£66,525 - £73,688 (pro rata)
Full time, part time and term-time only will be considered
About the role
We are recruiting a Finance Business Partner to lead on delivering high quality financial advice and commercial & financial expertise to the organisation. The successful applicant will take a full and proactive approach in managing and delivering timely financial and management accounting services, including all aspects of budgeting, medium- and long-term financial planning, project and transformation programme support, forecasting, financial reporting and control. This will include long-term capital and resource planning for general fund, ring-fenced funds, partnership funds (e.g. West of England Combined Authority), closure of the annual accounts and companies wholly owned or which the council has a material interest.
Responsible for providing comprehensive and innovative support to senior managers and councillors on a range of propositions, working collaboratively with services and staff across the finance function to effectively manage the lifecycle of complex propositions. To act as an integral member of the finance management team and drawing on specialist expertise identifying, developing and supporting opportunities and initiatives to transform the delivery of financial services and governance across the council and contribute to strategic and operational developments.
To provide confident leadership and clear management to ensure the effective operational delivery of the service and significant, complex and high-risk programmes and projects and to contribute to strategic and operational development, drawing on the jobholder's specialist expertise.
Objectives
The objectives of the role include:
- To provide confident leadership and clear management of significant and complex high-risk projects and/or programmes.
- To contribute to strategic and operational development, drawing on the jobholder's specialist expertise.
- Provide trusted proactive robust strategic and operational financial management, commercial and financial planning advice and support related to option analysis, business case development and budget management.
- Assist in the preparation of information for senior officers, councillors, and the public in relation to financial issues and attendance at internal/external boards, committees and working groups.
- Ensure that effective financial controls are in operation and that financial risk is understood, clearly reported, monitored, and proactively minimised.
- Create a culture which empowers budget holders and staff and supports the delivery of value for money services. This will incorporate relevant evidence-based reporting and include benchmarking information and key cost drivers.
- Accountable for supporting business development and transformation by using insightful predictive analytics, optimising financial modelling and commercial acumen.
- Lead on the development and clearance of all the key internal/external financial documents for respective area of the portfolio; in accordance with BCC procedures & delegated financial authority, having regard to recommended and mandatory professional accounting practices.
- To work on crosscutting service initiatives and acquire and maintain comprehensive service specific knowledge and support policy development as appropriate.
- Responsible to promote the delivery of value for money services across the organisation, evidenced by cost and trend analysis benchmarked against best-in-class comparators to deliver further efficiencies and lever performance improvements. Ensure that financial risk is understood, clearly reported, monitored, and proactively
minimised. - In accordance with BCC procedures and delegated level of authority, lead on the development and timely preparation and clearance of the key internal/external financial documents for respective area of the portfolio, including policies and strategies; quantifying associated costs, benefits, risks, and funding solutions and being solely accountable for the financial implications outlined.
- Accountable for the timely delivery of the annual accounts for all entities and funds, supported across the function, prepared consistently, published, and audited in accordance with all statutory requirements and are not subject to qualification by external audit.
- Leading teams on delivery of appropriate training and organisation-wide financial awareness and development.
- Leading on the provision of insightful predictive analytics, utilising, economic, social, and demographic data and commercial acumen to support business development and income improvements across the organisation.
- Lead on the compilation of the register of financial risks, uncertainties and opportunities and liaise with the Heads of Service to ensure the Financial Forward Plan is updated.
- Be the primary point of contact for financial services for the Executive Director to ensure all appropriate accountancy activities are provided in a timely manner, carried out in line with the agreed financial operating framework and to the highest standard.
- Responsible for supporting BCC and its directorates by understanding all the financial assets, liabilities and priorities for a business operation (assets, revenue, capital, funding streams & debt) and present options to senior managers to drive change, improve efficiency and enable strategic objectives to be achieved.
- Proactively develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive and flexible corporate financial management framework and guidance notes including processes/procedures for use across BCC, develop and update relevant policies.
- Oversee the detailed revenue and/or capital budgets for inclusion within BCC's budget, in liaison with Heads of Service and Business Partners, and in line with the MTFP, Capital Strategy and transformation, efficiency programmes. Ensuring service managers/directors have a thorough understanding and acceptance of their detailed budgets through workshops and other similar processes.
- Lead on the provision of high quality financial and commercial insight, optimising the use of financial modelling, systems, and tools to support evidence-based decision making.
- Ensure the continuous improvement and development of key financial processes, training and policies, support the delivery of business transformation, including the culture of automation and self-service.
Technical and reporting
- Lead and deliver BCC's closing work programme, including managing the relationship with external audit. Act as the principal liaison with external auditors and advise the Heads of Service and Director of Finance on responding to external audit recommendations.
- Responsible for translating and communicating technical & legislative changes to staff within the finance function and wider organisation. Ensuring details are reflected in the financial regulations, accounting standards and financial impact assessments relating to policy changes/decisions. Reflecting changes in financial planning.
How to apply
To apply, send us your:
- CV, no more than two sides
- a supporting statement, with a maximum of 1,000 words, which demonstrates by practical example how you meet the following:
- full CCAB (or equivalent qualification)
- experience of medium and long term budgeting
- experience of identifying, developing and supporting the transformation of financial services
- leadership of a large team delivering a complex portfolio
Email your CV and supporting statement to finance_recruitment@bristol.gov.uk
This role will be considered on a full time, part time or term time only basis. Please include your preference in the application. A DBS check will be required prior to appointment.
No agencies please.
Application date
There is no specific end date, we are regularly reviewing CV's and holding interviews, and will close vacancies once they are filled, so please submit your application at your earliest convenience to be considered.
At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised candidates, Disabled candidates, young people and LGBTQ+ candidates, who are currently under-represented within this service area of Bristol City Council.
Appointments will be made on merit.