Assistant Director (Finance and Accountancy) (Deputy Section 151 Officer)

This role will report to the Executive Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) and act as the Deputy Section 151 Officer for all accountancy related matters.

The postholder will play a significant role in the leadership, development and implementation of relevant strategies for the directorate and council to deliver its corporate priorities. 

This role will also manage resources efficiently and effective, take a proactive approach to risk management and be responsible for developing and maintaining key internal and external relationships and partnerships to deliver both the councils and wider strategic area priorities. 

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

 

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

What will you be doing?

The postholder will be responsible for all financial matters relating to the provision of accountancy to include the closedown of the Council’s accounts and the production of the statement of accounts, the provision of finance business partners and financial advice to budget holders and the Executive Leadership Team, the provision of accounts payable, accounts receivable and debt monitoring and management. 

About you

We are looking for an individual with drive, initiative and confidence. We want you to help strengthen the financial foundations that will shape the future of the Council.  This is a truly unique opportunity to be part of this exciting journey of service transformation across North Northamptonshire. 

The successful candidate will be able to put in practice a wide range of their finance skills and business acumen as we shape our finances to assist in the delivery of our corporate priorities and help us develop excellent financially sustainable services for our residents.  There will be challenges, however with challenges comes unique, career defining opportunities. 

This is a role for a passionate qualified accountancy professional who will bring a wealth of enthusiasm, supplemented with experience of working in a complex, multi-faceted financial leadership role.  We will give you the support and opportunity to develop and grow and be part of a culture that aims to help all our colleagues be their very best and help you exceed your full potential. 

Please refer to the attached person specification for full details of essential and desirable qualifications, experience, skills and attributes required for this role.

For an informal discussion on this role with our Executive Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), please contact Sharon Prior on sharon.prior@northnorthants.gov.uk to arrange.

Interviews are expected to be held week commencing 16 December 2024.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)