Corporate Director of Resources; Section 151 Officer

Shape the financial future of England’s largest council. Lead with purpose. Deliver with impact.

North Yorkshire Council is seeking an exceptional Corporate Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer) to lead one of the most influential and high‑impact finance portfolios in local government today. This is a rare opportunity to steer a newly established unitary authority through a period of bold transformation—delivering financial stewardship, strategic innovation, and long‑term sustainability for over 620,000 residents.

The post holder will be

• Influential – shaping strategy at scale
• Transformational – leading financial modernisation
• Purpose-driven – improving lives across communities
• Ambitious – for leaders seeking a bigger stage and bigger impact, across a wide portfolio of enabling services

The current post holder Gary Fielding has been a great servant to North Yorkshire, has played an important role in getting the council to where it is today not least in ensuring the financially sound position that the council has. As Gary returns to his home in Lancashire, we are excited to appoint to a new Corporate Director of Resources at what is a great time to join us.

North Yorkshire Council is one of the UK’s most ambitious, forward‑thinking, and high-performing local authorities. Formed in 2023, we bring together eight former councils into a single, modern, resilient organisation that champions innovation, efficiency, and community impact. You will join geographically the largest Council in the country, the 3rd largest unitary, providing the opportunity to progress your career.

North Yorkshire Council has been named the third most productive local authority in the country by the IMPOWER Index, which measures the performance of councils based on outcomes delivered for every pound spent. The highest ranking in the North of England, the result is being seen as evidence that the move to create a single unitary authority for North Yorkshire is paying off.

As our Corporate Director of Resources
, you will join the Corporate Leadership Team in shaping a new era of excellence—delivering strong financial governance, customer quality and transforming enabling services at scale.

This is leadership with purpose.

This is finance with impact.

This is North Yorkshire.

Finance matters in North Yorkshire, it is in the DNA of our culture as a place and as an organisation. Finance is every one’s business, and you will get drawn into all aspects of local government. An opportunity to really make a difference.

The Council faces the same challenges as others in Local Government; diminishing finances against a backdrop of growing demand and complexity. However, in North Yorkshire we have a legacy of tackling savings early, prioritising investment in prevention and innovation to drive impact. Against our £1.5bn turnover budget the Council need to save £40m over the next couple of years, we have the plans in place to do this, and with your financial governance we are confident that we will continue to be a financially stable organisation.

You will work at scale as the principal financial adviser for a £1.5bn turnover, £650m revenue and £750m capital and our wider arm’s length organisations. You will lead a team to execute your role as Treasurer of a £5bn pension investment fund, one of the highest performing funds across the country.

In addition, you will lead a wider portfolio of enabling services;
Customer, Revenues and Benefits, Procurement Property and Commercial and Technology and Digital. Placing you at the heart of our enabling services, influential across the Council, the companies we own, our partners and wider region.

On arrival some of your early priorities will be;

• Drive forward the financial aspects of SEND reform
• Strengthen our integrated approach to service, financial and transformation planning
• Lead our strategic financial and council planning ahead of elections in 2027, that will see us through the following 4 years and beyond
• Realise the benefits of a new finance system, and drive forward the modernisation of enabling services
• Drive the transformation of the strategic resources portfolio to deliver highly valued and best…