Description
Head of Finance | Neighbourhoods & Regeneration / Finance & Resources
£650 per day | 36 hours per week | Wembley
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Interim Head of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership across two high-profile directorates within a vibrant and diverse London borough.
The Council is delivering an ambitious programme of investment, regeneration and service improvement, with significant activity across housing, infrastructure, public realm, town centre renewal and climate action. Alongside this, there is a strong focus on financial sustainability, value for money and effective financial management.
This is a senior role offering the opportunity to work closely with Directors, senior managers, Members, contractors and external partners across a broad and complex portfolio.
The Role
As Head of Finance, you will act as the lead professional financial adviser across Neighbourhoods & Regeneration and Finance & Resources, providing strategic advice across significant and complex budgets.
You will be responsible for:
- Providing strategic financial leadership and advice to Directors, senior managers and Members.
- Leading financial accounting, budgeting, forecasting and medium-term financial planning.
- Managing and providing oversight of significant revenue budgets, with responsibility for robust financial control and sustainability.
- Advising on complex financial matters including financial modelling, option appraisal, investment appraisal and commercial considerations.
- Supporting major service contracts and commercial negotiations, ensuring strong financial monitoring, compliance and value for money.
- Identifying financial risks, pressures and opportunities and providing robust challenge to support effective decision-making.
- Leading cost reduction, efficiency, transformation and income-generation initiatives.
- Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, partners and contractors and influencing strategic decisions.
- Ensuring statutory and management financial reporting requirements are met to a high professional standard.
- Providing leadership to a high-performing finance team and contributing to wider corporate objectives.
- Deputising for the statutory Chief Finance Officer (s151 Officer) when required.
About You
We are looking for a senior finance professional with significant experience operating within a large, complex organisation, ideally with strong local government or public sector experience.
You will need:
- CCAB qualification, preferably CIPFA, with significant post-qualification experience.
- A strong understanding of complex financial management, accounting and strategic financial planning.
- Proven experience managing significant budgets and providing financial advice at senior management level.
- Experience leading teams and influencing wider groups of staff in complex organisational environments.
- Strong commercial, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience delivering business process transformation, efficiencies and improved financial controls.
- The confidence to challenge senior decision-makers and contractors appropriately.
- Excellent analytical, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into practical recommendations.
Key Details
Role: Interim Head of Finance – Neighbourhoods & Regeneration / Finance & Resources
Rate: £650 per day
Hours: 36 hours per week
This is a senior strategic finance position for an experienced finance leader who can combine technical expertise with commercial thinking, strong leadership and the confidence to operate at Director and Member level.