Head of Finance Business Partnering (Children’s Services) – AR

Job Description – Head of Finance Business Partnering (Children’s Services)

Job Title: Head of Finance Business Partnering – Children’s Services
Department: Finance
Location: Local Authority
Contract: Temporary/Contract (as applicable)
Reports to: Director of Finance / Deputy Director of Finance
Direct Reports: 5 Finance Business Partnering staff

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and qualified finance professional to lead the Finance Business Partnering function for Children’s Services. This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic financial advice, challenge, and support to senior leaders across Children’s Social Care, Education, SEND, and wider Children’s Services.

You will lead a team of five finance professionals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial management, business partnering, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. Working closely with Directors and Heads of Service, you will help shape service strategies, support transformation programmes, identify efficiencies, and ensure financial sustainability while maintaining excellent outcomes for children, young people, and families.

This role plays a key part in supporting the Council’s statutory financial responsibilities under Section 151 and contributes to delivering a high-performing, innovative finance service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Finance Business Partnering function for Children’s Services, ensuring the delivery of proactive, high-quality financial support.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of five Finance Business Partners, setting priorities and driving high performance.
• Act as the principal finance adviser to Directors, Assistant Directors, and senior managers across Children’s Services.
• Lead the preparation and monitoring of revenue and capital budgets, ensuring robust financial management and control.
• Produce accurate financial forecasts, management accounts, and reports to support informed decision-making.
• Support the development of Medium-Term Financial Plans (MTFP) and long-term financial strategies.
• Provide constructive challenge to service leaders on financial performance, spending decisions, and investment proposals.
• Work collaboratively with Children’s Services to develop innovative service delivery models that improve efficiency and deliver sustainable savings.
• Support major transformation programmes, ensuring financial implications, risks, and benefits are fully understood.
• Monitor financial risks, identifying mitigation strategies and ensuring effective governance arrangements are in place.
• Present financial information and recommendations to senior leadership, elected members, and other stakeholders where required.
• Promote strong financial management, accountability, and commercial awareness across Children’s Services.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, accounting standards, and local authority governance requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement across the Finance Service, driving innovation and best practice.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Significant senior finance management experience within a local authority or public sector organisation.
• Extensive experience providing strategic finance business partnering support to Children’s Services, Education, SEND, or Social Care.
• Experience managing and developing finance teams.
• Proven track record of leading budget setting, financial planning, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Experience supporting service transformation programmes and delivering significant efficiency savings.
• Strong understanding of local government finance, governance, and statutory responsibilities.
• Experience building effective relationships with senior stakeholders and influencing strategic decision-making.

Essential Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant with a recognised CCAB qualification (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or equivalent).

Key Skills

• Strategic financial leadership
• Finance business partnering
• Budget management and forecasting
• Medium-Term Financial Planning (MTFP)
• Children’s Services finance
• Education and SEND finance
• Financial analysis and reporting
• Service transformation
• Financial governance and risk management
• Leadership and people management
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing
• Commercial and analytical thinking
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Why Join Us?

This is an excellent opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of Children’s Services. You will work alongside senior leaders to deliver innovative financial solutions, support transformational change, and help ensure the Council continues to provide high-quality, sustainable services that make a positive difference to the lives of children, young people, and families.