Head of Finance Business Partnering (Interim) Bexley 16

Position:  Head of Finance Business Partnering (Interim) Bexley 16

Location: Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AT

Start Date: ASAP

Contract Duration: 6+ Months - typically 2 days in the office per week but varies week on week

Working Hours: 36 hours per week

Pay Rate: PAYE: £ 650.00 per day

Job Reference: OR(phone number removed)

Job Responsibilities

Lead the Finance Business Partnering function for Children's Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial support and strategic advice.

Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Finance Business Partners, promoting high performance, accountability, and continuous professional development.

Build strong partnerships with senior leadership teams, providing financial insight, challenge, and support to inform strategic decision-making.

Lead the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, monitoring, and reporting processes for the assigned service area.

Provide expert financial advice to support the development, delivery, and evaluation of service plans, business cases, and transformation initiatives.

Drive the development of innovative service delivery models that achieve efficiencies, deliver cost savings, and maximise outcomes for residents.

Monitor financial performance, identify financial risks and opportunities, and ensure appropriate mitigating actions are implemented.

Produce accurate, timely, and insightful financial reports, analysis, and management information for senior stakeholders.

Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, accounting standards, governance requirements, and organisational policies.

Support the discharge of Section 151 responsibilities by maintaining high standards of financial stewardship and control.

Lead on financial aspects of change programmes, service transformation, and strategic projects across Children's Services.

Develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote collaborative working and informed financial decision-making.

Contribute to the development of finance policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance service delivery.

Champion continuous improvement, innovation, and a customer-focused approach within the Finance Business Partnering team.

Represent the finance function at senior management meetings and provide professional financial leadership across the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

CCAB-qualified accountant (or equivalent recognised professional accounting qualification).

Significant post-qualification experience in finance management, business partnering, or financial leadership roles.

Demonstrable experience of leading and managing finance teams within a large, complex organisation.

Strong knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and management accounting.

Experience providing strategic financial advice and challenge to senior leaders and service managers.

Excellent understanding of local government finance, public sector financial management, and financial governance.

Knowledge of statutory financial responsibilities, including the principles supporting Section 151 responsibilities.

Proven ability to lead service transformation, financial improvement, and efficiency programmes.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information.

Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience developing robust business cases and supporting strategic decision-making.

Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within demanding timescales.

Strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills with a commitment to developing high-performing teams.

Proficient in the use of financial management systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.

Desirable Requirements

Experience working within Children's Services finance in a local authority.

Experience supporting organisational transformation and change management programmes.

Knowledge of local government funding arrangements, financial regulations, and statutory reporting requirements.

Experience working in politically sensitive environments with senior elected members and executive leadership.

Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering value for money across public services.

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