Job info	Job info details
Job title	Principal Finance Business Partner
Strategic team/Directorate	Financial Services
Service	Financial Services
Business unit	Finance
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Deputy Director of Finance
Accountable to (line manager)	Deputy Director of Finance
Salary grade	K
JE ref	FIN095

1. Key purpose of job

• To provide a range of professional accounting services and assist the Deputy Director Finance in ensuring a valued, effective and efficient financial service is provided across the Council.
• Be responsible for ensuring that effective financial advice and support is provided to Budget Managers as required, supporting them in “managing their business” to achieve both financial and performance targets.
• To support the Deputy Director of Finance in annual budget setting, working collaboratively with Directors to achieve a robust and realistic rolling three-year balanced budget for the Council.
• To be responsible for financial modelling of options and business cases, including economic appraisals of invest to save schemes.
• To be responsible for accurate and timely monitoring and reporting on the financial performance of assigned budgets, reporting variances corporately and to relevant Service Directors.
• To deputise for the Deputy Head of Finance as required.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• The Council sets, and monitors, a balanced and robust revenue and capital budget that meets the strategic objectives of the Council as well as the long-term financial viability of the Council.
• The Council have a rolling three-year budget supported by business plans.
• All Council services, members and senior managers are supported with timely, accurate and relevant financial advice and information on financial performance to ensure that the services can make informed decisions as to service delivery.
• The Councils revenue budgets are up to date.
• The financial impact of decisions is fully understood and considered to inform decision making.
• Net costs for services provide value for money (keeping costs low and optimising income).
• Where possible financial reporting and processes are automated to maximise resources available and support the services in improving their services.
• Corporate and Statutory deadlines in relation to the Annual financial cycle are met including budget setting, budget monitoring, closure of accounts and statutory returns.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• To deputise for Deputy Head of Finance at meetings with partners, suppliers, council meetings, council working parties and the Council’s senior leadership team.
• To manage finance staff providing financial support and advice to services.
• Be the lead financial officer for assigned services, maintaining a thorough understanding of funding arrangements including grants and the financial and business processes within the services.
• Provide support and advice direct to Directors, Heads of service and other budget managers, including technical financial advice on business cases and other options papers to ensure financial impacts have been appropriately considered as part of decision making,
• To ensure services follow the necessary financial systems to support compliance with the council’s financial regulations and Constitution, so both service and statutory requirements are met.
• Undertake annual budget preparation with budget managers to ensure pressures and savings are considered as part of the Councils budget considerations and longer term Medium Term Financial Planning.
• Use their accounting skills and experience to ensure codes and structures are appropriate and spend and income are accounted for appropriately in line with statutory requirements.
• Liaise with budget managers to understand spend pressures and opportunities in order to estimate the year-end financial position and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to senior management, including the Deputy Director of Finance to inform regular financial reporting.
• Undertake tasks to ensure the timely closure of the Councils financial accounts, including processing year end accounting entries and preparation of associated working papers that meet audit standards.
• To attend working parties and meetings with other colleagues and stakeholders to undertake finance activities as required.
• Production of statutory financial returns within the required deadlines.
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• No direct budget responsibility.
• To provide a full management and financial accounting service to an assigned Directorate and associated service.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct management of a Senior Finance Officer.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demand. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal resources. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Auditors – Devon Audit Partnership, Bishop Fleming.
• Government departments and their officials: DLUCH, Department for Education, Education Funding Agency.
• Members of the Public.
• Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
• NHS Devon Integrated Care Board.
• Schools and Academies.
• Council Subsidiary and Associate Companies – Board members and company senior management teams.
• HMRC. 

Internal

• Members.
• All Directors and Divisional Directors.
• Service Managers and their teams.
• Director of Finance and Finance staff. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• The post is eligible for both hybrid working.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Principal Finance Business Partner
Strategic team/Directorate	Financial Services
Service	Financial Services
Business unit	Finance

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Excellent interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with Members, senior officers and communicate complex financial issues both orally and in writing.
• Effective working knowledge of MS Excel and Word.
• Excellent analytical and interpretation skills in order to research complex problems, summarise findings and apply judgement to identify and recommend solutions.
• Ability to manage and motivate staff to ensure key objective and targets are met.
• High level of written and numerical skills.
• Ability to provide advice and recommendations taking into account political sensitivities.
• Ability to find creative solutions to ensure that the Council meets its priorities and statutory requirements within agreed funding approvals.
• Ability to manage and motivate staff, with a commitment to staff development.
• Strong organisational skills in order to manage competing workloads, responding to priorities in order to meet deadlines.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Ability to be able to lead on, and support projects to deliver tangible service improvement and drive out efficiencies.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Working knowledge of Local Authority services and functions.
• Knowledge of Local Authority Accounting financial systems and regulations.
• Working knowledge of budgeting, forecasting within a large public sector organisation.
• Working knowledge of windows-based software and finance systems.

Desirable knowledge

• Up to date knowledge of current legislation relating to Local Authority Accounting CIPFA Codes of Practice.
• Evidence of thinking ‘outside the box’ in considering options and solutions.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of working in a Public Sector financial environment with specific experience of financial reporting and financial management.
• Experience of annual budget process.
• Experience of annual closure of accounts.
• Excellent of report writing and presenting information using PowerPoint.
• Experience of supporting and working closely with Senior Managers.
• Experience of analysing and evaluating complex information from a variety of sources in order to develop suitable financial strategies and inform decision making.
• Experience of working in partnership with external agencies.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of high performing within a financial management team.
• Experience of working in a commercial environment.
• Experience of options appraisals.
• Experience of managing staff. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Qualified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or equivalent.
• Part Qualified CCAB accountant.
• Educated to degree level standard (including HND, professional/enhanced skill qualification) or equivalent or demonstrable work-related experience in appropriate areas.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant and member of one of the major accounting bodies. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to and understanding of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate hybrid working.
• Flexibility to work outside normal working hours when required.