Job Title: Finance Business Partner
Work Location: - Rochford SS4
Contract Type: Temporary
Weekly Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week), Office and Home Working

Key responsibilities
As a Finance Business Partner, your primary responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with budget setting for Revenue and Capital, Fees, and Charges.


• Compiling budget working papers to support the financial planning process.


• Collaborating with Managers and Directors to establish budgets for various departments.


• Challenging financial figures to ensure accuracy and cost-efficiency.


• Reviewing reserves and grant balances, and discussing findings with service areas.

In addition to the primary responsibilities, you will also be responsible for the following tasks:

• Providing financial support to Directors and other Senior Management.


• Assisting the Finance Manager in Year-End Closure processes.


• Supporting the Senior Business Partner in overall Financial Management.


• Ensuring corporate financial accuracy across all financial operations.


• Managing financial administration of the Trading Company.


• Providing timely and accurate financial information, including explanations of variances for regular reports provided to Councillors and Senior Management.


• Preparing year-end working papers/evidence to assist external auditors in their testing.


• Completing statistical and statutory financial returns, including the calculation and production of financial performance indicators.


• Maintaining and utilising the authority's computerised finance system, including journal administration, virements, and budget information.


• Managing records on grant income and producing reconciliations as required.


• Reconciling the council's main bank account on a regular basis.


• Producing the monthly VAT return and reconciliation, investigating and resolving any variances.


• Handling VAT queries and liaising with the Council's tax advisers as necessary.


• Acting as a Treasury Management Dealing Officer to ensure investments align with the Council's Treasury Management strategy.


• Maintaining the cash flow forecasting spreadsheet and using it as the basis for identifying investment periods for short-term cash flow requirements.


• Liaising with Brokers and counter-parties regarding investment of surplus balances and putting forward decisions for approval in accordance with the Treasury Management Strategy.


• Assisting the Head of Finance in maintaining the financial administration for the council's trading company, including raising orders, paying suppliers, recovering debt, taxation, and the production of timely financial information.


• Assisting the Head of Finance in the administration and production of financial information for two charitable trusts.

Essential Criteria

• A degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.


• Professional accounting qualifications (e.g., ACCA, CIMA) are desirable.


• Demonstrated experience in financial budgeting, reporting, and analysis.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.


• Proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Excel.


• Knowledge of local government financial regulations and practices is a plus.

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration.

If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Lewis at Service Care Solutions on 01772 208 966 or send an E-Mail to Lewis.Hodson@servicecare.org.uk