Local Government Jobs

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Title: Finance Business Partner, City Regeneration and Leisure

Responsible for

Coordinating financial planning, budget setting and budget monitoring for the City Regeneration Directorate and Leisure, supporting Heads of Service in the development of financial awareness and improving value for money in their service areas.

Providing financial support to major projects within the Directorate, including investment appraisal and business case preparation.

Ensuring that corporate financial requirements are met for City Regeneration and Leisure, including for final accounts.

Undertaking corporate finance projects as designated by the Head of Finance.

Leading and developing a small team including accountancy trainees.

Deputising for the Head of Finance at Corporate Officer Boards, meetings with elected Members and external meetings.

Scope:
This role supports the Head of Finance in ensuring that the whole finance service to City Regeneration and Leisure is delivered to a high standard, and supports the Director and Heads of Service in achieving their business objectives through contributing financial & analytical skills couple with business understanding.

Purpose:
To provide proactive, business-aware financial management support to the City Regeneration Directorate and Leisure.

To co-ordinate the input to corporate financial processes from the services partnered.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To ensure the Directorate meets corporate requirements for budget setting and to lead on the supporting work required in the services, for example evaluation of savings proposals and costing alternative activity levels;
2. To ensure that effective budget monitoring and forecasting is delivered for the Directorate, meeting corporate timetables and focussing analysis on significant areas of risk or volatility;
3. To contribute to the MTFS, providing relevant Directorate input in conjunction with Service Heads;
4. To coordinate the Directorate’s Value for Money analysis and benchmarking data, contributing to the Council’s Value for Money assessments and developing greater understanding of unit costs and other value for money indicators;
5. With the Head of Service, to develop and maintain financial processes to analyse commercial property income and expenditure by sector;
6. To fulfil the financial aspects of the client side for the Leisure service contract;
7. To evaluate and monitor capital projects within the Directorate;
8. Provide financial support to major projects within the services supported, including investment appraisal and business case preparation;
9. To attend Directorate Team meetings for finance matters and to attend City Executive Board, Scrutiny and other Member meetings to support Directorate budget and project discussions;
10. To undertake corporate finance projects as designated by the Head of Service;
11. To contribute to the annual statement of accounts process including working papers and liaison with the audit team;
12. To work with Heads of Service to ensure that any local financial and other systems maintain sound internal controls, in liaison with Internal Audit as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Finance Business Partner, City Regeneration and Leisure Grade: Post No:

Person Specification Essential/
Desirable Method:
Application (A)
Interviewed (I)
Test (T)
Experience
At least 3 years’ senior financial management experience including managing staff E AI
Experience of financial planning and the full budget cycle from setting to closedown, from a service perspective E AI
Knowledge
Demonstrates up to date knowledge of management accounting issues and understands how they relate to local government E AI
Local Government accounting experience D AI
Investment appraisal techniques and their practical application E AI
Key competencies
Can take a strategic perspective as well as undertaking detailed service analysis E AI
Able to build relationships with both service and finance managers, demonstrating accountability and establishing trust with both parties E AI
Ability to plan and prioritise work & manage staff to deliver objectives across a range of workstreams E AI
Ability to turn strategic financial objectives into practical operational plans E AI
Highly numerate and with strong financial management skills E IT
Good communication skills – verbal, presentation and report writing E IT
Ability to influence and challenge peer group managers E AI
Qualifications
A qualified member of a CCAB body E A
Evidence of continuing professional development E AI