Head of Finance - Leeds, United Kingdom - Leeds City Council

Description

Job title: Head of Finance x2

Salary: £66, £72,812.00

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds City Centre

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 and ambitions.

About you

As a Head of Finance you will bring to the role:

About the role

We currently have two vacancies at Head of Finance level – one of these is a business partner role supporting one of the Council's Directorates whilst the other role will be to take the lead on the closure of Council's Financial Accounts and liaising with the Council's external auditors.

This is an exciting opportunity for two highly motivated and innovative qualified accountants, looking for their next career move to join a dynamic and forward thinking Finance Team based in Leeds which is a vibrant, exciting contemporary city situated in the heart of the UK.

To be suitable for the role you need to be a Qualified Accountant with a proven track record of achievement at a management level in a similarly large and complex organisation.

One of the roles will require you to have a good knowledge of both the local government accounting framework, relevant legislation relating to this role and experience of liaising with external audit in their audit of a Council's financial accounts.

The other role will require you to lead on providing a high quality business partnering function to a Council Directorate that ensures that the Council can delivery on its priorities in a financially sustainable way.

These Head of Finance roles are key members of the Council's senior finance management team and will assist the Chief Officer Financial Services in discharging their Section 151 statutory responsibilities through management of the strategic budgeting and statutory accounting functions in the relevant Directorate and service area. They will work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, members and stakeholders to deliver the outcomes of the Best City Ambition in order to achieve the required outcomes and ensure that fiscal responsibility and risk is managed effectively.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

Interviews for these two posts will take place in the week commencing 10th June 2024.

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

Career Family Role Specification

Job title: Head of Finance

Job purpose The role assists the Chief Officer- Financial Services in taking a lead role in delivering a range of transformational work-packages intended to deliver cultural change, automate, standardise and streamline core finance business processes, re-design the financial services 'Delivery Offer' and reconfigure the financial management service and associated roles and responsibilities. The Council is about to embark on a major procurement exercise to select a preferred cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) service and the post-holder will play a key role in evaluating bids and implementing the preferred ERP service.

The post-holder will challenge and influence decision-makers and stakeholders to ensure that wherever possible, the Council adopts (and does not adapt) the preferred ERP service and recommended standard good practice policies and processes.

Key Requirements:

To lead on the strategic and operational management of transformational work-packages within the Financial Management Service aimed at standardising and streamlining core business processes, re-designing the financial services 'Delivery Offer' and reconfiguring the service and associated roles and responsibilities

To provide professional leadership and management of the Core Business Transformation Team. In this role the post holder will provide strategic lead on work-packages within financial management aimed at procuring and implementing a cloud-based integrated ERP service for the Council to provide strategic financial guidance and support to work-packages and other transformational initiatives within the wider Core Business Transformation Programme (HR, Payroll and Procure to pay).

To work closely with Directorates to move to the new ways of working.

To support the role of the Council's Section 151 Officer by ensuring at all times that the integrity of the Council's accounts and financial systems and procedures are maintained and controlled, and to adhere to the Council's Code of Practice for Heads of Finance.

Positively influence plans and strategies involving large-scale complex change programmes and support the use of commercial approaches to the development of business cases and key service investment/dis-investment decisions.

Substantial experience of delivering a multi-disciplinary service at a senior level that is driven by service user requirements based on delivers customer focused outcomes and excellent customer satisfaction results.

Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a broad range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities, and being sensitive to political issues.

Ability to develop, manage and contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes. Experience of working effectively with others to deliver cross sector or cross service projects, including partnership working.

Experience of managing risk in relation to an area of work.

Experience in the development, presentation and implementation of strategy and policy.

Other duties which are commensurate with the grade and within the purpose of the post.

Hold a relevant CCAB qualification or equivalent and have extensive experience of working at a senior level within a finance setting.

To be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development.

Substantial senior leadership and management experience in a service or operational area relevant to the area of service delivery

Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council's strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.

Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues, and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective workforce solutions.

Ability to contribute, as a member of the service Leadership Team.

Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and 'feels they count'.

Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.

In line with the Budget ManagementAccountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations

To manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.

Demonstrate knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information applicable to the relevant strategic functions e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, and promoting compliance with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.

Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and members of the Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence.

Working Context - The role is primarily office based the post holder will be expected to work flexibly, in line with Council policies, both at home and at various locations across the City and region. Hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday, in accordance with the needs of the service; however, the post holder will be expected to work regularly outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening / weekend meetings or events as the service requires.

Career Family Role profile

Roles at this level support the Chief Officer in setting the purpose and strategic direction and in leading, developing and ensuring the effective delivery of service, directorate and corporate priorities, which contribute to the achievement of the Council's vision and strategic outcomes. This involves leading the planning, organising and commissioning the delivery of services to and on behalf of the organisation and all partners and stakeholders in the medium to long term.

People in these roles have a proficiency in a specialised area or a broad understanding of relationships between different functions and disciplines. They have the ability to select, develop and assess the suitability of ways of working; and will have highly developed skills in persuading, influencing, developing and motivating people and establishing effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.

As part of a directorate/service leadership team; roles at this level live and model values and behaviours to help the council to achieve the ambition to become the best city council in the country.

For roles at this level, you must be able to show

Knowledge – have an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial or practical experience across the service area. You use your knowledge and expertise to plan and deliver the highest levels and standards across either a specialist area(s) or an entire service

Have a comprehensive knowledge of local, regional and national issues, which influence the city and council policy and practice, and strategy within your service area. Maintaining up to date knowledge of current thinking and developments and use this to evaluate and assess business practice to influence efficient and effective ways of working.

Lead changing programmes and priorities based on in depth knowledge of the economic, business, cultural and political environment within the city and region using your skills to persuade, influence, develop and motivate people and establish effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.

Leadership & strategic planning – demonstrate strong leadership and management skills to develop a high performance culture across the service(s) where everyone can achieve their potential and 'feel they count' and where there is a drive to deliver the most efficient and effective solutions. There is evidence of a high performing, engaged and productive workforce along with effective leadership and management that leads to focussed solutions and quality outcomes

Contribute to and influence the strategic direction of the service area working with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders and Business plans are in place for the service, and contingencies are identified so that plan objectives can be met

Lead the development, implementation, promotion and evaluation of strategies and policies. Contribute to overarching strategies and the management of key plans, projects and programs at an organisational, directorate wide and local level using strong leadership and management skills to develop innovative strategies to support a high performing culture where the service's plan and policies are translated into excellent service outcomes

Collaboration & innovation – create a vision and direction that challenges and looks beyond the obvious and inspires and motivates others to achieve by driving change, leading by example and promoting the ambition to become the best city There are examples of innovation in managing and implementing solutions on complex issues and in transformational change programmes

Establish, develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners to improve and enhance service delivery and innovation ensuring the Council promotes, secures resources and is effective in delivering its agenda through work with peers, Members and other partner organisations across the city and regions

Ensure the capacity to respond positively to change is enhanced, 'traditional thinking' is challenged and innovative solutions are pursued throughout the area of responsibility. Creating a culture that promotes an innovative and forward thinking organisation, and a 'can do' attitude from employees and colleagues

Problem solving & decision making –take responsibility and accountability for developing and implementing appropriate, proportionate and effective solutions to complex service delivery problems

Demonstrating the ability to collate and analyse complex information to inform decisions and promote best practice within a strategic framework

Understand the need to balance corporate requirements with operational responsibilities and make timely well-judged decisions in order to achieve successful outcomes across a diverse range of, related and unrelated issues using a degree of evaluative judgment in relation to risks and issues and have the ability to identify potential impact within a range of changing and conflicting internal and external factors

Deliver – lead and manage a number of complex and potentially conflicting strategic and operational issues/priorities and are able to develop and implement innovative solutions to deliver required service outcomes there is evidence of continuous service improvements, support for cross council initiatives where best practice, value for money and high performance is demonstrated

Develop, manage and contribute to complex partnerships involving various stakeholders to gain ownership of a shared vision and direction to achieve positive outcomes. Demonstrating effective leadership and management to achieve sustainable service improvements and outstanding results in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Develop and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, partners, public and private sector and voluntary organisations across the city and region to ensure the delivery of excellent services and outcomes

You influence the strategic direction of the service; through working with internal and external partners and stakeholders ensuring services support and deliver outcomes that reflect the needs of the diverse, multi-cultural nature of our city

Resource & people management – engage, develop and performance manage resources that support adaptable ways of working and creating strong more flexible teams with the right people in the right place with the right skills using a coaching approach to motivate, enthuse and drive individuals within the directorate to create a high performing workforce and an organisational culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement

Manage resources and a substantial budget in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic national, local and political context. You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised

The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility

LCC Values

Leeds City Council values are at the heart of everything we do. They inform the way we design and deliver our services and the way we all work and behave. Leeds City Council expects all its employees and councillors to observe our core values and to understand our codes of conduct for ethical behaviour, correct use of the Digital Information Service (DIS) facilities and protection of sensitive information.

They reflect the current needs of the city. In a period of immense change and real challenge we must be both confident and decisive about what we do and how we do it. Observing our values can help us:

Working as a Team for Leeds Work in ways which are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds

Being Open, Honest & Trusted Ensure citizens and council members are provided with all relevant information to make decisions, learn from mistakes and seek to promote continuous improvement and best practice

Working with Communities Work Effectively with the variety of partners to deliver services, communicate and involve stakeholders and the wider community in new developments to encourage ownership and commitment

Treating People Fairly Recognise that everyone has an equally important part to play within the Council and value the diverse and vibrant nature of the city and all its citizens

Spending Money Wisely Set high expectations of achievement across a range of strategic outcomes, actively seek out opportunities to improve delivery of services though partnership and feedback from service users

Working Context Working environment including any specific risks

The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility