Strategic Finance Business Partner

Role Profile - Details Specific to Job Family

These roles provide a broad service that set policy and provides advice to support and assure all of the council’s day to day activities. They gather information required by other groups to make strategic decisions and translate this into corporate policy and strategic advice. They have little or no direct accountability for outcomes; however, what they are accountable for is the quality of advice they provide to business leaders.

At the lower levels, these roles tend to focus on research and analysis and the interpretation and implementation of policies. At the higher level, role holders set strategy, develop policy and provide assurance across the Council more broadly.

Strategic Finance Business Partner x2

£52,929 - £61,491 per annum*

Job Family: Policy & Advisory Operational Management

Grade: 10

Directorate: Resources

*£52,929 - £61,491 per annum (£63,684 achievable through performance related progression in line with our annual appraisal process)

Shared Finance Structure Chart

Strategic Finance Business Partner
Adult Social Care and Health Communities

The work in this area involves liaising with senior managers directors in both Adults Social Care and Healthy Communities. You need to be discerning and have very good communication skills, to be able to do so effectively. You need to have a very good understanding of the Adult Social Care and Public Health areas, as well as very good accounting and budget setting skills. The work involves assisting managers with all aspects of their budget monitoring, budget setting and end of year accounts closure, as well as their forecasting, commentary and reporting, and reviewing these with senior management.

You need to be aware of pressures facing the services such as increasing demand and reducing funding. You will need to be aware of current and impending legislation that affect the directorate, e.g. the Social Care Reform agenda and the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care exercise, and lead and assist in the preparatory work required.

Role Profile - Job family

Role Profile - Grade

Roles will focus on interpreting and applying policies to support local needs. Thinking is focused on specific parts of the Council rather than the Council as a whole and is usually limited to the annual business planning cycle. Will operationalise plans and deploy resources to meet these plans and objectives.

Lead professionals delivering a capability to ensure the effective, cost efficient delivery of a support service.

Job and role department

The Shared Finance Service ambition is to add value, inspire success and this role is part of the Shared Finance Service (SFS) team collectively responsible for delivering SFS activities to realise this ambition.The role provides direct support to the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering.

The post holder will provide strategic financial business partnering support to the corporate core and front line service areas of the Councils. The post holder will be required to act as a critical friend to the Council, delivering useful analysis and insight that informs strategic decision making and drives strong financial management across the Council. The post holder will support the management of financial risk to protect the financial health of the Council and to ensure financial planning is robust and aligned to Council priorities. The post holder will work as part of the Senior Leadership Team of the service to provide inspirational leadership and drive cultural change to ensure the service reflects the INSPIRE values and achieves excellent outcomes.

Representative account abilities

Apply professional judgement to interpret and apply policies and procedures to meet specific local or service needs.
Provide day to day management and professional supervision to staff to ensure operational plans and activities are delivered effectively.
Provide assurance that the Council’s operations are being conducted within defined regulatory, statutory and professional standards.
Lead small projects and implement changes and improvements within agreed cost, time and quality standards.
Where relevant manage service level budgets and resources in order to support the delivery of intended outcomes and demonstrate value for money.

Budgetary Accountabilities

Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to lead and coordinate medium term financial planning for the Council’s revenue budgets
Support and advise senior budget holders to manage financial risk and protect the financial health of the Council
Challenge and support budget holders to manage within limited and reducing resources
Provide line management and budgetary control over a team of 1-5 FTE’s

Specific Accountabilities

Leadership & Management

Take a proactive role in providing inspirational leadership to the finance team as part of the Senior Leadership Tier of the shared finance service
Provide direct line management of 1-5 staff to support the area of the business you are allocated to as Strategic Finance Business Partner
Support staff development through coaching and mentoring
across the service, helping to fulfil the Shared Finance Service ambition of growing our own talent
Play an active role in Council leadership networks and lead by example to embed corporate values and beliefs

The post holder will be assigned as either a corporate Strategic Finance Business Partner, or as a service directorate Strategic Finance Business Partner. The functional responsibilities for these 2 areas are as follows:

Corporate SFBP

Support the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan and take responsibility for ensuring the MTFP is underpinned by robust and accurate working papers
Lead and co-ordinate the creation of detailed budget estimates ensuring these are implemented on 1 April and aligned to the published MTFP
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to prepare budget reports, analysis, and budget options for consideration by senior officers, Members and Council committees
Provide detailed analysis of grant settlements and other funding announcements, ensuring financial impact on the Council is assessed and communicated clearly to senior officers
Respond to consultations and assess the financial impact of new legislation as required
Lead on future years forecasting and scenario planning for income from Business Rates and Council Tax, working closely with the Financial Reporting & Control Managers to provide expert advice on the budgetary impact of the collection funds
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to align financial plans to other corporate policies and strategies including the corporate plan, and to develop a strong understanding of the Council’s financial position and associated challenges across the Council and external stakeholders
Co-ordinate the completion of statutory returns or ad hoc requests for information relating to Financial Planning or Budgets
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external, taking a proactive role in relevant professional networks and information forums
Work collaboratively with service directorate Strategic Finance Business Partners to ensure key financial risks to the Council are appropriately reflected in medium term financial plans and strategic business partner resource is targeted towards the management and mitigation of these risks
Support the senior management team of the Council to oversee implementation of budget proposals and update medium term financial plans in light of new and emerging financial issues
Provide high quality professional advice on the financial implications of corporate proposals and draft financial comments on Committee Reports to inform decision making
Lead on the development of a SFS culture that encourages challenge and empowers finance staff to challenge services to deliver more from their financial resources by testing the status quo and seeking improved outcomes
Empower staff to fulfil their potential and create interesting & varied career paths through effective apprenticeships and training schemes and supporting individuals to gain relevant financial qualifications

Service Directorate SFBP

Lead and manage the provision of business partner support to one or more directorates, ensuring team resources are targeted towards managing key financial risks and opportunities
Provide direct support to one or more Council directors, enabling them to play their part in protecting the financial health of the Council and supporting them to deliver robust financial management in their service areas
Support the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan and take responsibility for ensuring service budget proposals are challenged and tested to ensure they are realistic, viable, and based on commercially sound assumptions
Support the creation of detailed budget estimates for your service areas ensuring these are aligned to the published MTFP
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to prepare budget reports, analysis, and budget options for consideration by senior officers, Members and Council committees
Respond to consultations and assess the financial impact of new legislation as required
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to align financial plans to service policies and strategies, and to develop a strong understanding of the Council’s financial position and associated challenges across the Council and external stakeholders
Co-ordinate the completion of statutory returns or ad hoc requests for information relating to Service budgets
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external, taking a proactive role in relevant professional networks and information forums
Deliver excellent strategic business partner support to Council services to:
- provide high quality professional advice and support to budget managers, delivering useful insights and translating business intelligence into business success
- support core financial processes and activities for revenue and capital budgets, including financial planning and budgeting, financial management and monitoring activities, and financial year end processes
- support and challenge services to manage key financial risks and play their part in protecting the financial health of Kingston Council
- Add value to the Councils as effective business partners
- Act as the service gateway to the Shared Finance Service ensuring stakeholders have appropriate access to high quality professional advice and expertise from across the Shared Finance Service
Work collaboratively with corporate Strategic Finance Business Partners to ensure key financial risks to the Council are appropriately reflected in medium term financial plans and strategic business partner resource is targeted towards the management and mitigation of these risks
Act as an enabler for your service areas, proactively seeking opportunities to add and preserve value, whilst supporting the S151 officer to fulfil their statutory responsibilities by providing a “S151 perspective” to service decision making
Support the directorate management team for your service areas to oversee implementation of budget proposals and provide updates for inclusion in medium term financial plans in light of new and emerging financial issues
Provide high quality professional advice on the financial implications of service proposals and draft financial comments on Committee Reports to inform decision making
Lead on the development of a SFS culture that encourages challenge and empowers finance staff to challenge services to deliver more from their financial resources by testing the status quo and seeking improved outcomes
Empower staff to fulfil their potential and create interesting & varied career paths through effective apprenticeships and training schemes and supporting individuals to gain relevant financial qualifications
Take a proactive role in providing inspirational leadership to the finance team as part of the Senior Leadership Tier of the shared finance service
Provide direct line management of 1-5 staff to support the area of the business you are allocated to as Strategic Finance Business Partner
Support staff development through coaching and mentoring
across the service, helping to fulfil the Shared Finance Service ambition of growing our own talent
Play an active role in Council leadership networks and lead by example to embed corporate values and beliefs
The post holder will be assigned as either a corporate Strategic Finance Business Partner, or as a service directorate Strategic Finance Business Partner. The functional responsibilities for these 2 areas are as follows:

Corporate SFBP

Support the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan and take responsibility for ensuring the MTFP is underpinned by robust and accurate working papers
Lead and co-ordinate the creation of detailed budget estimates ensuring these are implemented on 1 April and aligned to the published MTFP
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to prepare budget reports, analysis, and budget options for consideration by senior officers, Members and Council committees
Provide detailed analysis of grant settlements and other funding announcements, ensuring financial impact on the Council is assessed and communicated clearly to senior officers
Respond to consultations and assess the financial impact of new legislation as required
Lead on future years forecasting and scenario planning for income from Business Rates and Council Tax, working closely with the Financial Reporting & Control Managers to provide expert advice on the budgetary impact of the collection funds
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to align financial plans to other corporate policies and strategies including the corporate plan, and to develop a strong understanding of the Council’s financial position and associated challenges across the Council and external stakeholders
Co-ordinate the completion of statutory returns or ad hoc requests for information relating to Financial Planning or Budgets
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external, taking a proactive role in relevant professional networks and information forums
Work collaboratively with service directorate Strategic Finance Business Partners to ensure key financial risks to the Council are appropriately reflected in medium term financial plans and strategic business partner resource is targeted towards the management and mitigation of these risks
Support the senior management team of the Council to oversee implementation of budget proposals and update medium term financial plans in light of new and emerging financial issues
Provide high quality professional advice on the financial implications of corporate proposals and draft financial comments on Committee Reports to inform decision making
Lead on the development of a SFS culture that encourages challenge and empowers finance staff to challenge services to deliver more from their financial resources by testing the status quo and seeking improved outcomes
Empower staff to fulfil their potential and create interesting & varied career paths through effective apprenticeships and training schemes and supporting individuals to gain relevant financial qualifications

Service Directorate SFBP

Lead and manage the provision of business partner support to one or more directorates, ensuring team resources are targeted towards managing key financial risks and opportunities
Provide direct support to one or more Council directors, enabling them to play their part in protecting the financial health of the Council and supporting them to deliver robust financial management in their service areas
Support the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan and take responsibility for ensuring service budget proposals are challenged and tested to ensure they are realistic, viable, and based on commercially sound assumptions
Support the creation of detailed budget estimates for your service areas ensuring these are aligned to the published MTFP
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to prepare budget reports, analysis, and budget options for consideration by senior officers, Members and Council committees
Respond to consultations and assess the financial impact of new legislation as required
Support the Head of Financial Planning & Business Partnering to align financial plans to service policies and strategies, and to develop a strong understanding of the Council’s financial position and associated challenges across the Council and external stakeholders
Co-ordinate the completion of statutory returns or ad hoc requests for information relating to Service budgets
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external, taking a proactive role in relevant professional networks and information forums
Deliver excellent strategic business partner support to Council services to:
provide high quality professional advice and support to budget managers, delivering useful insights and translating business intelligence into business success
support core financial processes and activities for revenue and capital budgets, including financial planning and budgeting, financial management and monitoring activities, and financial year end processes
support and challenge services to manage key financial risks and play their part in protecting the financial health of Kingston Council
Add value to the Councils as effective business partners
Act as the service gateway to the Shared Finance Service ensuring stakeholders have appropriate access to high quality professional advice and expertise from across the Shared Finance Service
Work collaboratively with corporate Strategic Finance Business Partners to ensure key financial risks to the Council are appropriately reflected in medium term financial plans and strategic business partner resource is targeted towards the management and mitigation of these risks
Act as an enabler for your service areas, proactively seeking opportunities to add
and preserve value, whilst supporting the S151 officer to fulfil their statutory responsibilities by providing a “S151 perspective” to service decision making
Support the directorate management team for your service areas to oversee implementation of budget proposals and provide updates for inclusion in medium term financial plans in light of new and emerging financial issues
Provide high quality professional advice on the financial implications of service proposals and draft financial comments on Committee Reports to inform decision making
Lead on the development of a SFS culture that encourages challenge and empowers finance staff to challenge services to deliver more from their financial resources by testing the status quo and seeking improved outcomes
Empower staff to fulfil their potential and create interesting & varied career paths through effective apprenticeships and training schemes and supporting individuals to gain relevant financial qualifications

Person specification

Essential Knowledge and Experience

Completed a relevant professional qualification that supports delivery of functional responsibilities (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, MBA etc) or demonstrable equivalent experience of operating at that level.
Experience of working within a business partnering model and/or the ability to demonstrate an awareness of what is required to deliver the outcomes of the model
Experience of working alongside senior managers in a Senior Finance role
Experience of working within a finance team which is customer focused
Experience of delivering strategic finance advice within a large and complex organisation
Experience of providing advice and challenge to budget holders, managers and Finance colleagues.
Experience of leading or providing financial support to change programmes and business improvement initiatives, or development of corporate strategy
Experience of developing in depth technical understanding of complex financial issues to support financial planning

Desirable Knowledge and Experience

Experience of successfully delivering customer engagement activities or business partnering in a large and complex organisation
Experience of developing expertise in non-financial subjects to support customers
Experience of interpreting complex or detailed legislation, policy or strategy documents to identify financial implications and deliver insigh
Experience of developing or contributing to medium term financial plans and strategies
Knowledge and experience of relevant service areas or corporate financial management

Capabilities and Behaviours

Strong numerical and analytical skills with ability to provide detailed and accurate information at pace with little oversight
Capability to work independently, making decisions and taking responsibility for resolving issues
Ability to interpret complex or detailed legislation, policy or strategy documents to identify financial implications and deliver insight
Ability to manage conflict or competing objectives to deliver creative and innovative solutions that contribute towards achieving corporate priorities
Strong performance management capabilities
Ability to develop strong working relationships and establish personal credibility with a wide range of stakeholders both within and outside of the Council
Flexible and agile approach to work that focuses on achievement of outcomes and high quality services that meet customer needs
Enthusiastic and empathetic approach to coaching, mentoring and inspiring colleagues using high levels of emotional intelligence to achieve high standards of personal and team performance
Creative approach to problem solving and improving delivery of finance services
Commercially astute mindset that is open to change and embraces innovation
Open and adaptive approach to leadership, taking personal responsibility for achieving success for the Shared Finance Service

Mandatory accountabilities/requirements for all LBS staff

Ensure all health and safety standards are adhered to for the relevant work area
To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Core
Values and Equality and Diversity Policy and all other Borough and departmental policies and procedures

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