Principal Finance Officer - HU1 City Centre

Principal Finance Officer

Central Hull Based

£25.25 per hour Grade 11

Monday to Friday 37 hour week

Manages and provides financial input to the strategy for Assistant Directors in line with Service plans. Leads the provision of financial support and guidance to Assistant Directors and their staff to ensure statutory requirements for financial management and accountability are met and projects are delivered in line with financial regulations and deliver value for money for the Council. Identifies strategic financial opportunities through funding regimes or partnership opportunities to deliver services for Services differently to secure improved value for money.

Works alongside other finance staff and with colleagues from other services to provide coordinated customer focused support to deliver the objectives and priorities of Directorates.

Acts as the co-ordinating officer for Business Finance - manages the processes around assessing and prioritising existing and incoming demands and allocating tasks to particular finance staff at certain levels.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy - Provides broad strategic financial management leadership, direction and advice to Assistant Directors to significantly influence the Council's achievement of its strategic objectives. Leads on the development and delivery of timely, accurate and clear financial information, advice and support to Assistant Directors to maximise value for money and ensure effective governance. Identifies financial opportunities through various strategic delivery options to deliver services differently with due regard to the implications on quality. Provides direct support to Corporate Directors in relation to specific issues and projects.

Performance Management - Is a visible leader who inspires and demands continuous customer and value for money focus and improvement across Services and Directorates, exemplifying an effective performance improvement framework for staff at other grades within Finance.

Leadership - Working in a matrix fashion to develop, support and manage on particular tasks pooled finance staff in accordance with Council procedures and best practice.

SLT / DMT - Is a member of the Business Finance team supporting the delivery of effective service finance to customers. Works collaboratively with colleagues across the Finance and Transformation Directorate, developing cross functional relationships and processes to deliver on the Finance elements of a cohesive service.

Project Support - Identifies the major financial implications of existing or future projects, and acts as lead adviser to high level ones where appropriate. Responsible with colleagues through collaborative working for prioritisation decisions over deploying resources to support major and strategic Service and Directorate projects, to ensure appropriate systems for financial monitoring and control are in place and that value for money is being maximised. Manages external financial advisers used to support major projects ensuring effective governance and value for money.

Financial Management - Advises Services and Directorates on financial management and works alongside the Corporate Director, Assistant Directors and other managers on the implementation of improved systems and processes to deliver improved governance and value for money. Identifies opportunities for corporate changes to systems and processes contributing to cross cutting group as required. Gives assurance to the Director of Business Finance and Transformation (Section 151 Officer) that statutory requirements relating to financial standards and other statutory and fiduciary duties are being delivered in the relevant Services and Directorates as appropriate. Co-ordinates the production of briefing notes and formal reports to CST and to Members on the overall revenue monitoring position in line with agreed timetables.

Strategic Financial Advice - Provides pro-active and forward looking strategic financial advice and support to influence the effective management of a Directorate's resources. Responds to consultation proposals and interprets legislation on a diverse range of financial issues impacting on a Directorate providing advice and guidance to Corporate Strategy Team, Corporate Directors, Assistant Directors, Members and External Bodies on the implications of implementation.

Co-ordinating Officer for Business Finance - Takes a key role in managing the assessment of demands, allocating staff to undertake prioritised tasks, and monitoring, reporting on and improving the results that are achieved. Working within a matrix basis acts as the pay and rations line manager for subordinate staff.

Minimum Requirements

• Postholder will be required to have a range of either professional or specialist knowledge or experience.
• Role will have supervision and planning of other people's workloads and/or planning or scheduling of work over the short term.
• HR skills can comprise of being in a managerial role requiring motivating, developing and ensuring the health and wellbeing of a dedicated staff group and/or HR skills in influencing peer and senior managers.
• Role has latitude to determine appropriate actions within set policies and practices. Role is subject to structured direction and supervision with set objectives.
• Role has requirement to identify and establish relevant policies and practices within their specific area of responsibility.
• Role is required to manage/monitor/direct financial plans and budgets in line with corporate policy.
• Role has the authority to make key decisions impacting on the Principal Accountabilities.

Qualifications

• CCAB Qualified

Relevant Experience

• Management experience which demonstrates the ability to initiate, plan, monitor, develop and implement service provision.
• Experience of making change and service improvement in a complex environment.
• Experience in managing complex data and information from a variety of sources, and ability to analyse and interpret performance data.
• Experience of successfully leading a team of staff.
• Experience of supporting the management of a substantial amount of financial, people and other resources.
• Experience and understanding of planning and project management in a leadership capacity.

Skills

• Ability to plan, manage and deliver complex projects.
• Able to challenge appropriately, to design and introduce improvements and to manage change across a defined service area.
• Ability to propose and implement improvements to systems and working methods across a service area to deliver a performance focused culture.

Knowledge

• Able to predict and drive change in a rapidly changing environment to deliver a performance-based culture.
• Possesses a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures, technical practices to manage areas of operational services.
• Appreciation of wider/strategic including government policy and legislation affect local government, and how they impact on the job.
• Uses knowledge to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of possible longer-term implications.
• Uses knowledge of the service to be able to make decisions on requirements of the service and its development.

If you are interested and meet the above criteria, please send your CV to (url removed) or call the Commercial team on (phone number removed) if you have any queries.

Please note: Prestige Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer with 30 years of service within the recruitment & staffing sector.