Finance and Contracts Monitoring Officer

The Well-Being & Partnership Service is looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Finance and Contracts Monitoring Officer to be part of a small but busy team in Staffordshire’s Children's Placement Service.

This is an excellent and exciting opportunity which provides variety and uses a wide range of skills.

We are seeking an individual who has an excellent aptitude for detail and who has extensive financial experience and good contract management skills. Monitoring our financial and contractual obligations is a key element in this role. You will also be responsible for business support to ensure financial systems and data is collected for financial forecasting and commissioning purposes.

You will be expected to work with regional partners which involves commissioning work and providing support to the Market Relationship Manager in relation supported accommodation, fostering and residential care.

The role is to be based at Staffordshire Place 1, Tipping Street, Stafford. However, remote working is currently being supported for the role.

In this role you'll:

• assist with the coordinating all aspects of families & communities placements to independent providers, to help support the commissioning of placements on the basis of “best value” principles to meeting the needs of children. To assist the Market Relationship Manager to monitor the financial spend and to help provide support in achieving best value with independent providers by providing accurate data and tight monitoring of spend and contractual obligations.
• assist in the creation and maintenance of a central record of contract prices for each provider.
• ensure, in carrying out the functions of the post, compliance with financial regulations, standing orders, finance and contracting procedures and other associated guidance as required.
• provide the Market Relationship Manager with accurate and up-to-date information about the independent providers budget. To maintain a spreadsheet for monitoring expenditure agreed and future financial commitments.
• assist the Market Relationship Manager to provide support and assistance to social workers in the resolution of contractual conflicts or any issue relating to the quality of the care provision that may arise during a placement.
• undertake commissioning work and support to the Market Relationship Manager.
• respond to queries raised by care providers and other parties.
• train and guide staff, as required, in the operation of relevant financial and contractual systems.
• ensure decisions with regards to shared funding with our key partners in health and education are pursued.

The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be:

• extensive finance and monitoring experience with an excellent understanding of contracts and contract management.
• sound knowledge of commissioning and the legal obligations. Attention to detail and a methodical approach in busy environment is key in dealing with queries and the management of disputes.
• experience of analysing data and providing information on request to help support the Market Relationship Manager and others in their duties.

Interviews will be held on Thursday the 3rd December 2026

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Mr Shahid Munir, Market Relationship Manager at: shahid.munir@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

Please note: The minimum criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes, detailed below.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.