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Home  >  Roles Recruiting > Finance Business Partner: Financial Planning (Systems)

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Finance Business Partner:

Financial Planning (Systems)

£43,590 - £52,482 per annum

Role Purpose

  • To support the development and management of the Council’s annual budget, ensuring the delivery of value for money to our residents.  To support the monitoring of the budget and to develop and co-ordinate the finance systems and processes across the accounting function.

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  • This is one of three similar roles within the Financial Planning Team, which work collaboratively across all aspects of the Council's Medium Term Financial Forecast and broader budget management activities - providing the capacity to deliver the annual budget setting process, monthly budget monitoring, corporate finance comments and driving improvement of the Council's financial systems. 

People Management

  • To be responsible for the development and performance of senior accountants within the Financial Planning team in line with the Council’s HR policies.

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  • To ensure all team members receive the appropriate level of communication to maintain engagement with the Council’s strategic financial priorities.

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  • To develop awareness of the budget production process across the Council and in particular across accounting, working with senior colleagues to ensure relevant training and communication.

Customer Management

  • As the lead Finance Business Partner for systems, to ensure that  Senior Managers in Finance and accountants at all levels are fully aware of all the finance systems related matters , specifically with respect to their impact on MTFF and budget production process and understand their responsibilities in the process.

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  • To communicate the budget production timetable to all accountants and to work closely with them to ensure they have the capacity to deliver all requirements on time and to support them in the preparation of their group submissions.

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  • To support the development of effective external working relationships with other appropriate public and private bodies to ensure the service has the knowledge and expertise to continuously improve its budgeting performance.

Operational Service Delivery

  • To manage and develop the Council’s budget production process and to develop and co-ordinate the annual budget review exercises linked to the development of the Council’s MTFF. To be responsible for the production of the Council’s annual budget book.

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  • To collate and produce the Council’s monthly budgeting monitoring report, clearly linking financial information with the impact on residents and service users.  And to continue to develop the report and the reporting process in line with the Council’s transformation agenda. 

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  • To maintain the financial model to forecast future General Fund revenue and capital expenditure and funding levels, based on analysis of local government finance settlements and intelligence of all funding announcements.

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  • To assist with the development of local models to analyse the impact of the transfer of new burdens from central government.

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  • To provide specific advice and guidance to the Financial Planning Manager and Deputy Director Corporate Finance on issues concerning financial strategy, budget monitoring and funding, across all areas of the Council.

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  • To maintain a system for the provision of ‘Corporate Financial Comments’ on all Council, Cabinet, Cabinet Member and Committee papers and to ensure that all financial implications have been fully developed and based on sound analysis of the proposals.

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  • To prepare the annual budget information for publication, both for consultation and that information required for council tax purposes.

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  • Develop and co-ordinate zero based budgeting exercises across all areas of the Council and challenge and review the output

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  • To assist with the control of the accounting Best Value and management hierarchies, to ensure an accurate single view of the organisation is maintained.

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  • To develop financial management reporting across the Council, continually improving and developing reports and incorporating new technology as it becomes available.

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  • To implement the Council’s strategic priorities, assisting in the formulation of policies to achieve the Councils strategic and statutory objectives, and contributing to the development of a strategic vision for financial services which meets the needs and aspirations of the community.

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  • To contribute to corporate areas of activity, organisational development and council-wide / cross departmental strategies, projects or policies, as required from time to time.

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  • To support the Corporate Director of Finance’s statutory responsibility for financial administration and to represent the Financial Planning Manager or Deputy Director Corporate Finance on corporate projects as directed.

Service Planning & Development

  • Support the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Forecast and Budget Production timetables in order to comply with local and statutory deadlines, following consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance, CMT, finance SMT and all Heads of Finance.  These timetables will form the basis of the Team Plan for communication and management within the Financial Planning function.

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  • Communicate the deadlines within those timetables to the wider accounting function to enable understanding and response levels.  

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  • Support the development a longer term plan for the development and evolution of the Financial Planning function to cover all new areas for activities and the team capability and capacity necessary to deliver the plan. 

Financial & Resource Management

  • Please refer to section 3 as the main purpose of this role is effective financial management of the Council’s finances.

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  • To ensure all purchasing and procurement is conducted in line with the corporate guidelines with appropriate use of the Council’s financial systems.

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  • To ensure that all workforce expenditure is compliant with corporate guidance and that any temporary resource is purchased through the Council’s agency contracts.

Continuous Improvement

  • Implement continuous monitoring of team and individual performance and productivity to ensure the delivery of any Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) are maximised.

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  • Develop and implement improvement initiatives and change programmes using the Council’s Project Management and Service Improvement methodologies.

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  • Continually question processes and practices to ensure optimal service delivery and benchmark against identified good practice across the public sector.

Contacts

  • Primary internal contact will be with other officers and elected Members within the Council.

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  • Externally to be the key contact for all Council financial returns and for all funding awards.  Key external contacts will be with London Councils, DCLG, GLA and the valuation Appeals Office.

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  • Local Authority forums specific to financial planning and budgeting to develop networking links.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Complete other reasonable tasks in order to fulfil role purpose or as instructed by management.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Delivery of a balanced budget for Council Tax Setting Council each February.

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  • Development of a budget book and published on line by 1st April each year.

Person Specification

Key:

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E - Essential, D - Desirable

Qualifications:

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  • Fully CCAB qualified Accountant (E)

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  • Educated to degree level or equivalent (D)

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  • Evidence of post qualification continuing professional development (D)

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Statuary / role specific requirements:

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  • Ability to work flexibly including occasional evening Committee meetings as required. (E)

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Experience:

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  • Post qualification experience working in a local authority accounting team (D)

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  • Demonstrable understanding of local government finance (E)

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  • Demonstrable understanding of equal opportunities in employment and service delivery within a large and complex organisation (E)

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  • Evidence of a clear understanding of the legal, financial and political context of management within a local authority. (E)

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  • Evidence of developing financial strategies and project work in a corporate finance setting and across service boundaries (D)

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  • Experience of working across the full range of the accountancy function (D)

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  • Experience in a management role in a multi-disciplinary organisation (D)

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  • An understanding of working in a political environment (D)

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Knowledge and skills:

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  • Proven analytical skills and ability to clearly present financial information. (E)

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  • Ability to effectively utilise IT packages, including Microsoft software spreadsheets and word processing packages. (E)

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  • Strong organisational and time management skills, proven track record in meeting tight deadlines. (E)

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  • Sound understanding of accounting principles and practices and the financial issues affecting local authorities. (E)

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  • Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate with Members and senior management.​ (E)

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  • Ability to provide constructive challenge and to exert influence (E)

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  • Ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues and good networking skills to work across the organisation​ (E)

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  • A high degree of Political acumen and sensitivity to local political issues. (D)

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  • Ability to contribute effectively in a large complex organisation with plans for transformational change and improvement. (D)

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Competencies:

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  • “Can do” positive attitude - Demonstrates a commitment to changing work practices and processes, and a willingness to try new ways of working or thinking. (E)

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  • Takes responsibility and delivers results -Adapts to changing demands to ensure that objectives are met, overcoming problems and making well considered decisions. (E)

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  • Team working - Acts as a role model to others in the team, sharing knowledge and experience when necessary, whilst respecting and valuing the contribution other team members’ experiences can bring. (E)

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  • Communication - Demonstrates well developed written and verbal communication skills; and the confidence to present reports and verbal accounts credibly to a variety of different audiences. (E)

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  • Customer Care - Develops contacts and relationships with customer/ client groups, regularly reviewing service delivery and taking responsibility to ensure quality service provision. (E)

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  • Takes ownership of personal development - Takes action to develop own and others' capability and knowledge by promoting and supporting developmental opportunities to improve performance. (E)

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  • Credibility  - Gives clear and consistent direction on business strategies and objectives, involving others whilst retaining corporate accountability. (E)

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  • Leads and inspires others - Values the contribution of others and fosters a culture of respect, encourages constructive, open feedback and innovative thinking. (E)

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  • Strategic thinker - Understand and examine the wider public sector business environment, contributing to new business strategies and identifying and managing risk. (E)

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  • Decision maker - Willing to make difficult decisions and remain accountable for those decisions and takes personal responsibility for communicating these. (E)

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  • Management - Ensures effective business delivery through influencing and motivating others, providing direction, promoting a culture of high performance and an environment of dignity and respect. (E)

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  • Passion to make a difference - Strives to improve outcomes for customers, identifying efficiencies and smarter ways of working, and encouraging creative input from others- so that solutions developed are practical, fit for purpose and implemented appropriately. (E)

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