“There are very few councils that wouldn’t be envious of Reading’s many advantages and opportunities, both as a place and as a council.” – source LGA Corporate Peer Challenge.

Reading Borough Councils’ Children’s Services are delivered through our wholly owned company Brighter Futures for Children. The Council’s finance team delivers the full range of financial support to the company. We are now looking to recruit an experienced Strategic Finance Business Partner to lead that support.

You will be a good communicator, with the ability to build strong relationships with key partners both in Brighter Futures for Children and across the Council.

As well as attending monthly company Board meetings, you will also be a key member of the Council’s excellent Finance Leadership Team.

We can offer you a competitive salary (including a market supplement), a chance to be part of an experienced and friendly finance team and lots of flexibility to work from home whenever possible.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

The Strategic Finance Business Partner for Children’s Services will lead a team who play a key role within Brighter Futures for Children and the Council, working with services to better understand the challenges and opportunities, creating initiatives to financially benefit the Company and being proactive and trusted financial advisers. The team are focused on helping services provide the right support, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price.

Key responsibilities include:
 Being the senior strategic financial adviser for the Director of Children’s Services.
 Attending monthly meetings of the Board.
 Being the lead finance link between the Council and the company.
 Being the S151 Officer’s representative in regard of all financial matters relating to the company.
 Delivering a robust and pro-active financial planning and reporting service as well as driving and maintaining high standards of financial control.
 Understanding cost drivers, risks and opportunities to generate ideas and create initiatives for the company and the Council.
 Developing a high performing service focused team to support decision-making.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability.
As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

About you
To be suitable for this role you need to be a fully CCAB (or equivalent) qualified, service-focused finance professional with the ability to build relationships and influence senior stakeholders. You will have proven experience of developing a business partnering approach, ideally within a Local Authority environment.

Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and home-working according to the needs of the Service. 

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
 Generous holiday entitlement - 24 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 32 days after ten years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
 A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
 Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading.
 Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
 Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
 On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees.
 Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work.
 Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

For more information on this position please contact: Darren Carter, Director of Finance (s151 Officer) at darren.carter@reading.gov.uk; or Stuart Donnelly, Financial Planning & Strategy Manager (Deputy s151 Officer) at stuart.donnelly@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Monday 14 October 2024.
Interview Date: week commencing 28 October 2024.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.