Job Details

Hours of work: 37 hours per week Working pattern: Full-time

Closing date: Sunday 14 May 2017 Interview date: initial telephone interviews on 18 May 2017 and face-to-face interviews on 23 May 2017.

We’d welcome any specific questions from you before you apply, so for an informal discussion, please contact Mark Whiffin (Head of Finance)

About the Role

We are offering you the opportunity to join us in our ambition to deliver excellent services which place the customer at the heart of everything we do – in a way which is sustainable and protects front line services, enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Who will you be?

We are looking for a manager who will enhance the quality of business decision-making through high performance; who will develop and inspire their team; bring insight and innovation; demonstrate commercial awareness; be supportive, inquisitive and challenge how things are done.

You will be self-motivated, tenacious and bring a positive energy to the role. You will need to be able to work with limited supervision, as this is a busy team, so you will need to organise and prioritise your work in order to meet deadlines.

You will work as a senior business partner, providing accounting and financial services within East Sussex County Council, and potentially to other partners across Orbis. You will be able to present information, in a variety of styles, to meet the requirements of wide ranging audiences.

We are looking for a Finance Manager “Plus”: your professional competence and expertise are a given, through your CCAB qualification (CIMA and relevant international qualifications also accepted): your people skills are also really key to develop the relationships required with partners and staff.

As Finance Manager you will lead and motivate a team of finance staff to deliver quality financial information that will enable our customers to manage their complex business requirements. The customer experience is key and you will have both the technical and personal skills and ability to become a credible and trusted advisor to our customers.

On a day to day basis, you will be working with a range of senior officers within service departments: Director, Assistant Directors and Heads of Service, developing a senior business partner relationship, to support and advise them in effectively managing, monitoring and reporting their financial resources and performance. These managers will be supporting the delivery of Children’s Services, or supporting Headteachers or Governors.

As partnership working with external organisations develops at pace, particularly with local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, you will have the opportunity to provide financial support to partnership working groups and have a role in shaping the future of a range of services within East Sussex.

You will ensure that accounting requirements and the integrity of financial data is maintained, through budget setting, day-to-day financial forecasting and analysis and the annual closure of accounts. Your ICT skills, in particular Excel and Outlook, with SAP a real bonus, will enable you to undertake research, analysis and reporting of financial and management information; you will be responsible for coordinating and reporting financial performance at key points during the year.

You’ll be part of the Finance Managers’ Group which drives forward the development of finance teams and the services we offer.

You’ll be based in Lewes, just 10 minutes from Brighton, with travel likely to be needed through East Sussex: we will provide you with the equipment and opportunities to work in a really flexible way to engage with and support your customers (you may not have a designated desk in Lewes, but will have the space to maximise your potential).

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

Work Permits: we may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Border Agency’s Points-based Immigration System.

From 6 April 2011 the Home Office has placed a permanent restriction on the number of migrant workers that all Tier 2 (General) Sponsors can recruit. Due to the restrictions we cannot guarantee that individuals that meet the requirements of the Points-based Immigration System will be issued with clearance to obtain work permits.

Equal Opportunities

East Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit.