Finance Manager

Full time, Part time or Term-time only will be considered

We're currently recruiting for a Finance Manager in the Children and Education team.

Children and Education

The Children and Education team provide finance expertise and analysis on the council’s work supporting schools and children’s social care. This new role is to work specifically with schools within the city as we work to ensure all schools are financially sustainable while delivering the educational outcomes we expect. This is an important role working closely with key stakeholders across the city to provide constructive challenge and support. The successful candidate will also be closely involved in schools funding more broadly, ensuring that all spending (in particular for children with special education needs or disability) is founded on clear data on numbers of children and costs of placements.

 

About the roles

 

In all areas you will be carrying out analysis of costs, cost drivers and supporting the accounting function, with the possibility of deputising for the Finance Business Partner carrying out supervisory responsibilities too.

 

You'll be the trusted advisor to senior members of the Council on financial matters. That includes setting annual budgets and ensuring short, medium, and long-term forecasts are robust. You'll identify, analyse and report on the financial implications of new initiatives in your area of responsibility. At year end you will support the preparation of annual statements.

 

To be successful in these roles you will need to build strong relationships with key stakeholders in your area and across the council.

 

That will allow you to challenge and advise. A commitment to continual improvement is key and you will need to consistently offer ideas to improve current practice and find efficiencies. There will be opportunities to work on cross-cutting projects that address issues across the council.

 

Finally, you will need to manage and motivate your team to deliver.

 

Person Specification

 

• CCAB (or equivalent) qualification with post qualification experience and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Ability to manage and motivate a team, including holding all team members to account
• Able to demonstrate considerable operational experience in a minimum of three of the following:
• Supporting the optimisation of effective finance systems
• Budget preparation, analysing and monitoring complex budgets
• Project accounting work – producing business case and benefit realisation
• Producing and analysing complex financial reports
• Completing statutory accounts for a complex organisation
• Financial modelling
• Experience of dealing with a range of stakeholders with a varying degree of understanding of financial matters and ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written format to establish excellent working relationships.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in resolving a range of complex issues.
• Ability to work autonomously, using initiative, creatively and resourcefulness, with an ability to see the wider implications.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to the continuous improvement of services to the benefit of customers.

 

How to apply

To apply, send us your:

• CV, no more than 2 sides
• a supporting statement, with a maximum of 1,000 words, which demonstrates by practical example how you meet the following:
• full CCAB (or equivalent qualification). Experience of schools funding would be a significant advantage.
• Experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting complex financial management to people who manage budgets
• Ability to establish excellent working relationships with senior colleagues and customers

 

Please email your CV and supporting statement to finance_recruitment@bristol.gov.uk 

This role can be considered on a full time, part time or term time only basis. Please include your preference in the application.

Please note that a standard DBS check will be required prior to appointment.

Closing date: There is no specific end date. We are regularly reviewing CV's and holding interviews, so please submit your application at your earliest convenience to be considered.

No agencies please.

For further information about our finance service area and other opportunities available please visit our careers site 

Why Bristol City Council?

We provide hundreds of day-to-day services, from being a landlord, providing social care to running our museums and parks. We deliver a diverse range of services and have ambitious capital and investment programmes for the city and to support people who live, work and visit in Bristol.

 

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation.

 

Join us and you’ll receive a generous rewards package including flexible working arrangements, flexi-time and membership of the Local Government Pension scheme. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

 

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

 

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the City we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community, and we particularly encourage applicants from women, Black and racially minoritised, Disabled,LGBTQ+ candidates who are currently under-represented within our service area. Appointments will be made on merit.