Welcome

Dear Candidate,

 

I am delighted that you are interested in the opportunity of becoming our new Financial Services Manager and Hertsmere’s Deputy S151 Officer. I welcome you to access the information available here and hope this will tempt you to apply for this interesting and challenging role.

 

Hertsmere is an enterprising Council, striving for innovative ways to generate income.  A recent independent report describes our finances as being in good shape when compared with other neighbouring authorities and nationally, which is testament to our commercial approach.  We are looking for someone who will bring further innovation and commercial flair to the team and embrace the Council’s enterprising agenda.  This is your chance to provide strategic and operational financial expertise to ensure the long-term financial success of Hertsmere.

 

Hertsmere is a diverse borough made up of small picturesque villages and bustling modern towns.  This varied backdrop, our proximity to London, and excellent transportation links makes Hertsmere an ideal location in which to live, work and invest.  We have a strong sense of community with committed local partners and engaged residents.  Hertsmere’s outlook is undoubtedly positive.

 

The borough has a rich film and television heritage and is home to the world famous Elstree Film Studios which the Council owns.  We cherish the area’s economic heritage in the creative industries and we make sure that the traditional values of innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship are embedded in all aspects of our strategic direction.  We have recently invested in a £15.6m project part-funded by Hertsmere Borough Council and the government’s Getting Building Fund via the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to build two new sound stages and ancillary space. The Platinum Stages, named in honour of Her Majesty the Queen in her platinum jubilee year, were recently completed and will create hundreds of new jobs, plus apprenticeship and other learning opportunities as well as making a return to the Council.

 

To be successful in the role, you will have the skills to successfully manage our dynamic finance team in this fast moving environment and you will have strong technical Financial Accounting knowledge and experience with a proven track record of preparing sound financial statements in a timely manner. Ideally you will have some local government background, although this is not essential.  We recognise and value commitment and hard work and believe that someone who embraces these qualities will make it their business to come to grips with Local Government finance and flourish within this dynamic environment.

 

It is an exciting time to join Hertsmere with numerous exciting challenges that you will be directly involved in if you are successful in this role including:

 

• We are currently undergoing a refurbishment of the Council Offices which we share with our public sector partners the NHS and Hertfordshire Constabulary. The refurbishment has enabled the letting of further office space to the police as well as adapting our own office space to support our new flexible working arrangements including the use of technology to support hybrid working whilst also reducing our reliance on paper. The more energy efficient offices will also help the council to reduce its carbon footprint. 

• We are also investing in Hertsmere’s property development company, Hertsmere Developments Limited, which is now operational and has recently embarked on its first two housing developments. The company’s recently revised business plan also sets out a pipeline of developments that it intends to bring forward over the coming years that will maximise the use of a number of Council-owned sites and will further contribute to the development of housing in the borough, whist also providing a return.

• We also continue the Council’s investment in Elstree Film Studios which in return makes a significant contribution to the Council’s finances.

 

Speaking from experience Hertsmere is a great place to work we invest in our staff and make the training and development a priority. We have an active staff social club and some exciting staff engagement projects underway.

 

I very much look forward to receiving your application, if you would like an informal confidential discussion about the role, please contact Jack Murphy at Allen Lane on 0203 031 9634.

 

​

Matthew Bunyon

Head of Finance & Business Services, Section 151 Officer