Finance Business Partner

West Northamptonshire Council has a number of vacancies within their Strategic Finance Team (Finance Business Partner and Assistant Finance Business Partner) to support the Place, Finance and Corporate Services Business Partner Team. As Finance Business Partner, you will be able to apply a wide range of accountancy skills and business acumen to support two busy finance teams. The successful candidates will be part qualified accountants for the Finance Business Partner roles, with significant financial experience working as a Business Partner. There will be an expectation that the post holders are comfortable working in a fast-paced organisation, have excellent communication skills, are suitably experienced, and technically proficient in their chosen areas. These roles are part flexible, being office based for two days a week.

The successful candidates will be joining a busy and supportive department, helping to shape a highly performing finance function over a period of significant change for the council.

Key Responsibilities

1. Provision of technical guidance, both internal to, and external to Finance, and developing effective relationships with appropriate national bodies and other local authorities.
2. Provision of financial direction, support, and analysis to all Service and Support Directorates.
3. Supporting Councillors, Services and Partners to improve their performance through the provision of strategic financial advice.
4. Contributing to the Financial Planning processes with strategic analysis, advice, and recommendations to support the production of a Medium-Term Financial Plan which delivers the objectives of the Authority.
5. Supporting the development of financial business processes both within Finance and Service Directorates, and the implementation of these improved processes.
6. Team management including motivating and developing the team to ensure its objectives are achieved and to enhance its overall level of performance and morale.
7. Ensuring adherence to, and advise on, the application of legislative, regulatory and both national and international accounting standards.
8. Providing input on other financial management requirements which will lead to the development of Finance towards a world-class service.
9. Ensuring that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons, and complying with the policies and procedures relating to health and safety within the Service.
10. Demonstrating an awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people's behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
11. Undertaking any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope, and purpose of this job description.

About You

You'll be CCAB Qualified or a Part Qualified Accountant, will ensure proper procedure and best practice are followed, and work closely with colleagues across the organisation, as well as working with auditors.

You will be highly numerate, self-motivated, a self-starter and have the ability to build good working relationships within a team and in supporting budget managers.

Your skills will enable you to manage, motivate and develop staff within the team and ensure that priorities and objectives are achieved.

Ongoing professional development will also be key to you.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Professional subscriptions / registration - if your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that is genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About Us

We're a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we're embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.

• Location One Angel Square, Northampton, United Kingdom