Job Introduction
We have an exciting new opportunity within the Finance team for a Senior Finance Manager. Reporting to the Head of Finance, the successful candidate will be part of the Finance Leadership Team and be responsible for providing finance advice and support to services.
In this role, you will be the lead contact for finance advice and guidance to a specific service area within the Council. You will ensure robust monitoring of the financial position and development of the budget across the medium term as well as developing and challenging business cases. You will be the finance lead for several exciting projects as well as joining a dynamic and high performing finance team, where strong business partnering relationships are in place with services.
The role is available part-time, three days per week and can be office or home based (with periodic attendance in the office). Alternative working patterns and hours may be considered – please include this in your covering letter.
Main Responsibility
- Providing financial advice on a wide range of projects, including options appraisals, development of business cases and undertaking financial modelling.
- Development of the budget (medium-term financial plan).
- Manage, motivate, and develop the staff within the team to continuously improve the level of performance and professional standards within the service.
- Reporting of the financial position to senior management and Cabinet, challenging to ensure forecasts are accurate, overspends are mitigated and provide suggestions of actions required and potential cost reductions.
The Ideal Candidate
- You will be a qualified accountant (CCAB) with relevant post -qualification experience and evidence of ongoing CPD.
- Experience of financial planning, control, and reporting in a complex organisation, ideally this will include public sector experience.
- Be able to explain complicated and technical information in a manner that can be understood by others with different levels of knowledge on the subject, including senior stakeholders and councillors.
- Excellent IT skills, in particular a high level of competence using Office 365.
- Ability to apply innovative and creative thinking to complex service challenges and deliver high quality solutions within a highly pressurised environment.
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Health Cashplan
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles)
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs)
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
- Childcare Subsidy
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
