Job Description

Medway is recognised as a great place to live, work, learn and visit, where all people thrive. We are a Unitary Council serving a population of 282,000 people with a 622million annual revenue expenditure budget, and a capital programme of a further 329million. Recognising that strategic support services are vital to everything the Council delivers, Medway continues to invest in the Education Finance Service, enabling us to recruit a Business Lead to support the Education and SEND division. This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly and experienced team of local authority professionals who enjoy a high profile in the Council.

You will contribute to the development of medium term financial projections and annual budgets, ensuring the budget management process is effective, supporting services to deliver and account for change.

As a Business Programme Lead in the Education and SEND team, you will:

Work closely with, and develop, budget managers to ensure that they undertake effective budget monitoring; that appropriate remedial action is considered and that forecast variances are adequately reported. This to include the submission of monthly reports to the Directorate Management Team.

Complete, in accordance with agreed timetables, the final accounts programme to net revenue account stage. Analyse the final outturn to ensure that variations against budget are properly explained and reported.

Monitor and promote compliance with the Council's financial rules, accounting codes of practice and other internal and external guidelines and regulations and provide general financial advice to members and officers to ensure sound financial control over the Council's resources.
Contribute, as required, to the preparation of cabinet and committee reports to ensure that financial implications are properly addressed.
Contribute, as required, to the gateway procurement process, ensuring that financial implications are properly considered.

Be required to assist in the completion of the various revenue budget related government returns e.g., SEN2, and respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) and media requests as required to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

Work collaboratively with other Accountants within the Finance team to ensure consistency, achieve best practice, and support budget managers with budget monitoring, forecasting, and preparation of accounts.

Lead two teams focussing on different areas within the Education and SEND finance and business function.

About you

Applicants must hold/have the following:
Willingness to work towards a relevant professional qualification
Excellent ICT skills and previous knowledge of computerised financial management systems.
Detailed knowledge of the processes for budget preparation, budget monitoring and budgetary control.
Extensive experience in Education finance, wider local government finance, or similar environment.If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please contact Paul Clarke at paul.clarke@medway.gov.uk

In return we offer you:Generous annual leave entitlement Generous local government pension scheme package Access to wider training and development qualifications Flexible working scheme Travel plan discounts Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency. Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day's paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change.

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.
For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.