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Finance Business Partner (Finance & Corporate)

£50,181 - £57,501 per annum
(inclusive of Bexley Choices supplement)

Main purpose of the job:

  • To be responsible for implementing the business partnering function for the specified service area. The role is pivotal in providing strategic support in all aspects of financial advice for the service across the Council. They will act as a partner with the service leadership teams to develop, constructively challenge and support service plans and project delivery and take responsibility for managing and reporting on operational performance for the business partnering team.

  • Assess situations from a commercial, business or finance perspective; provide appropriate financial advice to support complex business decisions.

  • Business Partners will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure best use of limited financial resources, providing the strategic financial insight, intelligence and support needed.

  • Respond to government and professional consultations, implementation of best practice models and any other such requirements.

  • The post-holder’s primary activity is to provide an effective Business Partnering function to the council and to contribute to the development of the policies, activities and service improvements required to deliver the function.

  • Business Partners will work to ensure that finance staff deliver to customers in an efficient manner, within a professional business framework. The post holder will have a body of theoretical and practical knowledge.

  • Provide advice and support which demonstrates depth of knowledge, expertise and customer focus and be responsible for the provision of revenue monitoring, capital monitoring, budget setting (revenue and capital), MTFS setting, closure of accounts.

  • The post will support the council’s leadership at all levels and develop a strategic and workable response to the financial challenges the council faces in relation to the Services they are supporting.

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Main Duties & Responsibilities:

  • To proactively lead the financial advice and support to the defined service area particularly with reference to revenue and capital monitoring including delivering savings, and the budget setting and closure of accounts processes.

  • To ensure that financial information is relevant and balanced and is received by decision-takers at the
    appropriate level.

  • To ensure that financial data analytics are used where appropriate to better inform budget monitoring and longer term financial planning.

  • To work with services to ensure the accuracy of information input to systems and proper responses to
    system outputs.

  • To regularly spend time in the designated service to become an integral part of the management team within the service area and to develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the service area being supported.

  • Ensure managers within the service areas supported receive the financial management training required to be effective in their roles and are aware of Financial Regulations (in particular the responsibilities of the Director and budget holders/managers) and requirements for obtaining the necessary approval prior to taking decisions.

  • Continually review, update and report on quantified financial risks and opportunities in the delivery unit or commissioning area supported, advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited.

  • To advise the Heads of Finance Business Partnering of any matters that should be referred to the Chief Financial Officer in their S151 role on funding, financial management and accounting requirements in respect of the portfolio of services which the postholder has responsibility for.

  • Working closely with the Heads of Finance Business Partnering to contribute towards the development of the Integra Financial Management System working with the designated service areas and the team responsible for the maintenance and development of Integra to drive improvements forward.

  • To lead, manage and motivate staff through excellent communication, professional guidance, support and
    development in accordance with the council’s policies and procedures.

  • To be customer-focussed and to develop self-service underpinned by reducing finance support.

  • To provide advice and support to Members, management board, directors and deputy directors on the full range of issues within the scope of the job.

  • To ensure effective financial support to programmes and projects.

  • To undertake any other tasks, duties and responsibilities as directed and appropriate to the grade and role of the post.

  • Deputise for the Head of Finance Business Partnering as required.

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Resources:

  • N/A

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Job Activities:

Example outcomes or objectives that this role will deliver:​

  • Budget monitoring information which is accurate and timely.

  • Managers who are able to carry out their own day-to-day financial management responsibilities with minimal input.

  • Member and officer level reports that are based on accurate financial information and robust financial Analysis.

  • Programmes and projects that have effective financial support and which deliver on financial objectives.

  • Delivery of the closure process in accordance with the corporate timetable and appropriate quality standards

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Person Specification

Key: essential (E), desirable (D), interview (I), application form (A)

Education & Formal Training

  • Qualified CCAB Accountant or Equivalent Relevant Finance Qualification. (E, A)

  • Participation in Continuing Professional Development. (E, A)

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Relevant Technical Experience & Knowledge

  • Accounting and budgetary experience, sound knowledge of local government finance framework, accounting principles and standards, statutory requirements and relevant codes of practice. (E, A, I)

  • Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for local authorities. (E, A, I)

  • Good interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, financial and non-financial, throughout the organisation. (E, A, I)

  • Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards. (E, A, I)

  • Experience of attending Member Committees and/or other corporate/board meetings. (E, A, I)

  • Experience of financial appraisals, modelling techniques, development of business cases. (D, A, I)

  • Staff management experience with the ability to lead and develop a team. (E, A, I)

  • Relevant service accounting experience. (E, A, I)

  • Experience of delivery of change programmes. (E, A, I)

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Skills & Abilities

  • Ability to work and deliver on projects in a pressurised environment as well as the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. (E, A, I)

  • 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. (E, A, I)

  • Ability to fully utilise standard Microsoft Office products. (E, A, I)

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Other Additional Requirements

  • To deliver the service effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

  • Work in an agile way in line with a paperless and flexible work environment.

  • Commitment to maintain professional and ethical standards

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Applicants will be assessed against these criteria and the following high performance indicators throughout the recruitment process.
 

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​High Performance Indicators

Innovation

Behaviours for staff: 

  • I respond flexibly and adapt to changing demands

  • I am prepared to take managed risks to achieve better outcomes

  • I ask ‘What if…? to develop fresh thinking and innovative approaches to generate and implement solutions to improve performance and challenge the status quo

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Behaviours for managers:

  • routinely look for innovative and cost-effective ways to improve performance and customer service

  • I champion change and deal successfully with ambiguity, enabling people to see positive and exciting possibilities for the future

  • I take calculated risks based on available evidence and my professional judgement to learn and try new things

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Leadership

Behaviours for staff: 

  • I demonstrate a clear sense of purpose and direction, in line with organisational objectives

  • I am willing to take difficult decisions

  • My personal actions promote a positive image of Bexley

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Behaviours for managers:

  • I take responsibility for my service and for making things happen to make a difference to my service users

  • I create an environment where staff can thrive and show I value and trust staff, give praise and recognise good work

  • I inspire, lead and encourage staff to move forward

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Collaboration

Behaviours for staff: 

  • show respect for others and value contributions from internal and external partners and customers

  • I recognise the right solution, regardless of who initiated it

  • I seek out and work with partners who can help me achieve the outcomes and objectives I need to deliver

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Behaviours for managers:

  • I encourage the feeling that the team is a collective unit with shared goals

  • I engage with service partners and other areas of the Bexley organisation to understand the demands on others and seek solutions as One Council

  • I network internally and externally

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Listening and Responding

Behaviours for staff: 

  • I acknowledge other people’s viewpoints and work with them to find a win-win solution

  • I prepare and present information anticipating questions and problems

  • I adapt my style to the audience and their needs, using the most appropriate communication channels

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Behaviours for managers:

  • I seek regular service user feedback and review customer data to shape service improvements

  • I ask staff for ideas on how to improve our service and how I can improve as a manager, listen to them and act on them

  • I empower staff to make decisions and changes to improve value for money, customer service and productivity

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Open and Accessible

Behaviours for staff: 

  • I see issues from the customer / user perspective

  • I monitor customer feedback and level of satisfaction with the service they receive, and use this to improve and pre-empt customer needs

  • I seek to build and maintain positive relationships with customers and partners

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Behaviours for managers:

  • I am accessible to my service users, customers, staff and Members

  • I communicate and share a clear vision for the bigger picture as well as specific service areas

  • I outline what is expected of individuals and their contribution to the whole, and am consistent in my expectations

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Impact

Behaviours for staff: 

  • I prioritise my activities and resources to focus on those which have the most impact for residents

  • I take responsibility for making things happen and achieving my objectives

  • I make decisions and clear recommendations based on my professional opinion and experience, informed by a range of information and evidence

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Behaviours for managers:

  • I design services that provide value for money and deliver our outcomes, informed by evidence

  • I produce, prioritise and adapt plans to meet changing requirements

  • I set interim goals to achieve notable wins on the way to larger objectives

  • I deal with poor performance

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