Head of Financial Planning & Analysis

Paying up to 60k DOE
37 hours per week (flexible hours), Monday to Friday
Hybrid
6 month contract

About the role

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for leading financial planning, analysis, governance and procurement, while providing strategic financial advice across the organisation. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring sound financial management, long-term financial sustainability and value for money.

Working closely with the Chief Officer Group, OPCC and Heads of Department, the Chief Finance Officer will provide clear, trusted financial insight to support strategic, operational and tactical decision-making.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the development and ongoing management of the annual budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), ensuring financial plans are accurate and aligned with strategic priorities.
• Oversee the development of clear and robust revenue and capital budgets, supporting statutory requirements including precept setting and funding strategies.
• Consolidate and present annual budgets and financial information to senior stakeholders, including the Chief Officer Group, OPCC and Heads of Department.
• Lead monthly financial reporting and forecasting, providing clear explanations of variances, risks and opportunities.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate mitigation and corrective action.
• Provide financial input into organisation-wide business cases, resource allocation, project appraisal and investment decisions.
• Monitor capital and project expenditure, ensuring budgets are managed effectively and value for money is achieved.
• Support internal and external audit activity and statutory financial reporting.
• Provide strategic oversight of procurement activity, ensuring compliance, effective contract management and value for money.
• Lead and support Procurement Business Partners, ensuring accurate and complete contracts and grants registers are maintained.
• Lead, manage and develop Finance Business Partners and Procurement Business Partners, creating a collaborative and people-focused finance function.
• Work with the Change Team to support business process re-engineering and promote commercial thinking to deliver sustainable cost savings.

Leadership responsibility

The role will have direct supervisory responsibility for:

• 3 Finance Business Partners
• 2 Procurement Business Partners

The successful candidate will be expected to provide strong leadership, coaching and professional development, while fostering a collaborative and people-centric culture across the finance function.

About you

The organisation is looking for an experienced senior finance professional who can combine strong technical expertise with excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

You will be a qualified accountant, holding a qualification such as CIPFA, ACCA, ACA or CIMA, with significant experience operating at a senior level within a complex organisation.

You will have a strong track record in financial planning, budgeting and analysis, including the ability to develop complex financial models and produce high-quality reporting for boards and senior leadership teams.

You will also bring:

• Significant experience of business partnering and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience contributing to and developing the financial aspects of complex business cases.
• Experience leading, managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, practical advice.

INDFIR

52320CH

The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.