Assistant Director: Corporate Finance

Strategic Advisory

• Help shape the direction of the council to ensure delivery of its priorities and value to residents

• Support development of a strategic vision for the service to enable the council to meet its future challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Work closely with all senior stakeholders and Members to ensure best use of limited financial resources, providing the strategic financial advice, insight, intelligence and support needed

• Continually review, update and report on financial risks and opportunities, advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited

• Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of the finance business plan

• Proactively identify trends and changes in the operating environment (e.g. legislation, technology, policy, etc.) that could financially impact service delivery; provide advice and collaborate on potential solutions

• Oversight and responsibility for the Council’s insurance arrangements in respect of the Council's risks, assets and liabilities, using the most appropriate means.

• Ensure that operational risk management is considered across the Council and that cross department risk issues are dealt with jointly.

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Financial Management

• Take a lead on the council’s capital strategy, ensuring that the capital programme is efficiently funded, that all MRP calculations are performed accurately and that all the necessary financial information is made available to relevant stakeholders

• Advise on investment and funding strategies including investment risk and performance

• Instigate, develop and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding that contribute towards identified funding gaps

• Advise the Director of Finance and Corporate Director of Resources in their S151 role (and act as their advocate) on funding, financial management and accounting requirements

• Ensure appropriate controls operate over the general ledger and any issues are promptly resolved.

• Develop and improve the Council’s financial reporting framework developing and implementing improvements to quality and control on an annual basis or more frequently

• Ensure a balanced budget for both capital and revenue is loaded onto the general ledger annually and is maintained at all times

 

Financial Reporting

• To lead and be responsible for the annual coordinating and closure of the Accounts in consultation with the senior finance leadership team

• To coordinate and ensure quality assurance over other corporate reports including statutory returns

• To lead and be responsible for the interpretation of the accounting standards, incorporating professional codes of practice, IFRS, the accounts and audit regulations, the accounting code of practice, the best value code and any other relevant regulations

• To manage and determine technical treatment of complex financial accounting rules

• Act as principal adviser for accounting for tax liabilities

• Take responsibility for the maintenance of the financial systems supporting the chart of accounts and the integrity of the general ledger

• Develop appropriate financial models and analytics to determine and communicate the impact of changes to technical accounting requirements

• Prepare and present informative, high quality reports to members and other senior stakeholders that aid in informed service and corporate decision making

 

Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Strategic oversight of the production of the medium term financial plan, undertaking all necessary resourcing forecasts and determining required savings to achieve a balanced budget over the period

• Develop appropriate financial models and analytics to determine financial impact of future service demands, changes in legislation and other factors on the Council’s medium term financial envelope

• Reporting and advising on the outcomes of the medium term financial planning process to key stakeholders through drafting budget reports, council tax reports, the medium term financial strategy, and other ad hoc reports as required

• Providing leadership and guidance on the medium term financial implications of policy framework changes relating to the Council’s corporate functions, identifying options to mitigate their effect

• Work with the Head of Finance and Finance Managers responsible for the capital programme to manage and co-ordinate the overall control of the Councils funding position across capital and all revenue funds, ensuring spend is approved through due process including the use of capital funding, corporate reserves and balances

• Ensure that the business partnering team are kept up to date on any significant changes within the planning process and are therefore able to effectively advise their respective service leads

• Establish and maintain key linkages across the council including but not limited to Treasury Management, Revenues & Technical Services, and Community Wealth Building to support maximisation of funding opportunities.

• Instigate, develop and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding that contribute towards identified funding gaps

 

Customer Focus

• To act as a ‘bridge’ between financial reporting requirements for statutory purposes and financial reporting for decision making (management accounting)

• Act as a key financial advisor and service delivery partner, providing strategic support and constructive challenge through superior negotiation and influencing skills

• Contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused finance service that is proactive and creative, looking for ways to shape and influence service decisions and taking joint responsibility for the outcomes achieved

• Actively engage, communicate and influence within the council, across partners and with the wider local and central government community to champion a unified public service approach

• Foster the development of social value and community-based organisations to reduce demand and help communities more independently support themselves

 

Compliance

• Ensure policies, procedures and controls are compliant with all relevant legislation, codes, regulations, guidelines, standards and best practice.

• Together with the senior finance leadership, team take ownership of the Council’s financial control environment including the proactive assessment, monitoring and implementation of effective financial controls

• To be responsible for the smooth operation of the final accounts audit process and the delivery of an unmodified opinion on the Councils accounts.

• Ensure there is effective integration between internal and external audit activities

• Together with the senior finance leadership team take ownership of the Council’s financial risk management process, leading on financial reporting risks and coordinating other financial risk management activities

• Ensure that all activities within the service comply with the council’s constitution, financial regulations, health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the service to manage performance and risk.

• Promote high levels of financial control and implement solutions to strengthen compliance

• Liaise with internal audit and take ownership of recommendations as appropriate ensuring implementation.

 

Leadership and Management

• Provide leadership that encourages staff to recognise their contribution to the strategic objectives the council has set

• Foster a high-performance culture including carrying out internal service reviews to improve value for money and efficiency

• Lead and effectively motivate staff by providing coaching, mentoring, training, professional development opportunities, and appropriate performance management

• Build a credible and responsive team who are respected for their depth of knowledge, expertise and customer focus

• Deputise for the Assistant Director of Finance as required

• Enable and encourage a flexible working environment

• Champions a culture that values equality and diversity, and ensures these are built into the delivery of services

• Promotes a culture that values continuous personal and professional development

• Demonstrates a high level of personal drive and energy that sets an example to others

• Fosters a dynamic, achievement orientated culture

• Work collaboratively with peers and stakeholders

• Takes responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

 

Change and Improvement

• Lead in the development, implementation and review of change management programmes to deliver continuous improvement

• Proactively seek and identify commercial opportunities that generate income and provide innovative solutions to service delivery challenges

• Proactively seek and take responsibility for implementing internal process improvements, demonstrating the business case for change and benefits achieved

• Support opportunities for council-wide transformation and alternative service delivery models

• Contribute to the creation of a new digital culture within the service by embracing technology in every-day activities and actively seeking digital improvement opportunities in support of a service-wide digital strategy

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Ensure effective Financial Management, cost controls and income maximisation in an ever changing environment, fluctuating demands and priorities. Ensure resources are well managed and effectively deployed to the best possible effects assuring value for money in all activities.

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• Excellent technical accounting skills and an ability to translate complex concepts into a form accessible to others.

• 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

• Able to lead, inspire and motivate a range of employees and generate a positive working environment

• Ability to think critically, apply innovative and creative thinking to address complex service challenges

• Delivers professional and persuasive presentations to large internal and external groups

• 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.

• Well-developed IT skills (MS Office suite, financial systems, data Visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI)

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