Group Finance Lead
Manchester City CouncilOverview
- CIPFA or other CCAB Accountancy Qualification and membership of an Awarding Accountancy Body
We want to support talented, passionate individuals to develop and progress through our Financial Management Service, launch a rewarding career in Local Government Finance, and become a future senior manager and leader in the City council.
You’ll need to be a high-performing, enthusiastic person who is adaptable, resourceful and determined to turn your talents, and our investment in you, into a better future for Manchester and its residents. This role is no walk in the park.
Fourteen years of cuts and austerity have stretched our budgets, services, residents, and local economy close to the limits. But Manchester has bucked trends and is continuing to grow.
That’s because we attract staff who can think differently, who listen to and work with our residents – and each other –with profound understanding and compassion, and who aren’t afraid to try new things to get us where we aim to be.
Are you ready to make a long-term commitment to working for Manchester City Council, helping us to tackle our complex and diverse challenges, and to provide the support, challenge, training, insight, and intelligence our services need to make the best of our budgets for the benefit of our residents? You must be prepared to challenge the status quo to bring about change, be able to learn and share knowledge and experiences, have resilience, and show dedication to making our city and our residents the best that they can be.
In return we will support and develop you in all aspects of the Financial Management service and to do this you will require an insight and understanding of all the services that we deliver and procure, to enable you to become everything you want to be.
We are looking for a Senior Finance Lead to join the project team and lead implementation from the Finance perspective working in a multidisciplinary team to improve processes and working practice to support good financial management. The post holder will lead the Systems and Finance team and manage wider finance resource allocated to the project. Responsible for ensuring we have a financially compliant system whilst engaging our leadership team on best practice for our finance processes and alignment of these across the service. This is a permanent role, and the successful candidate will be responsible for the Systems and Change team going forward and will be responsible for ensuring the system is well maintained, there is a programme of continuous improvement to ensure the system continues to meet the needs of the organisation.
As the Senior Finance Lead, you will lead the implementation of our new system from a finance perspective, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to improve processes and practices that support strong financial management. You'll lead the Systems and Finance team, managing broader finance resources dedicated to this transformative project. Your responsibilities will include:
- Ensuring the system is financially compliant.
- Engaging with our wider financial leadership team to promote best practices in finance processes.
- Aligning financial practices across the service for maximum efficiency. This is a permanent role where you will have the ongoing responsibility of leading the Systems and Change team. You’ll ensure the system remains well-maintained, continuously improved, and aligned with the evolving needs of our organisation. Your expertise will drive the future of our financial systems and processes.
About the Candidate
- Qualified Accountant: Your solid credentials in finance are essential.
- Local Authority Finance Knowledge: Ideally, you understand the intricacies of local authority finances and core financial processes.
- Multidisciplinary Team Experience: You thrive in a collaborative environment.
- Finance Systems Expertise: Your understanding of finance ledger systems and reporting will be crucial.
- Attention to Detail: Your meticulous nature ensures accuracy and reliability.
- Organizational Skills: You excel at managing tasks and resources efficiently.
- Relationship Building: Your ability to connect with the team, colleagues, and external partners is paramount.
- Proactive Attitude: You are driven by continuous improvement and robust Quality Assurance.
Join us in making a lasting impact on Manchester Council's financial future.
For more information, please contact Christine Mullins christine.mullins@manchester.gov.uk
Manchester City Council is the local authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester is the sixth largest city in England by population. Its city council is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. The council is controlled by the Labour Party and led by Bev Craig. The official opposition is the Green Party with four councillors. Joanne Roney is the chief executive. Many of the council's staff are based at Manchester Town Hall.