Service Director, Financial Management

North East Ambition; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in this role.

Here at Gateshead Council, we believe that 'The strength of Gateshead is the people of Gateshead'. When times are tough, we come together and deliver for one another, making sure that Gateshead is a place where everyone thrives.

In this exciting role, you will work closely with me to provide strategic leadership, vision and direction as part of the senior leadership team. I am looking for a leader who will have the skills and experience to apply their specialist knowledge to influence others at all levels in the organisation including the senior management team and the elected members.

You will find that here at Gateshead our Resources and Digital Services are well regarded and that we have a supportive culture with a united leadership team. We have strong and stable finances and have been able to deliver the budget for the last 10 years. Of course, there are challenges, like all other local authorities in the current climate, but we are confident that we are well placed to navigate what the future holds and have plans in place to make sure that we maintain our track record of financial stability.

In this senior leadership role, reporting directly to me as Strategic Director, we will look to deliver on our Thrive Agenda which pledges to put the people of Gateshead first, delivering value for money, and working with our communities to ensure we focus on what is important. These pledges are underpinned by a commitment to provide excellent customer service; sound financial planning; inclusivity; good governance and continuous improvement.

There are some very exciting projects underway at Gateshead and we are fortunate to work closely with the North East Combined Authority and other councils in the region to take advantage of the funding this brings as we look to develop and invest in our area. For example, we are working together on the Gateshead Quays development which includes the new Arena and Conference Centre.

The role will suit someone who can help deliver sector-leading services with a can-do attitude, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a focus on doing the right thing. You'll need to be resilient, adaptive, creative, and collaborative, providing advice to portfolio holders, members, and strategic partners. As an effective communicator, you'll quickly build sustainable relationships and bring a vision for how we can improve, leveraging your experience as a senior leader. You will be CIPFA/CCAB qualified, with significant senior management experience and have the ability to think strategically.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our supportive, high performing and forward-looking team. If you’re looking for a role involving variety and challenge, where you will lead on the co-ordination and delivery of a wide range of projects, then this could be the role for you.

If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to help lead the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application. To further your interest in the role, please review the full details of the role, supporting information and details of how to apply: Senior Leadership Recruitment - Gateshead Council.

Darren Collins, Strategic Director Resources and Digital

Close Date: Midnight, Monday 5 May 2025