Job Description

Finance & Rating Manager (Water Management Alliance)

Full-time Permanent Contract (37 hours per week) - based at King's Lynn, Norfolk

Salary 60,000 to 65,000 pa (dependent upon Qualifications and Experience) plus attractive benefits package including:

Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Norfolk Pension Fund) Private Medical Scheme 28 days holiday (rising to 33 days with continuous service), plus New Years Eve and Bank Holidays Modern Office Free Onsite Parking
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Finance & Rating Manager to join the Water Management Alliance (WMA) Group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs). Internal Drainage Boards ("IDBs") are local public authorities that manage flood risk and land drainage.

The

Water Management Alliance (WMA)

is a group of like-minded Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) who share vision, values and standards and have chosen to jointly administer their affairs in order to reduce costs, strengthen their own organisations and increase influence at both regional and national level.

Internal Drainage Boards

("IDBs") are local public authorities that manage flood risk and land drainage within areas of special drainage need in England. IDBs undertake a vast range of vital work to reduce flood risk and manage water in a way that meets the local needs of residents, businesses and agriculture in accordance with their environmental duties whilst enhancing the ecological wellbeing of their districts.

The

Finance and Rating Team

within the Water Management Alliance provides all finance functions across the 7 Member Boards and WMA Consortium. These functions includes Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Payroll, Month End, Year End and the collection of our Special Levies and Drainage Rates.

As Finance and Rating Manager you will be supporting the WMA Group's Chief Financial Officer in meeting the team's

key purpose

to provide a professional, effective, responsive and high profile financial management service that supports business planning. This post is responsible for the production of monthly financial management and costing information to budget holders. Information will be produced to both internal and statutory deadlines. You will work as part of a team to contribute to the continued growth in an established team, recognising and promoting best practice and high performance, and delivering consistent quality throughout the business.

For more information about the role or the WMA please see our website www.wlma.org.uk or contact Sallyanne Jeffrey on 01553 819600.

To apply, please submit your

CV with a covering letter

explaining why you are a suitable candidate to

sallyanne.jeffrey@wlma.org.uk

.

Closing date for receipt of applications:

Monday 15 September 2025.

Main Responsibilities:

Responsible to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will take a lead role in producing, checking and distributing finance management reports to budget holders to agreed reporting timescales. Maintaining a robust control environment, ensuring all Board policies and financial regulations are regularly reviewed and adhered to, source documentation is held securely with sufficient audit trails. Forecasting year-end financial performance and identification of risks. Cash flow management and forecasts - ensuring the advances requested from each Board are sufficient to cover the Group's financial obligations. Balanced financial investment of the Board's assets, in accordance with the Board's Investment policy. Management of costs and ring-fenced income for Capital Development Projects. Assist with the preparation, production and distribution of the Annual Estimates (Budgets), in accordance with Statutory deadlines. Managing the Finance and Rating Team, currently consisting of 7 staff members with the team responsible for: Payroll Transaction processing, including purchase ledger, sales ledger, fixed assets, time sheets, plant sheets and stock records. Bank reconciliations Debt collection Monthly VAT reconciliations and pension returns Rating - generation of Annual Rate Demands and collection of funds owed Investigation of budget variances and reporting these to the CFO and Budget Holder (where applicable) Month-end journals (accruals and prepayments) Ensure expenditure is accurately reported within the general ledger which includes transaction analysis. Forecasting year-end financial performance and identification of risks. Undertaking ad-hoc financial calculations and investigations to meet the needs of the Finance and Rating Department and those of Budget Holders. Completion of the year-end financial management processes. Ensuring all audit trails are properly maintained. Liaising with internal and external auditors, the Bank, HMRC and managing any other audit or inspection requirements. Responsible for ensuring all drainage rates, rechargeable works, rents, acknowledgments, surface water development charges and other charges/income are invoiced and collected promptly. Assisting others in the Finance and Rating Department, as and when necessary, and providing cover during periods of holiday and sickness, including monthly payroll for 50+ employees. Presenting Financial Reports to the Consortium Management Committee and the Member Boards at Board meetings/Committee meetings, as and when required. Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer in their absence. Undertaking any other ad-hoc duties as required.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

Essential-

ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA Qualified (or qualified by experience)
Desirable-

5 years post qualification experience
Experience:

Essential-

A minimum of 5 years' experience within an accounting background Leading, motivating and development of a Finance Team
Desirable-

Experience with working in the Public Sector
Skills/Knowledge:

Essential-

Must be proficient in the use of accounting packages (for example Sage 200/50) and Microsoft (Excel, Word, Outlook, Access) Ability to interpret and present complex financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders, both in writing and verbally Ability to prioritise and organise workloads to meet deadlines and to remain calm under pressure. Able to work accurately and at speed in a high pressure environment Ability to handle sensitive financial and personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 2018, GDPR, and organisational policies Excellent written and spoken communication skills (including report and letter writing) Ability to build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders A full and valid UK driving licence
Desirable-

An understanding of the structure of local government and working within a democratic process

Planning and Organisational Skills

The post holder will plan and prioritise their own workload to meet required objectives through effective time management, to ensure delivery of both adhoc and routine requests for information. Required to work flexibly responding as appropriate to unpredicted issues that may fall within tight deadlines. You must have strong organisational skills due to the depth and breadth of work undertaken.

Other Information

Hours of work Monday-Thursday (8.30am-5.00pm) and Friday (8.30am-4.30pm) with one hour for lunch (some flexibility in these hours can be accommodated) 28 days leave per annum rising in increments to 33 days after 6 years continuous service ( + 8 days Bank Holiday) Private Medical Healthcare Access to the LGPS (Norfolk Local Government Pension Fund) Free onsite parking
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 60,000.00-65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Free parking On-site parking Private medical insurance
Application question(s):

Do you hold any of the following qualifications: ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA?
Licence/Certification:

Driving Licence (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 15/09/2025