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Case studies
Read about our staffs' experience
Catherine Peter
Head of Finance Business Partnering: Commercial & Housing
I have worked in Local Government Finance for almost 29 years, I started my career with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and moved on to the CIPFA Graduate Trainee Scheme, where I had various placements within Finance and Audit. I sought to further my experience and moved to the London Borough of Barnet. Whilst there, I progressed from a Senior Accountant to Head of Finance/Senior Business Partner supporting various services.
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A year and a half ago, I took a career break and subsequently joined the Interim Market. My first assignment was with the London Borough of Bexley as a Strategic Business Partner for Commercial. The was different to my previous roles. As a Finance lead, I support Strategic Projects for Regeneration and the Council’s Local Housing Company, BexleyCo. Ltd. This includes modelling & options appraisals, drafting and reviewing business cases and undertaking finance due diligence. This really interested me and inspired me to apply for the permanent role. Starting in a new organisation during the Pandemic was strange, however I enjoy working with various individuals/teams in Bexley and have found them supportive.
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I am excited being involved in the changes that are happening in Finance and the organisation and looking forward to working with a new and enthused team.
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Chris Jullienne
Senior Financial Accountant
I joined Bexley as a Graduate Trainee Accountant just over four years ago. During this time, I have rotated through a few departments namely Business Partnering, Strategy and Treasury. This has put me in the privileged position of learning from many experienced staff, getting involved in high profile projects and widening my view of the council’s operations.
Throughout my time with Bexley, there have been a plethora of openings to act-up into more senior roles. One such occasion, saw me temporarily covering as a Business Partner and another saw me working as the Systems Accountant on a yearlong implementation project. Both opportunities, gave me insight into the Senior team’s decision-making process and procedures, and has greatly increased my understanding of the development of council-wide strategies.
Bexley has proven a dynamic place to work, with good opportunities for self-development. The fantastic support from the Services combined with the finance department’s ethos of continuous improvement will allow all new joiners to become experts in their fields within no time.
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Nickie Morris
Deputy Director Finance
Having worked in the private sector for 25 years across a breadth of finance roles I made the decision to change my career and move into the public sector. I joined the London Borough of Barnet where I was able to apply some of the practices I had developed in the private sector to help improve the approach to and delivery of finances for the council.
After 10 years at Barnet I decided it was time to make another change and head into the Interim market, which I had planned to stay in for a few years. My first assignment was to Bexley where I took up a process improvement and project role, from day one I couldn’t have felt more welcome and I truly thrived on the experience. Not long after joining the role of Deputy Director of Finance and Property was advertised, I didn’t think twice about applying. I have been in the role for eight months now and am hugely excited about the finance team we are developing and the role it plays in supporting Bexley Council.
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Nicky Miles
Senior Financial Accountant
I joined Bexley from a retail job on Bond Street. I was initially employed on a 3-month contract in the Procurement section and then spent 4 years in the team after getting a permanent role. My career then changed direction when I became a Finance Officer supporting adult social care. I then progressed to a Financial Accountant role, still in the business partnering team, before voluntarily helping as a Senior Financial Accountant for public health. During this time, the Council also supported me in my studies to complete my Association of Accounting Technicians qualification.
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More recently, I have been on secondment as a Senior Financial Accountant in the financial and technical accountancy team, which has given me a great opportunity to play a key role in pulling together the Statement of Accounts, and learn more about the application of accounting principles and codes of practice. I have enjoyed the time so much that I applied for the recent permanent position and have just been successful in securing it. The last year has opened my eyes and given me the push I needed in my career, including deciding to return to studying and I will be starting my full professional accounting qualification with CIPFA in the autumn.
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I have enjoyed my time with Bexley so far which is why I’ve stayed so long. The recent changes in management over the last 18 months have started a real step change in how finance operates which will only benefit the council in the long term. Staff are starting to feel supported in their work and being given training and mentoring opportunities.
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Wesley Guy
Head of Business Partnering: Adults' & Children's Services
I’ve worked in Finance at Bexley for over 20 years, first as Business Partner for Adult Social Care and more recently I was promoted in to the Head of Business Partnering - Adults’ and Children’s Services. The role has often been demanding, but it has given me the opportunity to operate at a level which I find rewarding and to feel that I am making a worthwhile contribution to supporting front-line services. It was this, and the ability to apply my finance skills to interesting areas of policy and working with some highly committed colleagues who are focused on delivering for the local community, which has kept me at Bexley.
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Recent years have brought significant challenges to the Finance service as, in common with other local authority services, we have explored new ways of working. It feels like we are now starting an exciting chapter for Bexley Finance with a new management structure and modernised systems. It’s a good opportunity to join the team and be part of shaping the years ahead which no doubt will continue to be both challenging and rewarding.
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