Finance Business Partner - United Kingdom - Leeds City Council

Description

Job title: Finance Business Partner

Salary: £43,421 to £46,464 Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent Contract Location: Civic Hall 1-2 days a week, hybrid working offered As a Finance Business Partner in Financial Services, you'll thrive on working in a professional, enthusiastic and supportive team, who care about making a difference through high quality service delivery and continuous improvement. Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. About you As a Finance Business Partner: You can build credible, collaborative relationships with senior officers and other stakeholders, understanding their needs but providing challenge where needed. You have good analytical and communication skills and use these to present clear financial information and options to decision makers. You can work independently to solve problems, and plan and prioritise your work to meet deadlines. You have a good knowledge of core finance processes and are AAT qualified or equivalent as a minimum. In your application, please give us examples that show how you meet the requirements in the job description for skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours. About the role We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join us as a Finance Business Partners in our highly regarded, forward-thinking Financial Management service. You will work closely with a portfolio of council services, providing high quality financial information and advice so they can deliver the council's priorities while achieving value for money. You will support service delivery and transformation through your focus on financial planning, options appraisals, invest-to-save business cases and a commercial approach to traded services. You will also take a risk-based approach to supporting the core finance processes of budget planning, monitoring, reporting and closure of accounts. We have a strong track record of helping people develop their Finance careers, alongside our commitment to improving diversity and wellbeing. In addition to training, development and mentoring, employees can also gain experience in our different Finance teams (the job description for this vacancy is generic to reflect this flexibility). You can also take advantage of our various flexible working patterns including our 'hybrid' working model. Staff within Financial Management at present work both in the office and from home, with an average of 1-2 days worked from the office a week depending on business need. The role is integral to our Financial Mgt team supporting the Adults and Health directorate. What we offer you We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply Please complete the application form Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact either: Mark Davies (Senior Finance Business Partner), call or email Marc Broadbelt (Senior Finance Business Partner), call or email We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader. All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period. This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply. Job description Directorate - Resources & Housing Service Area - Finance Job Title - Finance Business Partner / Finance Manager Grade - PO4 Conditions Of service - NJC Responsible To - Senior Finance Business Partner / Senior Finance Manager Responsible For - Assistant Finance Business Partner/Finance Analyst Job Purpose: Working either as part of a team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate based and/or school-based senior officers or working as part of Corporate Finance, the post-holder will model the Council's values and behaviours in order to help us achieve our ambition of being the best council in the country. By helping make sure that financial information is placed at the heart of decision-making, the role plays an important part in ensuring that the council is both enterprising and efficient. The post-holder will report to a Senior Finance Business Partner / Senior Finance Manager and may be deployed within a directorate-facing/schools Finance Business Partner (FBP) Team or within Corporate Finance. The post-holder will deliver a range of financial support services to directorates and/or schools or will work within Corporate Finance. These services will include:
• Provision of expert operational financial advice and management information to officers, members and other internal stakeholders in order to support effective decision-making and support the provision of timely responses to enquiries from people/organisations external to the Council
• Utilisation of service data and financial forecasts to ensure that budgets are effectively managed, budget-holders are given appropriate levels of support, risks are identified and actively managed and services areas are supported to optimise income generation
• Provision of independent challenge, analysis, and interpretation of financial and performance information to ensure that inefficiencies, irregularities and performance variances (financial and non-financial) are investigated and opportunities for improved service delivery are identified
• Collaboration with directorate senior officers and budget-holders to produce: o Annual revenue and capital budgets o Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans o Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports and financial health reports encompassing both revenue and capital budgets o Service Plans/Business plans incorporating 'rolling' medium term financial forecasts that align with directorate operational plans and priorities.
• Provision of financial information and analysis to support investment/disinvestment decisions and the development of complex business cases
• Promoting the efficient and effective stewardship of assets and resources, for example by supporting directorate-based senior officers to implement the recommendations of Internal Audit
• Preparation of year-end accounts and other financial returns
• Line management of a small number of Assistant Finance Business Partners and/or Finance Officers Responsibilities for Grade:
• Manage/supervise a small number of finance staff
• Display customer focus and role model the behaviours expected of a manager
• Provide accurate and timely financial information, challenge, insight and advice to directorate/school-based budget-holders and managers
• Apply a risk-based approach to the monitoring of capital and revenue budgets, attending budget meetings for high risk revenue/capital budgets
• Support directorate/school-based budget-holders to analyse and understand the key cost drivers within their services
• Lead on the compilation of challenging and robust revenue and capital budgets for a range of directorate/school-based services
• Contribute to the identification and development of service reviews and other savings plans
• Advise on the optimisation of all current/potential sources of income and alternative approaches to achieve full cost recovery
• Explain complex data to non-financial stakeholders to help inform and challenge decision-makers
• Provide financial support and challenge to invest to save business cases and other option appraisals.
• Maintain financial systems, processes and procedures Qualifications AAT qualified or equivalent (which may include substantial relevant work experience within a financial environment) PERSONAL SPECIFICATION: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements Skills Required
• Ability to provide independent challenge, analysis and interpretation of financial and performance information
• Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal partners/professionals
• Ability to plan and organise own work and that of others competently with minimum supervision, and to strict deadlines
• Sound problem solving and analytical and skills
• Ability to clearly present financial information in a manner appropriate to the recipients of the information
• Ability to understand and meet customer expectations
• Ability to establish credibility with senior management and other stakeholders Knowledge Required
• Up to date knowledge of current financial and accounting developments
• Sound working knowledge of core financial business processes including budget planning, budget monitoring and reporting and closure of accounts
• Good knowledge and understanding of the specific financial and business context facing a service directorate and the relevant legislative requirements
• Understanding of managers' responsibility for health and safety. Experience Required
• Practical experience of providing financial support to directorate-based managers with non-financial expertise
• Management experience including staff supervision, training and development
• Experience of providing financial support to decision making
• Experience of supporting service delivery improvements within a financial setting. Behavioural & other Characteristics required
• To demonstrate the council's values, behaviours and manager habits in all aspects of your day to day work.
• To demonstrate an inclusive and engaging leadership style and positively promote the equalities agenda
• To carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under the Council's Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
• To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates. Skills Required None Knowledge Required None Experience Required None Behavioural & other Characteristics required None Job Description Content Prepared / Reviewed by: Name : John Bywater Designation : Head of Finance Date : 13/11/2020 Job Description Approved by: Human Resources Date: 18/11/2020 #J-18808-Ljbffr