Head of Finance

Reed

Brent Council Brent Civic Centre, Wembley Hybrid Working – Minimum 3 Days Per Week in the Office Immediate Start Ongoing Temporary Assignment £650 per day (Inside IR35) 36 Hours per Week

An Excellent Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of London’s most diverse and ambitious local authorities as Head of Finance – Neighbourhoods & Regeneration and Finance & Resources.

The Role

The Head of Finance forms part of the Council’s core senior management group and provides strategic financial leadership across the Neighbourhoods & Regeneration and Finance & Resources directorates.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring an accomplished finance professional who can combine technical expertise with commercial awareness, strategic thinking and exceptional stakeholder management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Act as the senior finance lead for the Neighbourhoods & Regeneration and Finance & Resources directorates.
• Provide strategic financial advice to Directors, senior managers and elected Members.

Financial Planning & Management

• Lead all aspects of budgeting, forecasting and financial management.
• Drive medium-term financial planning and long-term financial sustainability.

Business Partnering

• Provide high-quality financial insight, challenge and support to senior stakeholders.
• Identify emerging financial risks, pressures and opportunities.
• Support informed decision-making and timely corrective action where required.

Contract & Commercial Management

• Provide financial leadership for major strategically significant contracts.
• Lead financial oversight of waste, recycling and street cleansing contracts.

Transformation & Savings

• Support service transformation and modernisation programmes.
• Identify and deliver savings opportunities and efficiencies.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with statutory accounting requirements and financial regulations.
• Maintain effective governance, risk management and internal control arrangements.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

Essential Experience

• Significant senior-level finance leadership experience within a large and complex organisation.
• Proven experience providing strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Strong experience managing substantial revenue budgets and financial planning processes.
• Experience supporting transformation, savings and service improvement programmes.
• Experience managing financial risks within complex service environments.
• Strong business partnering skills with Directors, Members and senior leaders.
• Experience overseeing major service contracts and commercial arrangements.
• Local government finance experience is highly desirable.

Skills & Knowledge

• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking capability.
• Excellent financial planning, budgeting and forecasting expertise.
• Ability to influence and challenge at senior level.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of financial governance and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to lead and develop high-performing finance teams.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.