Strategic Finance Consultant Children & SEND

Job Category : Interims
Location : London Borough of Hillingdon
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £596.04 per day

Strategic Finance Consultant responsible for Safety Valve/Children’s

ROLE PURPOSE:
To work alongside a Service Directorate management team within one of the five
Operational Finance teams, four of which provide a full range of financial direction, support
and guidance to one of the Council’s Directorates and one which provides cross-cutting
support on capital and transformation.
To support the Directorates’ Senior Management and their budget managers to deliver their
budget management responsibilities. The post holder will be required to translate complex
financial data to non-financial stakeholders and effectively challenge senior managers, in
ensuring robust financial management of each business area.
To provide direct financial support to the Directorates to enable them to develop their
strategic financial plans and ensure that the future needs of the service are reflected in the
Council’s medium term financial forecasts. To support the Finance managers in the provision
of high quality financial advice and accurate and timely financial information to Corporate
Directors, Heads of Service and budget managers across the Directorates through day-today management and coordination of a service finance team
To support the Directorate Finance Manager in ensuring that each Directorate complies with
Financial Standing Orders and all other financial policies and procedures as directed by the
Chief Finance Officer. Key to the role will be working with a variety of stakeholders including
elected Members, Corporate and Divisional Directors, and budget managers

QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL
Fully qualified Accountant – CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA 
Educated to degree level or equivalent 
A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience 
Evidence of post qualification continuing professional development 

1. STATUTORY or ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL
   Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service including attending evening meetings as required
2. EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL
   Experience as a finance professional in a large and complex public sector organisation and an understanding of the annual financial cycle and regime within local authorities
   Comprehensive understanding of statutory and regulatory financial framework for local government
   Experience in a management role in a multi-disciplinary organisation, with direct management experience of leading a small team in areas of service finance
   Evidence of devising successful financial strategies in an operational finance setting, both within service areas and cross-cutting service and directorate boundaries.
   Demonstrable experience of managing significant budgets in a comparable public sector organisation within tight financial limits
   Experience of building partnerships and working effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders, and working across service boundaries
   Experience of providing sound strategic and long term financial advice and challenging long term decision making. KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS ESSENTIAL
   Knowledge of accounting principles and practices necessary to provide the financial control and direction necessary to support the Section 151 statutory responsibilities at an operational level.
   Ability to use professional judgement effectively in the management of the financial affairs of the Directorate with the minimum level of recourse to more senior staff.
   Strong analytical skills and the ability to clearly present financial information in a manner appropriate to the recipients of the information.
   Knowledge and understanding of the Council’s core objectives and an understanding of the legislative frameworks and key issues relevant to local government financial management generally.
   Advanced technical financial skills such as capital investment appraisal, options appraisal, financial modelling, benchmarking, and appropriate financial inputs into business cases
   Ability to extract and manipulate relevant financial data from the core financial information systems
   Advanced Microsoft Office skills and evidence of applying these in practice.
   Demonstrable ability to provide constructive challenge and to exert influence at a senior level.
   An understanding of the specific financial and business context facing the service Directorate and the relevant legislative requirements.
   Ability to empower and motivate employees, encourage the effective use of delegated responsibilities and gain ownership for a clear division and direction in Corporate Finance.
   Ability to promote and maintain high standards of professionalism, integrity and probity through personal conduct, use of appropriate procedures and compliance with standards.