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Assistant Head of Finance
- Location South West
- Job type Fixed Term Contract
- Salary £53k - 57k per year + Annual Bonus
- Discipline Local Government & Public Sector
- Reference J97424
Assistant Head of Finance
Working Pattern: 4 days per week / 30 hours
Salary: £55,000 FTE (circa £44,000 pro rata) plus Annual Reward Bonus
Contract: Fixed-term / Interim opportunity
About the Role:
A UK based local authority is seeking an experienced Assistant Head of Finance to provide senior operational leadership across a broad finance function.
The successful candidate will support the Head of Finance in the effective management and continuous improvement of financial services
This is a senior role suited to an experienced local government finance professional who can provide strong technical oversight while also leading teams, managing performance and supporting strategic financial decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and oversee significant elements of the annual budget-setting process, budget consultation and Medium-Term Financial Plan.
Provide financial advice, briefings and presentations to senior leaders and elected Members.
Develop and maintain financial policies, procedures, controls and guidance, ensuring compliance with legislation and professional standards.
Oversee internal and external audit activity, ensuring agreed actions are delivered within required timescales.
Maintain robust controls around statutory compliance, financial risk, fraud prevention, data protection and governance.
Monitor and analyse key financial performance information, including budgets, forecasts, reserves, capital and revenue expenditure, collection rates, arrears and service KPIs.
Provide leadership across multidisciplinary finance teams, supporting performance, development, workload management and service resilience.
You should have:
A recognised professional accountancy qualification such as CIPFA, CCAB, ACCA or equivalent.
Significant senior-level experience across accountancy, financial management, revenues, benefits, audit or a related discipline.
Strong knowledge of financial management, budget monitoring, forecasting, financial reporting, year-end close and statutory accounts.
Experience working with financial governance, audit requirements, financial regulations and relevant accounting standards.
Strong understanding of financial controls, risk management and statutory compliance.
Experience using financial data, KPIs and reporting to support strategic decision-making.
Experience of finance systems, digital transformation and automation would be advantageous.
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to take on a senior finance leadership position within a local authority environment, providing both operational management and strategic support across a diverse finance service.
The role would suit an experienced Deputy Head of Finance, Assistant Director of Finance, Assistant Head of Finance, Principal Accountant or senior local government finance professional looking for a flexible four-day-a-week opportunity.
Apply now to discuss the role in more detail.