, cashflow forecasting, and wider financial controls.
13. Act as a key link between finance, the Executive Team, and the Board.
14. Strengthen internal financialernance, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and processes.
15. Support the implementation of financial recovery and stabilisation measures.
Digital & Process Improvement
16. Drive adoption of digital tools, automation, and data‑driven processes.
17. Work with technology teams to integrate new systems and improve financial workflows.
18. Identify opportunities for innovation and improved efficiency.
Stakeholder & Partnership Management
19. Build strong relationships with external partners, regulators, and stakeholders.
20. Represent the organisation in senior forums, promoting strategic priorities and achievements.
Customer & Service Standards
21. Provide fair, accessible, and responsive services.
22. Uphold high standards of data protection, equality, diversity, and health and safety.
Person Specification:
Essential
23. Fully qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA).
24. Senior leadership experience in localernment or regulated public‑sector environments.
25. Strong technical expertise in financial strategy, budgeting, audit,ernance, and statutory reporting.
26. Proven ability to operate within public‑sector financial frameworks.
27. Excellent analytical,munication, and influencing skills.
28. Demonstratedmitment to ethical standards,pliance, and robust financial control.
Desirable
29. Knowledge of VAT, treasury management, or repairs and maintenance business models.
30. Experience leading financial recovery or transformation programmes.
31. Understanding ofmercial contracting, pricing, and cost allocation.
32. Additional qualifications in tax, treasury, risk, orernance.
Leadership &munication
33. Experience operating inplex, political, multi‑stakeholder environments.
34. Strong partnership‑building skills with Boards, Executive Teams, and external bodies.
35. Ability to produce high‑quality executive summaries and reports that support strategic decision‑making.
36. Skilled at influencing behaviours and driving collaboration across diverse teams.
Executive ConductExecutive leaders are expected to act with integrity, uphold legal and regulatory responsibilities, ensure safeguarding and information security, and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion. #4773637 - Bhaarat Sharma