Welcome
Could you be our next Head of Finance (Childrens and Schools)?
Thank you for your interest in joining the Finance Team at Hertfordshire County Council.
In common with all public services, we are working hard to respond to the wide range of operational and financial challenges that we face. Drawing on a strong track record of high performance and ongoing transformation, we are looking at every part of our services to identify and implement innovative approaches to continue delivering quality services for all those who live in, work in or visit the County.
This role sits at the heart of our financial and transformation activity, and will directly support our Childrens services department. You will be responsible for leading teams within our well-respected finance function, tasked with driving strategic financial management and planning across the organisation.
The council has always had a strong focus on service performance and transformation. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in Hertfordshire to reduce the numbers of children looked after and subject to child protection plans, as well as improving outcomes for families.
The Family Safeguarding project that underpinned this won the Guardian Public Service Award, and is now being rolled out across the country:
The Council is however not immune from challenges moving forward. The postholder will work with the Childrens Services Management team to develop solutions and further innovation to meet these challenges. This includes supporting the roll-out of the next stage of family safeguarding, with the postholder being an integral part of this ground breaking approach:
https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=3462
Naturally, we need to attract candidates with extensive practical finance experience. As important as your technical skills will be your positive attitude and approach to innovation. We need open and collaborative leaders, who embrace and champion opportunities for change and improvement, and who naturally look to build strong and engaging relationships with council teams and partners across the wider Hertfordshire public service.
You will also want to play an active part in the senior leadership of the overall finance function, working as an integral part of the finance management team to provide high quality enabling services across the council.
If you are ready to help turn our vision of the future into reality I would be delighted to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Pilsworth
Director of Finance
