Strategic Finance Business Partner
2 positions available within the following areas
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Adult Care and Health Services
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Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services
£54,756 - £65,858 per annum
Job Purpose
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To be the senior strategic financial adviser to the Executive Director and Assistant Directors for the relevant service directorate as well as the S151 Officer’s representative in regard of all financial matters relating to the relevant directorate, prioritising and embedding sound financial management and control within those areas.
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To lead and co-ordinate the work of the strategic business partnering team, in conjunction with the Financial Planning & Strategy Manager and in collaboration with other Strategic Business Partners, ensuring the provision of high quality support and advice to front-line budget and service managers and that the Business Partnering function is delivered in an effective, consistent and value-added manner;
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To support the Financial Planning and Strategy Manager in the delivery of their role in particular in relation to capital and revenue monitoring; budget setting and closure of accounts – deputising as required;
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To lead the capital and revenue budget monitoring process for the Council for the relevant service directorate, providing quality support and advice to budget holders and facilitating the provision of accurate and timely reporting to the Corporate Management Team and Lead Members.
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To work with the Chief Accountant to ensure that the Business Partnering function plays a full and active role in delivering the closure of accounts within statutory deadlines and to best practice standards.
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To work with the Finance Management Team to drive and embed improvements in systems and processes to ensure the Council and senior management have provision of real time monitoring information and are able to understand and effectively manage their budgets and appraise the financial and service impacts of potential future changes;
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To provide a robust and pro-active financial advisory, planning and reporting service which drives and delivers high standards of financial control and probity both within both the Team and areas supported.
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To understand the business of the Directorates supported in order to provide proactive support and advice, whilst maintaining financial independence and being able to constructively challenge managers where necessary.
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Key Responsibilities
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As a key member of the relevant service directorate management team, represent the S151 officer and support the relevant service directorate to by leading on the production of the directorate Medium Term Financial Strategy, providing the link between finance and the directorate for both revenue and capital plans. That new proposals for growth and savings are rigorously tested to support the decision-making process within the agreed timetable. Ensuring the production of robust business cases that are suitable for both member and public scrutiny. deliver their objectives within the budgetary provision made available; With the Director of Finance and the Financial Planning and Strategy Manager and the other Strategic Business Partners coordinate the Council’s annual budget setting and Medium Term Financial Strategy.
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To provide proactive, strategic financial advice to the relevant directorate management team, identifying opportunities, trends and good practice from other sources that will be of benefit to the services delivered and the Council overall;
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To provide strategic input into and facilitate the delivery of monthly budget monitoring information in accordance with the corporate timetable for revenue and capital;
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To be the conduit for securing specialist financial advice from other members of the Finance Team and externally if needed, thereby making it easy for the relevant directorate to access the skills and expertise required to make sound decisions;
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Direct the Business Partnering function, working with the relevant directorate management teams, to deliver the year end close down processes as directed by the Chief Accountant;
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Ensure all service and budget managers receive a consistent high quality finance business partnering service to enable them to effectively manage their budgets, recognising current or future changes that may impact on their finances, and support them in developing strategies to manage those changes within agreed funding envelopes;
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To provide proactive financial advice and training to the relevant directorate management teams and budget managers, identifying opportunities, trends and good practice from other sources that will be of benefit to the services delivered and the Council overall;
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Ensure that the financial accounts for the relevant directorate are produced to the agreed timetable and are of appropriate quality in that questions from External Audit are minimised. All holding and suspense accounts are balanced through the year as part of budget monitoring and at year-end. Liaison with the Chief Accountant and External Auditor as appropriate.
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Creation and delivery of significant initiatives that improve service delivery and/or save money.
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Key Tasks
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Lead on the development and delivery of budget holder training for capital and revenue to ensure best practice is reflected in service delivery.
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Contribute to the Council’s financial strategy and other associated strategic programmes in order to deliver on the Council’s strategic policy objectives.
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To lead and manage a professional service directorate business partnering team capable of meeting the overall service, directorate and Council objectives.
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To advise the Directorate Management teams as necessary on changes in legislation or guidance from Government in respect of the areas of responsibility, and of the implications for the Council and for Reading services.
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To support the delivery of business cases and projects for service improvement and/or savings proposals, working with other parts of the Finance Function and Resources Directorate in a coordinated manner, especially in regard of commercial and trading advice;
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To provide effective scrutiny and challenge to budget proposals to ensure Members are presented with appropriate and realistic data
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To support the Chief Accountant in delivering, on time, all annual statutory returns for the Council including the RA and RO submissions;
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To support managers in the preparation of tenders/procurement proposals ensuring there is compliance with OJEU regulations and Council policies;
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Information Common to all Reading Borough Council Job Descriptions
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All work performed and duties undertaken must be carried out in accordance with relevant Council and Departmental policies and procedures, within legislation, and with regard to the needs of our customers and the diverse community we serve.
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This document sets out the main dimensions of the job it describes. It does not define all individual tasks, which may be expected to change from time to time to meet operational needs.
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Job holders will be expected to be flexible in their duties and carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and falling within the general scope of the job, as requested by management.
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Health & Safety / Risk Management
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Ensure that all aspects of the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Procedures are adhered to.
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Be responsible for identifying and managing all risks associated with the job role through effective application of internal controls and risk assessments to support the achievement of corporate and service objectives.
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Be available to assist in Emergency/Disaster Recovery situations.
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Health & Safety responsibility at level 2.
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Contacts and Relationships
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The role reports to the Financial Planning & Strategy Manager.
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The role has a “dotted line” report to the relevant Executive Director for the service supported.
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The post holder will also work closely with the Director of Finance, Deputy Chief Executive, other Strategic Business Partners the Chief Accountant and their technical team to promote consistency and the delivery of key service and Council objectives.
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The role will provide line management of the finance business partnering team that is supporting the relevant directorate.
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The post holder will interact with many other people and will need to maintain good working relationships with:
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The relevant Executive Director and directorate management team members
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Budget holders within the relevant directorate
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Partner agencies and other external stakeholders as required
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Staff Responsibility: On a day to day basis responsible for the shared finance business partnering team supporting the relevant business area
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Budgetary Responsibility: This role has no specific budgetary responsibility but will influence the spend of the relevant service directorate through advice given.
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Impact: The post holder is responsible for advising on budget matters, management of resources, ensuring probity and audit control, production of estimates/final accounts and has an impact on all financial matters across the relevant directorate.
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Other Role Information
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The post holder supports the delivery of the formal Chief Finance Officer role as required in the finances of the relevant service area.
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This is a politically-restricted post, and the post holder cannot be elected as a councillor in any local authority.
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Person specification
Qualifications / Education / Training
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Relevant professional qualification – CCAB (or equivalent) Accountancy Qualification, fully qualified with relevant post qualification experience
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Evidence of continuous professional development
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Experience
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Significant experience of leading or delivering a Business Partnering function at management level and advising at Senior Management/Member level.
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Proven experience of developing and delivering strategies that support organisational ambitions and priorities.
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Experience of senior management in a large, diverse and complex organisation.
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Demonstrable experience of engagement with high profile stakeholders in a political environment, including politicians and unions.
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A successful track record of working with partners to negotiate, agree and influence outcomes to help further corporate objectives.
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Significant experience as an efficient and effective people manager, leading, motivating, managing and developing a professional function and teams to achieve desired outcomes.
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Experience of successfully supporting budget managers to manage budgets of a comparable scope and scale.
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A successful record of delivering high quality professional and customer oriented services.
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Experience of supporting and advising senior service managers on their budget position, identifying options to assist the service manager in managing within their budget envelope, and determining the financial implications of potential service changes
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Ability to identify opportunities and initiate new ideas, taking advantage of legislation and financial opportunities to maximise resources.
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Knowledge
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Excellent understanding of the relevant law and legislation.
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Up to date and relevant knowledge of Finance best practice.
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Knowledge and understanding of large and complex public service organisations.
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Awareness and understanding of local government operations and how Council services interface with key public service partners e.g. police, health.
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Skills and Abilities
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Excellent skills in local authority accounting and the ability to use the knowledge to the benefit of the Council
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Ability to think creatively and laterally and identify opportunities and initiate new ideas, particularly taking advantage of financial opportunities to maximise resources
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Excellent planning and resource/time management skills and the ability to direct the work of the team
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Ability to identify, report and correct deficiencies in management or service performance
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Able to use own professional knowledge and networks to contribute to the overall direction of the Directorate and service
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High level oral and presentation and communication skills effective in a variety of situations, including advocacy, listening, persuasion and negotiation
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Specific Working Requirements
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A demonstrable understanding and commitment to anti-discriminatory policy, practice and RBC’s Equality Policy.
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Good understanding of Data Protection Act to ensure that all data is secured and processed in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Council policy.
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A commitment to customer care.
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Health & Safety responsibility at level 2.
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