Finance Manager

JOB PURPOSE: 

To manage a team of staff responsible for ensuring the provision of high quality advice, information, analysis and interpretation to budget holders to underpin effective decision making, meaningful performance management and meet statutory requirements. The post holder will achieve a high level of customer satisfaction levels and make a real and demonstrable difference to the Council’s business.

Location: Ellesmere Port (+ hybrid)

Job Type: Temporary

Duration of booking: Expected to last 2-3 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: Upto £28.46 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Sector: Local Government

Key areas:

• Support the production of the authority’s main financial statements, including; Balance Sheet, Movement in Reserves Statement (MiRS) and Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement (CIES).
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of the CIPFA Code of Practice.
• Ability to interpret accounting standards and advise on complex accounting issues.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a specialised area of activity and/or lead and develop new initiatives to ensure that costs, benefits and risks are fully evaluated.
• Act as the lead finance service point of contact supporting special projects to ensure the Council’s interests are safeguarded and benefits are realized.
• Provide independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information to ensure that to ensure that inefficiencies, irregularities and performance variances (financial and non financial) are investigated and opportunities for improved service delivery and performance management are identified and implemented.
• Interpret evaluate and report financial and related business information to senior managers, Members, clients and partner organisations, both orally and in writing, to support service improvement and ensure informed decision making on service planning and development.
• Develop an innovative approach to business management within the organisation that will lead to increased performance levels being achieved. 
• Assess strategic and financial risks associated with issues falling within the defined area of responsibility and employ resources to ensure that officers and Members are advised appropriately and the interests of the Council are safeguarded.
• Ensure business information requirements are reflected in the specification for and production of appropriate management information from key corporate and Directorate specific business systems.
• Harness links with other corporate services, such as HR, ICT, and Policy and with external organisations such as NHS, other Local Authorities, to promote collaborative working across traditional boundaries to tackle shared issues.

ESSENTIAL

• CCAB Qualification
• Relevant Business /Performance qualification e.g. Degree in Business Studies or similar relevant (Politics/Local Government/Information Management)

Masters in Business Administration

Diploma in Public Policy

or

Educated to degree level or equivalent

• In depth experience in a relevant local government role
• Proven track record in finance and/or performance environment
• Experience of staff management at a senior level
• Demonstrable record of completed projects of an original and technically challenging nature
• Ability to lead transformation activity and manage organisational change and development within a financial/performance environment
• In depth technical knowledge and understanding of local government accounting and performance practice
• Ability to maximise the use of ICT within a financial environment.
• Ability to interpret and present business data, statistics and trends in a meaningful way
• Analytical, ability to research and appraise and evaluate financial and strategic issues and options
• Demonstrable problem solving skills
• Sound influencing and networking skills
• Positive attitude to change and innovation
• Highly developed political awareness
• Resilience under pressure
• Ability to plan and prioritise competing workload demands and to organise and motivate staff
• Experience and Confidence in dealing with senior managers and Members
• Exercise sound and reliable judgement
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Facility to develop good working relationships and networks