Job title: Assistant Finance Business Partner
Salary: PO2 £39, 862 - £42, 839
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Civic Hall 1-2 days a week, hybrid working offered
We are seeking to appoint a Assistant Finance Business Partner to work in the Leeds City Council Financial Services Team.
Leeds City Council delivers over 500 different services to residents and is dedicated to bringing the benefits of a prosperous, vibrant and attractive city to the people of Leeds. This is a fantastic time to join us.
As an Assistant Finance Business Partner in Financial Services, you’ll thrive on working in a professional, enthusiastic and supportive team, who care about making a difference through high quality service delivery and continuous improvement.
About you
As an Assistant Finance Business Partner:
-
You can build credible, collaborative working relationships with officers and other stakeholders.
- You have good analytical and communication skills and use these to present clear financial information and options to decision makers.
- You can work to support Finance Business Partners to solve problems, and plan and prioritise your work to meet deadlines.
- You have a good knowledge of core finance processes and are part AAT qualified or equivalent as a minimum.
In your application, please give us examples that show how you meet the requirements in the job description for skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours.
About the role
We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join us as an Assistant Finance Business Partner. You will work closely with colleagues within Housing Leeds and City Development to support our Housing Investment and Growth Programmes.
We have a strong track record of helping people develop their Finance careers, alongside our commitment to improving diversity and wellbeing. In addition to training, development and mentoring, employees can also gain experience in our different Finance teams (the job description for this vacancy is generic to reflect this flexibility).
You can also take advantage of our various flexible working patterns including our ‘hybrid’ working model. Staff within Financial Management at present work both in the office and from home, with an average of 1-2 days worked from the office a week depending on business need.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
-
a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the application form and return to Jonathan Renton by
[email protected]
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact:
Jonathan Renton (Senior Finance Business Partner), call 0113 37 87827 or email
[email protected]
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose: Working as part of the team providing a comprehensive financial management service to directorate based and/or school-based senior officers and budget-holders, the post-holder will model the Council’s values and behaviours in order to help us achieve our ambition of being the best council in the country.
By helping make sure that accurate, timely and user-friendly financial information is placed at the heart of decision-making, the Finance Analyst role plays an important role in ensuring that the council is both enterprising and efficient.
The post-holder will support Finance Business Partners in the delivery of a range of financial services to directorates and/or schools including:
-
Provision of operational financial advice and management information to officers, members and other internal stakeholders in order to support effective decision-making and the provision of timely responses to enquiries from people/organisations external to the Council
- Collaboration with senior officers and budget-holders to produce:
- Annual revenue and capital budgets
- Budget Action Plans and Contingency Plans
- Timely and accurate in-year budget monitoring reports, financial dashboards and financial health reports encompassing both revenue and capital budgets
- Service Plans/Business plans incorporating ‘rolling’ medium term financial forecasts that align with directorate operational plans and priorities.
- Provision of financial information and analysis to support investment/disinvestment decisions and the development of complex business cases
- Promoting the efficient and effective stewardship of assets and resources, for example by supporting directorate-based and school-based senior officers to implement the recommendations of Internal Audit
- Preparation of year-end accounts and other financial returns
Responsibilities for Grade:
-
Support Finance Business Partners / Finance Managers to provide timely and accurate financial information and advice to budget-holders and other stakeholders
- Work with budget holders to ensure accurate and timely budget monitoring in relation to budgets identified as ‘Medium’ risk, attending budget meetings as required
- Support the identification of long term trends in demand, demography, inflation and other financial parameters
- Assist budget holders in the planning and monitoring of budgets assessed as ‘Low/Medium Risk’.
- Matrix manage others, taking responsibility for their coordination, development and appraisal, supporting people to reach their full potential
- Monitor and support performance improvement and use a coaching approach to develop team members and maximise their contribution, adapting your approach according to individual needs, whilst complying with the council’s people management principles and policies.
Qualifications
-
AAT part-qualified or equivalent (which may include substantial relevant work experience within a financial environment
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements
Skills Required
-
Ability to produce accurate, user friendly financial analyses and dashboards using computerised financial management systems, windows based applications including excel and other line of business computer systems
- Sound written, oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to support the effective working of a team through supporting and advising colleagues
- Ability to question and analyse data and to present it in a coherent and user friendly format
- Ability to take decisions using your initiative that result in improved service delivery
- Ability to explain financial matters clearly to managers using appropriate means and provide advice on actions required
- Ability to maintain the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
Knowledge Required
-
Working knowledge of accountancy in a financial service background including budget planning, monitoring and closure of accounts
- Have a sound working knowledge of standard IT applications used in an office environment and the use a computerised financial ledger
- Understanding of employees’ responsibility for health and safety.
Experience Required
-
Working experience of all aspects of the annual financial cycle
- Experience of providing financial services in a complex organisation
- Experience of maintaining good working relationships in the delivery of financial advice services
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
-
To demonstrate the council’s values, behaviours and manager habits in all aspects of your day to day work
- To demonstrate an inclusive and engaging leadership style and positively promote the equalities agenda
- To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
- To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
