Finance Business Partner

612 months contract with Waltham Forest Council

Job Summary:

Delivery of a comprehensive suite of professional financial business partnering services including strategic financial advice specialist and technical financial support supporting services with financial and resource management grant & internal financial control management and support the compilation of Statutory Annual Accounts.

Build on and improve the finance business partnering approach to ensure good financial management is maintained by sharing best practice.

Contribute to business intelligence and support benchmarking initiatives that enables value for money and informed decisionmaking.

Objectively and constructively challenge to achieve solution driven outcomes

Understand customer needs and priorities and provide a service which achieves high customer satisfaction.

Assisting with the delivery of the Section 151 Officer s statutory responsibilities in support of the Council s operating model. Ensuring that internal control are established and working to meet S151 responsibilities.

To identify develop and support opportunities and initiatives to transform the delivery of services across the Council.

To ensure financial control and governance is in place for service delivery.

To provide added value financial advice and guidance for budget holders managers and Directors in undertaking their resource management responsibilities.

To provide financial advice and guidance for portfolio holders and members via regular portfolio briefings; enquires; training production of financial reports and attendance at scrutiny meetings in a technical finance capacity.

To develop business cases and options appraisals in support of business objectives & outcomes.

To identify investigate and support the reduction of cost pressures saving opportunities and solutions through robust business cases. To develop and maintain effective working relationships to support cooperative ways of working effective decisionmaking and management of financial resources.

To effectively manage yourself and support to Accountancy Officers and Apprentices were appropriate including ensuring

Deadlines are effectively managed prioritised and met

Adequate staff cover to ensure maintenance of an effective finance service both within the team and across the finance service where appropriate

Resources aims objectives and priorities are met

Performance is maintained managed and reported in line with APC guidelines

Service improvement change management and process developments are implemented

To collaborate with external partners and agencies as required. To deputise in the absence of or in place of the lead accountant or Deputy Head of Finance where necessary

Provide support for both internal and external audits. To ensure compliance to guidelines and legislation and giving advice to senior managers. All duties must be undertaken within the Council s Equal Opportunities policy and with regard to the Code of Conduct

All duties must be undertaken within national and local Health & Safety Regulations policies on an individual and collective basis

To understand and work at all times in accordance with Financial Contract Rules

To act at all times with respect integrity and professionalism ensuring customer needs are met and services are delivered effectively and efficiently.

Key Accountabilities (Sample):

Support senior managers in the implementation of corporate initiatives Provide high level strategic financial advice in liaison with senior finance colleagues and service managers.

Provide advice and financial input into the Council s financial planning processes including input and guidance into business plans and service improvement reviews under the direction of senior finance colleagues utilising financial modelling options appraisal and risk analysis tools and techniques as appropriate.

Ensure that the Council s financial policies procedures and governance arrangements are formulated implemented reviewed and adhered to in accordance with best practice professional accounting standards and the Council s formally agreed security liquidity and risk parameters

Identify and report upon any financial risks resulting from changes in political operational technological or environmental factors

Coordinate the preparation and submission of the Council s year end Statutory Accounts process including liaison with Audit (internal and external) on this and other Governance related issues

Identify and support the business to become more commercial in its thinking

Actively manage the continuous cycle of business reengineering ensuring improvements across all functional areas to drive forward efficiencies by continuously adapting designing monitoring and reviewing working practices procedures and systems making suggestions and implementing improvements to enable continued development including identifying and developing shared services opportunities.

Actively manage the continuous review of technologies and replacement of financial systems to ensure working practices are updated to support the leading technologies.

Being aware of potential risks / opportunities / changes in legislation. Supporting budget holders through mitigating these risks and embracing opportunities

Provide value added financial advice and support to all customers of the service

Support an integrated approach by working across the service as required

To provide comprehensive reports and briefings and active participation in meetings as a representative of finance

To provide comprehensive reports and briefing and active participation in portfolio briefing and scrutiny reports

Ensuring proper financial controls and governance arrangements are in place for all aspects of service delivery

Coordinate the preparation and submission of the monthly/quarter finance and performance monitoring budgetary control process

Essential Qualification Required:

Member of CCAB body undertaking active CPD or actively studying for a CCAB/CIMA qualification.

Extensive experience of working within and providing financial support services to a large or public sector organisation (preferably Local Authority).

Extensive experience in the use of financial modelling and options appraisal techniques particularly the use of spreadsheets and business intelligence tools.

Additional information to note:

This position is located in Walsall WS1

23 days in the office while training 1 2 days in the office once training is complete