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Finance Manager: Systems

£52,482 - £58,779 per annum

Reports to: Head of Finance: Chief Accountant

Grade: L

Location: Colindale

Purpose of job

As a finance manager you are expected to be a professional lead within your respective area of finance, provide expertise and high quality financial services to senior stakeholders, proactively contribute to the achievement of the finance service’s vision, and contribute towards an innovative, high performance and continuous improvement culture.

The financial systems manager is expected to be the service’s lead expert on Integra (or any successor system) and effectively manage interfaces between it and other Council operational systems in collaboration with IT colleagues.

This role will lead by example, modelling and embedding the council’s values and behaviours through working collaboratively with peers, service colleagues, partners and stakeholders. A finance manager is expected to make a significant contribution towards building a sustainable, highly effective service that delivers exceptional value for its residents through leadership on financial stewardship, insight and innovation.

Key accountabilities

Strategic Advisory:

Inform a strategic vision for the future development of the service that enables the council to meet its future challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Contribute towards the development and implementation of the Council’s financial strategy, fundamentally ensuring sustainability over the medium term
Work closely with all stakeholders to ensure best use of limited financial resources, providing the strategic financial advice, insight, intelligence and support needed
Continually review, update and report on financial risks and opportunities, advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited
Proactively identify trends and changes in the operating environment (e.g. legislation, technology, policy, etc.) that could financially impact service delivery; provide advice and collaborate on potential solutions

Financial Management:

Draw on knowledge of Council services and the related financial complexities, to ensure the provision of systems and procedures that enable effective budgetary control
Promote a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services and knowledge of key cost drivers
Support the development of outcome based commissioning models to better ensure strong price competition and transfer of risks through contracts with third parties
Assist the head of finance in managing performance indicators and relationships within service contracts towards continued service improvement, value for money and generating social value
Prepare and present informative, high quality reports to senior stakeholders that aid in informed service and corporate decision making
Advise on investment and funding strategies including investment risk and performance

Systems Management:

To oversee the effective operation of all finance IT systems, including Integra (or any successor systems), with a particular focus on continuous improvement in relation to finance processes, and maximisation of system benefits
To project manage all changes to the Integra system (or any successor systems) and processes, ensuring that the necessary consultation, testing and user acceptance sign off is carried out as required.
To oversee the management and maintenance of the chart of accounts and business rules in the Integra system (or any successor system)
To ensure that the Council stays abreast of all finance IT system updates from finance IT systems suppliers
To oversee and manage the reconciliation and interface process for all finance IT systems
To regularly review the effectiveness of all interfaces into the Integra system (or any successor system) and to take a lead role in ensuring that changes to systems outside of Finance work well with the Finance systems.
To oversee and control changes to the Integra system (or any successor system) chart of accounts, including controls in relation to set up of new accounts and housekeeping review

Systems training:

To oversee the preparation and maintenance of Finance IT system manuals and user guides setting out how all the finance IT systems within the service operate, including manual processes and the systems that interface with Integra (or any successor system)
To oversee and lead the training of staff on all finance systems, including new configurations of the existing systems, ensuring that correct usage is embedded
Ensure members of the team, directors and budget holders receive the financial systems training required to be effective in their roles

Finance transformation:

With the FM: L&D and Continuous Improvement modernise the financial systems and infrastructure to ensure that it is fit for purpose both now and in the future

Customer Focus:

Act as a key financial advisor and service delivery partner, providing strategic support and constructive challenge through negotiation and influencing skills
Contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused finance service that is proactive and creative, looking for ways to shape and influence service decisions and taking joint responsibility for the outcomes achieved
Engage, communicate and influence within the council, across partners and with the wider local and central government community towards a unified public service approach
Foster the development of social value and community-based organisations to reduce demand and help communities more independently support themselves
Build and maintain a good working relationship with the Barnet IT service and external system/software suppliers to ensure that the finance systems are fully embedded into the overall IT strategy.

Compliance:

To lead and influence the finance team and wider business in respect of data integrity and data quality, with reference to finance IT systems.
To set the finance standards and guidelines in respect of data quality and integrity and to actively promote it across the business.
Ensure that all activities within the service comply with the council’s constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the service to manage performance and risk.
Make a contribution towards the closure of accounts, support the external audit opinion and deliver appropriate financial returns
Support an effective system of financial controls across the organisation with adequate review and coverage within the annual internal audit plan

Leadership and management

Provide leadership that encourages staff to recognise their contribution to the strategic objectives the council has set
Foster a high-performance culture including carrying out internal service reviews to improve value for money and efficiency
Lead and effectively motivate staff by providing coaching, mentoring, training, professional development opportunities, and appropriate performance management
Develop credible and responsive assistant finance managers and finance officers who are respected for their knowledge base, expertise and customer focus
Deputise for a head of finance as required
Enable and encourage a flexible working environment

Change and improvement

Assist in the development, implementation and review of change management programmes to deliver continuous improvement
Proactively seek and identify commercial opportunities that generate income and provide innovative solutions to service delivery challenges
Proactively seek and take responsibility for implementing internal process improvements, demonstrating the business case for change and benefits achieved
Support opportunities for council-wide transformation and alternative service delivery models
Proactively seek for opportunities to make incremental enhancements and improvements to current and future finance systems, reporting and data analytics capabilities
Contribute towards a new digital culture within the service by embracing technology in every-day activities and actively seeking digital improvement opportunities in support of a service-wide digital strategy

Responsibilities

Staff:

Manage between 1 and 6 staff members

Financial:

Indirect responsibility for managing the Council’s gross expenditure of approximately £982m shared with all members of the service

Health and safety:

Ensure safe and efficient delivery of service by achieving high standards of health and safety and reducing risk.

Promotion of corporate values

To ensure that customer care is maintained to the agreed standards according to the council’s values. To ensure that a high level of confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of work.

Flexibility

Work with a degree of flexibility required to perform work not specifically referred to above although falling within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

The Council’s commitment to equality

Work with a degree of flexibility required to perform work not specifically referred to above although falling within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications required

Professional qualifications/memberships:

Member of CCAB, (preferably CIPFA), or eligible to qualify within 6-12 months (Desirable)

Evidence of significant relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Education:

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Technical knowledge / requirements

Experience & Knowledge:

Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for relevant service areas
Experience in persuading stakeholders to work together, encouraging an organisational focus on the needs of the community
Strong interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, technical and non- technical
Significant experience of implementing and maintaining a robust finance IT systems control environment ensuring that all reconciliations and postings are carried out to timetable and an appropriate standard
Demonstrable experience in interpreting, structuring and optimising large commercial data sets (both financial and non-financial) to ensure the business able to take advantage of enhancing insight
Significant practical experience in maintaining financial records and undertaking complex reconciliations.
Experience with system integration, improvement and modernization
Managing and successfully delivering projects, a knowledge of project management
Experience preparing business cases for investment decisions including the ability to apply options appraisals and evaluation techniques
Experience of working effectively in an area with competing demands and tight time-scales.
Practical experience of the final accounts process

Skills & abilities:

Able to lead, inspire and motivate a range of employees and generate a positive working environment
Ability to think critically, apply innovative and creative thinking to address complex service challenges
Committed to corporate and collegiate working across the service
Well-developed IT skills (MS Office suite, financial systems, data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
Resilience, not easily deterred in the face of challenges
Demonstrate the ability to communicate, both written and oral, complex financial issues to members, non-financial managers, senior officers and external organisations

Behavioural Competencies

Communicating and influencing:

Ability to clearly communicate with and influence staff members and external stakeholders
Delivers professional and persuasive presentations to internal and external stakeholders
Ability to develop effective relationships with internal and external partners
Strong interpersonal skills and able to challenge, support, influence and engage senior management and peers.
Emerging negotiation tools and techniques

Respecting others:

Champions a culture that values equality and diversity, and ensures these are built into the delivery of services

Striving for excellence:

Demonstrates a high level of personal drive and energy that sets an example to others
Fosters a dynamic, achievement orientated culture

Political awareness:

Ability to work effectively in a political environment and establish positive relationships with councillors, senior managers, staff, external partners and interest groups in a way that establishes confidence, credibility and trust.

Setting direction:

Lead the organisation in regard to all financial matters
Ensures there is a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to change
Promotes a vision for the future that inspires others

Managing performance:

Managerial experience with a track record of high performing teams

Developing talent:

Promotes a culture that values continuous personal and professional development

Change management:

Track record of supporting transformational change in a complex organisational environment.

Project Management:

Effective user of consultancy and project management tools and techniques

Team working:

Work collaboratively with peers and stakeholders
Creates a positive team spirit where team members work together to achieve shared goals
Constructively uses conflict as an opportunity to generate innovative solutions

Cross Barnet working:

Identifies opportunities for co-operation and interdependency across groups and delivery units
A solid understanding of the relevant legal, commercial, political, operational and social community aspects of a similar diverse and complex environment.

Partnership working:

Practical evidence of developing and maintaining good working relationships with a wide range of customers/stakeholders, developing a positive personal and organisational profile and building partnerships

Customer service:

Delivers service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

Critical thinking:

Analyses information objectively, considering the facts and differing perspectives to reach a sound, logical conclusion.

Problem solving:

Highly developed problem solving and analytical skills
Ability to analyse data , identify current and future trends to produce meaningful reports
Ability to interpret reports in order to produce findings and recommendations for actions/areas of improvement

Delivering at pace:

Takes responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.