Finance Business Partner - Re3

Reading Borough Council is looking for an ambitious and analytical Finance Business Partner to join our Finance Business Partnering Team to take a lead role in providing Financial management support to re3 a Joint Waste PFI contract partnership dealing with Waste Disposal across 3 authorities Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, providing expert financial advice, insight and challenge across one of the largest and most important contracts that supports key decision-making and helps deliver Waste Disposal services for residents across the 3 Authorities

As a trusted finance professional, you will work closely with senior managers and budget holders across the 3 Authorities , helping them manage resources effectively, identify opportunities and risks, and deliver value for money. You will play a key role in financial planning, budget monitoring, business case development and service transformation.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

Working alongside the Head of Finance and the re3 Waste Team, you will provide high-quality financial support to a range of service areas across the 3 councils, ensuring sound financial management and strong governance across the organisations. You will contribute to major projects, transformation programmes and strategic decision-making, while supporting budget managers to deliver services within available resources.

You will also help drive continuous improvement across the Finance Service, providing commercial and financial insight that supports innovation, efficiency and sustainable financial planning.

What you'll do

• Act as a key financial adviser to budget managers and senior leaders.
• Support the preparation, monitoring and management of budgets.
• Provide financial analysis, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Identify financial risks, opportunities and potential efficiency savings.
• Contribute to business cases, investment appraisals and transformation projects.
• Support the annual budget-setting process and year-end accounts activities.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, legislation and CIPFA guidance.
• Build strong working relationships across services and Councils and act as a conduit to specialist finance expertise.
• Provide support, guidance and task allocation to Accountants, Accountancy Assistants and Trainee Accountants within the team.

About you

We are looking for a proactive finance professional who can combine strong technical accounting knowledge with excellent business partnering skills.

You will have:

• A CCAB qualification (or equivalent), or be actively working towards full qualification.
• Experience in a finance business partnering or similar advisory role.
• Experience working within the public sector, ideally local government.
• Strong financial planning, budgeting and forecasting skills.
• Experience influencing decision-making and managing or advising on significant budgets.
• The ability to interpret complex financial information and present it clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• An ability to quickly develop an understanding of how the three councils and contractor operate within and contribute to the Joint Waste Management (PFI) Contract.
• Capabilities to analyse quarterly Waste Forecasts and performance data to produce financial and performance forecasts for the three councils.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to identify opportunities, drive improvements and support organisational change.

Working alongside the Head of Finance in conjunction with re3 Waste team , you will provide high-quality financial support to a range of service areas, ensuring sound financial management and strong governance across the organisation. You will contribute to major projects, transformation programmes and strategic decision-making, while supporting budget managers to deliver services within available resources.

You will also help drive continuous improvement across the Finance Service, providing commercial and financial insight that supports innovation, efficiency and sustainable financial planning.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential 

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Stephen.MacDonald@reading.gov.uk Head of Finance - Department of Economic Growth Neighbourhood Services and Housing

Closing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed