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Head of Finance Business Partnering (Adults & Health)

£65,764 - £76,152 per annum

(inclusive of Bexley Choices supplement)

Main purpose of the job:

  • Each Head of Finance Business Partnering is responsible for leading and implementing the business partnering function for the specified service area. They will act as a partner with the service leadership teams to develop,

  • challenge and support service plans and project delivery and take responsibility for managing and reporting on operational performance for the business partnering team.

  • The post-holder’s primary activity is to ensure the provision of an effective Business Partnering function across all authorities which will challenge the status quo and work in partnership with services to develop new delivery models to deliver significant cost savings and maximise the outcomes for residents.

  • Heads of Finance Business Partnering will work to ensure that finance staff deliver to customers in an efficient manner, within a professional business framework. As a senior Finance Manager, you will be 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 post holder will have a body of theoretical and practical knowledge commensurate with a fully qualified accountant.

  • This role helps discharge Section 151 responsibilities and will lead by example, striving to help build a sustainable, high effective service that delivers exceptional value for its residents through leadership on financial stewardship, insight and innovation.

  • 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. The post holder will have a body of theoretical and practical knowledge with a CCAB or equivalent qualification.

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Main Duties & Responsibilities:

  • To proactively lead the financial advice and support within Business Partnering, particularly with reference to delivering savings and maximising service outcomes to residents.

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

  • To proactively identify areas of weak financial management, risks and pressures and to work with the relevant service to improve them.

  • To work with directors and senior stakeholders to ensure they have the information and tools and develop the skills
    to manage their finances themselves.

  • 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 collaborate with stakeholders to proactively identify areas where finance can add value, including in particular better use of financial data analytics.

  • Contributes to the development and monitoring of service level agreements, KPIs, defining respective roles and responsibilities and quality service delivery.

  • 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 deliver the wider finance activities such as closure of accounts, budget development.

  • Lead in providing strategic financial advice to enable services to deliver continuous improvement in line with corporate priorities and the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, encouraging services to always be looking several years ahead.

  • To ensure effective financial support to programmes and projects, this will include financial modelling, preparation and /or review of business cases and providing advice on commercial aspects of projects.

  • To work with the relevant stakeholders and senior teams, to analyse business objectives, activity drivers and performance issues and identify prioritised financial strategies and plans designed to meet financial needs.

  • To ensure all activities within the service comply with the council’s constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health & safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the service to manager performance and risk.

  • Interpret and implement legislative and regulatory requirements relating to the CIPFA codes of practice, Treasury Guidance and relevant financial legislation.

  • 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.

  • Attendance at evening meetings will be 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

  • Full member of CCAB or equivalent accountancy body. (E, A)

  • Post qualification experience. (E, A)

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

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Relevant Technical Experience & Knowledge

  • Knowledge of Local Government finance framework, including S151, other statutory requirements and code of practice and the key influences on the strategic finances of the authority. (E, A, I)

  • Senior management experience. (E, A, I)

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

  • Excellent 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)

  • Evidence of successful resources management in a multi-disciplinary environment, as well as a successful track record in managing large budgets, business planning, quality and performance management including formulating budgets and financial models, resolution of conflicting priorities, applying rigorous planning challenge and appropriate control procedures. (E, A, I)

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

  • Strategic financial management experience, including translating organisational drivers into strategic objectives, longer term plans, new ways of working and specific outcomes, for a service in a large public sector organisation (preferably local government). (E, A, I)

  • Managing and successfully delivering a number of projects simultaneously, a knowledge of project management and of implementing and operating major changes to service provision. (D, A, I)

  • Experience advising on and preparing business cases for investment decisions including the ability to apply options appraisals and evaluation techniques. (D, A, I)

  • Managerial experience with a track record of high performing teams. Lead and effectively motivate staff by providing coaching, mentoring, training professional development opportunities and appropriate performance management. (E, A, I)

  • Practical experience of the final accounts process. (E, A, I)

  • Proactive involvement in major transformation projects. (E, A, I)

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Skills & Abilities

  • Ability to analyse, interpret, understand and disseminate complex and detailed technical information in a professional and easy to understand way to members, non-financial managers, senior offices and external organisations. (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 think critically, apply innovative and creative thinking to address complex service challenges. (E, A, I)

  • Strong influencing and negotiation tools and techniques to achieve positive contractual outcomes for the Council. (E, A, I)

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

  • Practical experience of financial IT Systems. (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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