Service Director Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Generations of inspirational people have left their mark on our famous city, and this is your chance to join them. We’re determined to make Plymouth one of the most vibrant waterfront cities in Europe, where an outstanding quality of life is enjoyed by everyone. The City Council plays a central and system-leading role in shaping Plymouth’s future; and while we’ve made significant progress in recent years, we know that there’s always more we can do to unlock Plymouth’s potential.

Strong and well-managed finances underpin everything we want to achieve. This role will be pivotal in overseeing a high-performing finance function, with resources deployed where they’ll make the biggest difference. It’s essential that annual (and longer-term) financial plans are realistic and robustly managed, and you’ll support colleagues at every level across the council to deliver this important responsibility. Under your leadership, the finance service will be recognised as one of the Council’s key success factors.

You must be a qualified accountant, with a comprehensive grasp of the CIPFA Code of Practice and all other relevant standards and regulations. System leadership skills, and effective management of a large workforce, are both essential. An experienced organisational leader with an impressive and varied track record, you’ll bring a distinctively commercial mindset and practical knowledge of delivering change and transformation. While your career may include some time in the private sector, candidates must demonstrate a current and sophisticated understanding of public sector finance, and experience of working collaboratively with elected members would be a definite advantage.

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For a confidential discussion about the role please contact:

Sean Anderson
Email: sanderson@faerfield.co.uk
Tel:  0121 312 3755

Dawn Faulkner
Email: dfaulkner@faerfield.co.uk
Tel:  0121 312 3755

Indicative timetable:

Closing date for applications: Sunday 11 August 2024
Preliminary/Technical Interviews:  Thursday 22 or Friday 23 August 2024 (dates subject to change)
Assessment Centre:  Friday 6 September
Chief Officer Appointments Panel: week commencing 16 September 2024

To apply:

To apply for this job please click on the Apply button below and fill out the requested information. When prompted, please submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than four sides of A4 each).

With your CV, please also provide the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be contacted if you reach the final stages, and we will not contact referees without your permission.

Your supporting statement should express why you are interested in this role and what experience you can bring to the organisation. The statement should tackle the specific requirements of the role; outlining examples and outcomes showing how you meet those requirements.