About the role

The finance department is at the forefront of the Council’s exciting plans for the future. We are an ambitious and forward-thinking Council with a strong financial position and a growing tax base and a commitment to continuous improvement.

We are recruiting a Financial Analyst to join the Adult Social Care team within the Financial Performance and Support team at Central Bedfordshire Council.

You will be assisting the Senior Finance Business Partner in developing accounting, budgeting, and financial advice while offering financial guidance in the effective management control of the authority’s medium-term financial strategy, revenue budgets, capital programme, and the annual statements of  accounts processes. This role reports into the Senior Finance Business Partner.

Key responsibilities will include:
 As finance analyst you will be responsible for managing a small team, reporting to the Senior Finance Business Partner.
 Manage, motivate and develop the Senior Finance Officer’s and Trainee Finance Officer through co-ordinating and planning their workload and monitoring progress to ensure that work complies with statutory regulations and organisational policies and objectives that are in place.
 Providing support to the Senior Finance Business Partner.
 Lead on timely and accurate budget monitoring (revenue and capital), ensuring forecasts are received from budget managers and provide robust challenge. Produce quarterly draft financial reports to be sent to; Corporate Management Team (CMT).
 To liaise with and advise budget holders particularly in relation to budgetary management, forecasting, savings and associated matters.
 Contribute to the Financial Planning processes, advise and recommend solutions to issues that may arise in the production of a Medium-Term Financial Plan.
 Providing financial advice, guidance and support across revenue and capital projects.
 Maintenance of accounting arrangements in respect of one or more Service Groups including:
 Maintenance and reconciliation of appropriate revenue accounting records.
 Preparation of year-end accounts.
 Provision of financial management information to service groups.
 Preparation of Grant claims.
 Preparation of statutory returns.
 Financial appraisal of projects and initiatives (including the effects of new legislation).
 Ability to use business intelligence to develop and evaluate financial options
 Preparation of reports to members, briefing notes and publications on the Council's financial plans and budgets.

Please note that this list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and you may be required to undertake any activity specified within the job family attached.

About you:

 You will be CCAB (or equivalent) qualified or working towards qualification, with the drive, determination and enthusiasm to deliver a high-quality service for those you will support.
 Have public sector accounting and budgetary experience.
 Have knowledge and experience on the reporting requirements for local authorities.
 Staff management experience
 Experience of working on own initiative with limited supervision or direction.
 Able to analyse and interpret information for several sources and presenting the outcome in an appropriate format to meet reporting deadlines.
 Extensive knowledge of financial IT systems.
 Excellent presentation and communication skills both written and oral.
 Systematic approach.
 Ability to understand and disseminate complex and detailed technical and professional issues.
 Ability to establish and continue good working relationships and work effectively as part of a team.
 Ability to work effectively under pressure.

If you have strong analytical and financial modelling experience and are an excellent communicator and team player, we would love to hear from you.

Experience of working within a local authority is desirable for this role, but not essential, and we will provide full training and support.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies detailed within this Recruitment Pack

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Rhys Hickinbottom at Rhys.Hickinbottom@Centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 4816

Closing Date: 17th November 2024

To apply, please click “Apply Now”.