Finance Business Partner

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job description

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils - Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Full time, 37 hours per week
• Permanent

Job Description

• £36,124 - £42,708 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Full time, 37 hours per week
• Permanent

Full time, part time and job share opportunities will be considered.

We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team. The successful person will share our values, commitment, and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities.

About the role

The Finance Business Partner will provide expert support and analysis for our service areas, enabling them to make a difference for our districts whilst ensuring effective financial controls are in place.

You will:

• work closely with service areas to create a real and active partnership with both operations and management, providing 'real time' financial support and analysis
• be a trusted advisor, communicating and persuading effectively, adding value, challenging, negotiating, and influencing Corporate Managers and Assistant Directors and provide a greater understanding of the financial implications of their operational and strategic decisions
• provide financial leadership, and highly relevant insight into the business performance of the designated service areas
• act as a key stakeholder in decision making by providing risk adjusted financial information and analysis

About you

We are looking for someone with great commercial acumen, strong analytical skills and a thorough understanding of financial controls, systems and procedures.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant qualification at NVQ4/HND/Foundation degree level, or have gained equivalent level of knowledge gained through experience.

You will need to evidence using your skills and knowledge to provide real time financial insight and an understanding of the financial implications of decisions to non finance colleagues.

You will have a strong work ethic, possess proven communication skills, and an ability to challenge in an effective manner.

You will need to be able to work well independently and as a member of a team.

About us

Working together across our Councils and with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, we provide excellent services to our 190,000 residents across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

We are proud of the role we play in creating the environment, economy, and communities for our districts. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work. With picturesque market towns, 60 conservation areas and with two National Landscapes within our districts, it is little wonder that we are consistently within the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits of working with us:

• Great opportunities for learning and development.
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support Program.
• Employee Assist Program.
• Health Care Options.

For more information, please visit our Employee Benefits page (suffolkjobsdirect.org).

Our ways of working:

Work is what we do, not where we go! We are committed to working in a more Hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working. (Business needs permitting) This has worked well for us and is something we will be continuing with.

We are committed to supporting equality and diversity; Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils provide opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible service for our residents.

For more information

If you wish to discuss the Hybrid working approach for this role, or for an informal discussion, please call Sean Coulter, Senior Finance Business Partner, on [phone] or email: [e-mail]

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification.pdf before applying for this job opportunity.

Closing date: 5pm, 08 May 2025

When applying, please ensure:

• that you complete the application form as fully as possible with your employment and educational history as shortlisting will be based upon the application form and supporting statement only.
• your statement indicates how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of the Job Description/Person Specification (JDPS).

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About the Team

How to apply

Step 1 - read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (JD and PS).

Step 2 - complete the Supporting Statement template.

Step 3 - complete the online application and upload your statement.

Your statement needs to indicate how you meet the criteria in the 'Person specification ' section of the (JD and PS)

Your statement should:

• Be no more than 2 sides of A4.
• use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).
• be uploaded on your online application, as without this, your interest will not be progressed.