Head of Finance Business Partnering

Your new companyArun is a local government district in West Sussex, England. Its council is based in Littlehampton. The district's other towns are Arundel and Bognor Regis. The district is named after the River Arun, which runs through the centre of the district. Parts of the district fall within the South Downs National Park. Your new roleOverall Job Purpose:As the Head of Finance Business Partnering, you will lead the Business Planning & Performance Management team, ensuring a professional, technical, and innovative financial function that meets the needs of the Council and its services. You will ensure compliance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and CIPFA statutory requirements. Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert, technical, commercial, and financial advice, ensuring all relevant reporting is completed, including financial reports to Committees and reviews of financial elements of required reports.
• Lead and aid decision-making while adhering to the Council's Constitution, Financial Governance Framework, and all relevant policies and procedures.
• Manage the delivery of Business Planning and Performance Management through efficient and robust transactional finance activities, monthly meetings, budget setting, and monitoring.
• Create, deliver, and manage financial calendars and content plans, particularly for budget setting and monitoring, including month, quarter, and year-end activities.
• Oversee the Business Planning & Performance Management team's Valuing Individual Performance (ViP) reviews, setting objectives and deliverables for immediate reports, and providing development and training where appropriate.
• Ensure consolidated management and reporting of resources, including a spend budget of circa £100m, covering a workforce of 400+ employees, 50+ members, 23 wards, and a population of circa 160,000.
• Perform other appropriate duties relevant to a functioning Finance department or deputize as DS151 Officer.

Additional Information:

• Local government finance knowledge is desirable but not essential and can be developed to deliver the Council's budgets and monitoring.
• The postholder is expected to contribute to the improvement of service delivery standards.

What you'll need to succeedRole Requirements:Professional Qualifications:

• A qualified accountant with full membership of a Chartered accountancy body qualification as specified in the Local Government Finance Act 1988. (Essential)

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of accountancy/budget management experience. (Essential)
• Experience in managing, motivating, and performance managing a team. (Essential)
• Experience in monitoring and managing financial accounts in a Social Housing or Local Government environment. (Desirable)
• Experience in communicating detailed technical information to Budget holders. (Essential)

Knowledge:

• Analytical approach to financial issues with the ability to make clearly reasoned conclusions and recommendations. (Essential)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex financial issues tactfully and diplomatically. (Essential)
• Strong character and negotiation skills to ensure managers and partners remain within budgets. (Essential)
• Detailed knowledge of the financial climate and funding regime under which local authorities operate. (Essential)
• Ability to give advice and guidance to trainee accountants. (Essential)
• Experience in leading technical projects. (Essential)
• Mentoring and supervision skills. (Essential)
• Problem-solving abilities. (Essential)

Behaviours:

• Reacts quickly to changing strategies or ideas, promotes and facilitates change easily, and navigates staff through periods of uncertainty with positivity. (Essential)
• Actively listens to understand specific challenges, building rapport by showing empathy. (Essential)
• Demonstrates Arun's values in developing working practices and policies to inspire and motivate. (Essential)

Competencies:

• Leadership:A role model and mentor for strategic direction, fostering a culture that supports our values and goals by minimizing conflict and inspiring, influencing, and encouraging others. (Essential)
• Change Management:Ability to lead change projects with significant strategic impact, effectively planning and managing their implementation. (Essential)
• Strategic Thinking:Contributes to the strategic direction of the Council, providing clear leadership and designing services to deliver the Council's vision, values, and strategic objectives. (Essential)

Very Flexible working options available Excellent career progression opportunitiesGym MembershipGenerous Annual LeaveOpportunity to accrue extra leaveEmployee Assistance ProgrammePension SchemeCycle to Work SchemeTraining & Development OpportunitiesHealth & Wellbeing BenefitsWhat you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

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