Job Description

Finance Business Partner - Braintree District Council
Braintree District Council
Temporary, Full Time
Dependant on Experience
Location: Braintree
Closing Date: 15th June 2025
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit for the role of temporary Finance Business partner.
*Please note, this is a temporary opportunity for a period 6 months and is due to start immediately. When submitting your application, please include salary expectations and availability to start work.*
The Role:
To deliver high quality financial advice and support to services and the corporate organisation. Responsible for providing comprehensive and innovative support to senior managers, working collaboratively with services and other staff across the finance function.
Role Accountabilities:

• Responsibility for the provision of financial and management accounting support to a range of services, including preparation of revenue budgets, closure of accounts, financial monitoring and control, forecasting, and financial planning.
• To provide financial advice to service managers, including commenting/advising on the adequacy of financial procedures, processes, and any service based financial systems. To advise and support on the identification, assessment and reporting of the financial implications of decision reports prepared by managers for member/ senior management consideration.
• Working with service managers, undertake investigations, analytical reviews, and other financial projects to ensure resources are being used to best effect, including assistance with any bids or claims for external funding.
• Constructively challenge the status quo regarding existing budgets and assumptions.
• To provide financial advice and support on service and corporate based projects, working groups' comprising officer and/ or members etc. as required from time to time and commensurate with service/ functional responsibilities.
• To help create a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services. This will incorporate relevant evidence-based reporting and include benchmarking information and key cost drivers.
• To ensure the effective completion of all appropriate government returns and other requests for financial and statistical data as required, including contributing to the completion of corporate returns for both revenue and capital.
• To actively support on crosscutting service initiatives and to acquire and maintain comprehensive service specific knowledge that supports policy and service development as appropriate.

• Full CCAB (or equivalent qualification) (but will consider someone with extensive experience in a similar role )
• Demonstrable evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Demonstrate confidence and experience in giving professional advice to management and members on complex financial matters
• Worked in a finance business partner role within local government or other public sector
• Up to date knowledge and experience in the specialist areas of local government accounting, particularly the requirements of the various CIPFA Codes of Practice and other regulatory requirements in so far as they impact on the service and functional responsibilities.
• Ability to read, interpret and implement regulations, changes to procedures and practices, and changes in accounting requirements
• Able to work to tight deadlines, within an area of conflicting demands and changing priorities
• Good knowledge of financial systems and their use
• Excellent spreadsheet/ financial modelling skills and extensive use of MS Office.
• Able to constructively challenge prevailing views and be creative and innovative in working with services.
• Able to develop and maintain strong working relationships with Senior Management, Service Managers, and Budget Holders, based on mutual trust and respect.