Job Description

Lead and oversee critical areas of the Council’s finance function, including managing and continually developing the transactional finance team responsible for end-to-end processes across the transactional financial services function to include; Income and Banking, Debtors, Creditors and Procure to Pay, Suspense Accounts and Reconciliation. To ensure the provision of an efficient and fit for purpose service which meets the needs of customers and all key performance indicators. Ensure compliance with national legislation, council policies, practices, and timetables, maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Provide strong and clear leadership and management of the transactional financial services team, fostering a collaborative and supportive, delivery focused, environment. Ensure staff across the wider Finance Service contribute effectively to the delivery of key financial responsibilities.

Drive financial excellence by managing and optimising financial processes, contributing to the council's strategic goals and community impact.

Negotiate stretch targets, regularly reviewing individual and team performance, problem solving and ensuring that end to end processes are efficient and support the finance service overall to provide and excellent service to the business. 

Implement and oversee a robust financial management system with strong internal controls, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in financial operations.

Cultivate an excellent financial management culture where collective responsibility for financial health is paramount. Support the delivery of value-for-money services, report on benchmark information and key cost drivers, and ensure that staff across the council are financially literate and competent

Ensure all transactions are completed in line with the month end timetable and reporting requirements (internal and statutory), overseeing, developing and reviewing this work to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the data is maintained and best practice is followed.

Ensure logical, straightforward and efficient processes are instigated so that income and expenditure information / costs are posted to the right cost centre, first time, to create accurate ledgers and manager dashboards.

Develop and deliver the service to an agreed set of standard documentation, processes and procedures.

Ensure that reporting against KPIs and Critical Success factors for every transactional finance area are met, reporting is kept up to date and targets are reviewed quarterly.

Contribute to organisational development work that may be required, both internal and external to ensure service areas across the business comply with financial standards by using approved processes and receive appropriate training and support to enable them to comply.

Be responsible for the continuous improvement in the system and functions, identifying areas of potential opportunity and ensure that solutions are implemented