Assistant Head of Finance & Deputy s151 Officer
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Senior leadership role within a Local Authority
Last 3 job holders have moved into Finance Director roles or other promotions
About Our Client
Based at the Civic Centre in the heart of the city, Newport City Council employs approximately 6454 people (5120 full time equivalent) and has an annual revenue budget of around £300 million.
It is currently leading on a significant £240m Capital Investment programme that with see the city and surrounding areas developed to be a vibrant and thriving major city in South East Wales.
The Finance team plays an integral part in the continued success of the Council and plays a key part in every decision that the Chief Executive, Board and Budget holders make on future decisions that will affect residents, business and tourists across the city.
Job Description
Reporting to the Head of Finance (Finance Director level), the Assistant Head of Finance plays a pivotal role in the success of the Finance function and its wider interactions with departments throughout the Council.
This role will have team of circa 30 staff in the areas of Financial & Management Accounting, Business Partnering and System Accounting.
This post holder will be joining an organisation that is small enough to get involved in every area, learn and develop, but also big enough to have some really interesting things happening too.
One of these areas will be the £240m Capital Investment Programme currently running across the City.
The post holder will sit on the Major Projects board and will be the key Finance lead on all of the projects.
Although the role has oversight of the whole of Finance, the main focus for this role will be on the corporate finance office including Capital, Treasury, Technical Accounting, Major Projects and Systems.
The role is a key Senior Manager in the organisation with high visibility given nature of role. Essentially, the post holder runs the accountancy service as its "Service Manager".
One of the key objectives will be focusing on developing staff and pipeline of talent in the accountancy service, so you will bring a high level of enthusiasm to the Council with the determination to develop staff within your team.
The Finance team is very close knit and the Assistant Head of Finance will continue to develop a culture of "team based approach" and acts as the key leader in building strong relationships across the Council with Senior Managers and local teams.
The Successful Applicant
You will be a fully qualified Accountant holding CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
It's preferential that you have worked for another Local Authority, however candidates that have worked in other Public Sector organisations, the NHS, Further and Higher Education and Not for Profits will be considered.
Candidates who have worked in large complex commercial organisations looking to move into the Public Sector will also be considered.
You will be able to demonstrate leading and developing finance teams in the areas of Technical Accounting, Capital Accounting and Systems, with a good working experience of Finance Business Partnering.
You will be a proven leader of people who can demonstrate people development within the finance function.
You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to influence Senior Managers and Budget Holders at all levels.
You will have excellent Project Management experience and ideally have worked on capital investment projects.
You will be able to demonstrate driving a culture of continuous improvement.
What's on Offer
A salary in the range of £55,685 to £59,961 (payable at any point on the scale)
Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
generous holiday allowance
1st round interviews will be conducted by Michael Page.
Interview with Newport Council will take place on the 16th and 17th March 2021.
Closing date for all applications is Friday 5th March 2021