Director of Finance – Financial Services (Deputy S151)
This is a crucial role for LBBD finance team. A key leadership role supporting the Strategic Director of Resources and acting in the essential Deputy S151 officer. As the Director of Financial Services will provide the strategic leadership and direction for corporate finance, the remit will cover essential financial strategy and policy related to treasury management, annual investment, and capital planning; there is a clear financial strategy leadership role.
Other key functions include
* Lead on the delivery of short, medium and long-term financial plans, budgets and forecasts
* Ensure the integrity and financial stewardship of how the Council’s finances are governed and managed
* Provide leadership for final accounts and external reporting, including managing the relationship with our auditors
Chief Accountant
As Chief Accountant, this role will provide professional finance services to Barking and Dagenham and to its subsidiaries, wholly owned companies and other organisations including but not limited to Be First, Barking and Dagenham Trading Partnership and Reside. The role supports the Director of Finance in relation to the delivery of corporate financial goals and policies.
* There is a strong commercial feel to this role that will appeal in the market.
* Updating financial systems and driving business change
* Provide professional and legal developments consistent with the requirements and ensuring compliance with current legislation and updating policy
* Financial reporting and compliance requirements – maintain key internal and external audit relations
* Lead the timely delivery of the budget setting process, the development of the budget strategy including maintaining the MTFP
* This role has management responsibility for up to 20 staff.
This role is part of the corporate finance management team and clearly has significant responsibilities.
Other observations
There have been a reducing number of significant S151 and deputy roles advertised in the sector for over a year now and this will mean that the recruitment to this post will be hard fought and likely competitive.
At the beginning of year Birmingham City Council advertised an Assistant Director role with Assistant Deputy S151 at a similar salary. Granted Birmingham is a larger Council, it does tend to benchmark itself against the larger councils and London Boroughs. In this sense the roles are likely to perceived as more competitive at the top end of LBBD salary range.
Recruiting in the market at summer is always more challenging with holidays for candidates but also for panel members.
It may be helpful if LBBD is able to consider applicants from outside of local government, perhaps central government, police and health especially at the Chief Accountant level.
For further information please contact Laurence Wolahan -07985 443 826 or Hisham Khan - 0333 010 3858