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Head of Finance Business Partnering

£75,144–£89,730 per annum

£94,092 unconsolidated maximum achievable through performance related progression in line with our annual appraisal process.

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Brief Description of job role and department

The Shared Finance Service ambition is to add value, inspire success and this role is part of the Shared Finance Service (SFS) management team collectively responsible for delivering SFS activities to realise this ambition. The role provides direct support to the Director of Finance and to the s151 officer for Kingston council and will be required to deputise the S151 role as required. The post holder is required to manage the business partner support to the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) and Council services (including the Housing Revenue Account). The post holder will be part of the Finance Management Team working collaboratively to lead the service as a whole to deliver excellent financial services.

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Representative accountabilities

  • Provide professional expertise to apply best practice to support the development and implementation of operational plans and ensure on-going professional development of self and others.

  • Provide information to Elected Members to enable them to monitor and delivery of their political objectives and priorities.

  • Implement policies to support the delivery of Council objectives and plans and that comply with all relevant legislation and statutory requirements.

  • Manage discrete programmes and projects to ensure they deliver their outcomes within agreed standards of cost and time.

  • Where relevant, develop, motivate and set performance objectives for a senior team/staff in order to support a culture of high quality organisational performance. 

  • Where required, manage devolved budgets and resources in order to support the delivery of intended outcomes and demonstrate value for money.

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Budgetary accountabilities

  • Budget for Financial Business Partnering (Kingston) team of approx £0.7k - £1m

  • Manager for Finance Business Partnering (Kingston) team of approx 10-15 FTEs

  • Responsible for provision of support, advice and challenge to Kingston council on strategic financial planning and management of financial risk

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Specific accountabilities

The remit of the role is to deliver strategic leadership and management to the Shared Finance Service and be accountable for specific functional areas in the Finance Business Partnering (Kingston) team. The post holder will be responsible for leading the provision of high quality business partner support to Kingston’s Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) and Council services.  

 

Strategic Leadership and Management​:

  • Take collective responsibility as part of the Shared Finance Service Management Team for delivering activities that will realise the Shared Finance Service ambition to add value, inspire success

  • Demonstrate strong and confident leadership of the Shared Finance Service, inspiring staff to deliver excellent finance services to Kingston and Sutton Councils

  • Lead the Shared Finance Service to develop a culture that reflects the INSPIRE values and to achieve business plans and corporate objectives

  • Have a good understanding of the role and function of all finance teams to be able to contribute to the strategic management of the service as part of the Shared Finance Service Management Team.

  • Provide strategic support and advice to Council committees, Councillors, Member boards and corporate governance arrangements in financial matters for RBK

  • Develop strategic partnerships and effective relationships with external partners

  • Undertake the role of Company Director for one or more Council owned companies as required

  • Support the Council’s emergency planning (EP) requirements as required at CHOS level and be on the CHOS duty rota for silver level EP response

  • Lead and Manage the Finance Trainee scheme if required

 

Functional Responsibilities:

  • Line manage 4 FTEs within the Finance Business Partnering Team and provide performance management which drives high standards of performance and achieves excellent outcomes

  • Lead staff across the finance service to support the RBK AD, Finance, the RBK S151 officer and Kingston Councillors to develop protect the financial health of Kingston Council

  • Provide consistently high quality support, advice and challenge to RBK AD, Finance and RBK S151 officer in all aspects of financial management and the management of financial risk

  • Contribute to an annual budget report (incorporating revenue, capital, DSG and HRA) that sets out the detailed budget plans and MTFP for Kingston council in line with relevant accounting guidance and local government legislation

  • Be responsible for the provision of excellent strategic business partner support to SLT and 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

  • Lead and control the financial aspects of the RBK HRA Business Plan and support budget holders to manage HRA budgets and investment to deliver corporate plan objectives

  • Lead on the development of a Shared Finance Service culture that supports non-finance managers to understand and operate within capital accounting requirements

  • 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

  • Be responsible for supporting services to deliver robust financial management in year that supports successful achievement of planned savings, implementation of budget proposals and management of risk, and to ensure service based financial issues are appropriately taken into account in corporate financial planning.

  • Analyse complex data and information sources to interpret legislative or policy changes that impact on service financial planning, and to develop business intelligence that offers insight and strategic analysis to support strategic decision making

  • Lead and coordinate strategic business partner support to service led transformation projects

  • Be responsible for the provision of high quality professional advice on the financial implications of proposals set out in Council Committee papers and ensure all Committee Reports have appropriate financial comments presented to inform decision making

  • Support the S151 officer to review contract waivers and provide reasoned judgement as to the level of risk to the council(s) should the waiver be approved

  • 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​

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Person specification

(knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours required in the role)

Essential Knowledge and Experience

  • Completed a relevant professional qualification that supports delivery of functional responsibilities (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, MBA etc)

  • Current full member of a professional accountancy body as required under statutory guidance to deputise S151 officer duties

  • Significant experience at Senior Finance Manager level in a Local Authority or similar public body

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Desirable Knowledge and Experience

  • Educated to Degree Level

  • Experience of delivering a Finance service within a shared service or to multiple organisations simultaneously

  • Experience of HRA Budgeting activities

  • Experience of successfully managing or providing strategic business partner support to stakeholders in a large and complex organisation

  • Experience of developing expertise in non financial subjects to support customers

  • Experience of leading or supporting transformation and change initiatives

  • Experience of supporting a wide range of organisational initiatives through the finance function, including partnership working, major contract award, local authority trading companies (LATCs), shared services and other alternative delivery models (ADMs)

  • Experience of working directly in a strategic capacity with Councillors or elected officials

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Desirable Knowledge and Experience

  • Educated to Degree Level

  • Experience of delivering a Finance service within a shared service or to multiple organisations simultaneously

  • Experience of HRA Budgeting activities

  • Experience of successfully managing or providing strategic business partner support to stakeholders in a large and complex organisation

  • Experience of developing expertise in non financial subjects to support customers

  • Experience of leading or supporting transformation and change initiatives

  • Experience of supporting a wide range of organisational initiatives through the finance function, including partnership working, major contract award, local authority trading companies (LATCs), shared services and other alternative delivery models (ADMs)

  • Experience of working directly in a strategic capacity with Councillors or elected officials

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Capabilities and Behaviours

  • 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 Kingston Council

  • Flexible and agile approach to work that focuses on achievement of outcomes and high quality services that meet customer needs

  • Capability to translate strategy into realistic, achievable plans.

  • 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

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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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Other Key Details:

  • 32 days annual leave + bank holidays

  • 36 hours/week (flexible/part-time considered)

  • Hybrid working – Kingston office as main base

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