Associate Director - Finance

I’m currently seeking an Associate Director – Financial Management, Revenues, Benefits & Debt Management to join a local authority at a critical point in its transformation journey. This is a senior leadership role with statutory responsibilities as Deputy Section 151 Officer
, playing a key role in financial stewardship, income optimisation, service modernisation, and organisational change.

Start: TBC
Duration: 3 Months+
Rate: Negotiable (inside IR35)
Location: Hybrid

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as Deputy Section 151 Officer, ensuring proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs in line with legal and professional standards
• Provide strategic leadership for Financial Management, Revenues, Benefits, and Debt Management service
• Lead the delivery of robust financial planning, budgetary control, and sustainable financial resilience
• Drive effective income collection across the General Fund, improving collection rates and reducing bad debt
• Deliver high-quality financial advice and business partnering support to senior leaders and service managers
• Design and implement a modern financial operating model aligned to the Council’s transformation programme, maximising technology and automation
• Champion value for money, transparency, and strong governance across all financial and income-related functions
• Lead and motivate large, multi-disciplinary teams, embedding a high-performance, inclusive, and customer-focused culture
• Support the Council Improvement Programme and implementation of the new operating model
• Build strong relationships with Members, senior leaders, auditors, partners, and external stakeholders

Requirements:

• CCAB and/or CIMA qualified with evidence of ongoing CPD
• Significant senior leadership experience within a local authority or large, complex organisation
• Strong knowledge of local authority finance, statutory reporting, revenues, benefits, and debt management
• Demonstrable experience of strong governance, probity, and adherence to the Nolan Principles

If interested, please apply with your most up‑to‑date CV and a member of the team or I will be in contact if suitable.