Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Lisburn, is currently looking to recruit a Finance Business Partner for an initial 6-month contract with potential to extend on a rate of c.£23.65p/h(PAYE). 
This role will be based on site. 
 
Responsibilities: 
 
Deliver a complete financial management service to specified directorates within the organisation and play a key role in the organisation’s overall financial management. To support the strategic financial management of the organisation through the provision of financial leadership to senior leadership teams; responsible for the financial governance of specified Directorates, ensuring financial regularity, compliance and value-for-money within a framework of excellent customer service and continuous improvement. As a key member of the Finance Department, play an essential role in leading and building our future finance function, contributing to the provision of a modern, professional and responsive financial service to support  
Vision: Protecting our community  
Mission: To deliver a fire and rescue service and work in partnership with others to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. 

• Deliver a complete financial management service to specified directorates within the organisation and play a key role in the organisation’s overall financial management. 

• To oversee the financial governance of specified Directorates, ensuring financial regularity, compliance and value-for-money within a framework of excellent customer service and continuous improvement. 

•  To support the senior management team within specified Directorates, reporting regularly to the Director as the lead customer. 

•  Ensuring Directorates’ senior management are provided with sound and challenging advice on their plans, using knowledge and data-led insight to ensure value for money outcomes will be achieved, aligned to strategic objectives.  

• Work effectively with the Strategic Financial Management team to provide high-quality, data-driven insight and intelligence.  

• To perform a lead role as custodian of the organisation’s budget. 

• To provide a challenge function to senior management in respect of financial decision making and governance to ensure value for money, compliance with the principles 

• To ensure the day-to-day implementation of cultural change across the Service with respect to devolved budgeting by advocating best practice financial governance.  

• To act as the key liaison between devolved and corporate finance to ensure consistency and compliance with strategic decision-making.  

•  To ensure that budget holders are clear on their delegated budgets and savings targets, working proactively with budget holders to identify and develop appropriate forecasting methodologies to provide improved information to budget holders.  

•  To promote a high level of financial awareness and financial management across the Directorate, managing the design, development, planning and delivery of training products to meet learning requirements.  

•  To provide comprehensive financial management support to specified Directorates, including monthly reporting, variance analysis, forecasting, scenario planning and costing of service developments.  

• Providing data-led and insight-driven business partnering, working with Directorates to improve their understanding of their cost drivers to drive effective use of resources and help deliver savings and efficiencies from budgets.  

•  Produce monthly variance analysis reports which review actual financial performance against budgeted levels to ensure that a robust challenge function is applied to directorates and strong financial management principles and controls are applied and maintained.  

•  Preparing accurate monthly financial forecasts of year-end outturn, developing strategies for achieving breakeven and managing associated risks for reporting to the Board and the Department of Health.  

• To use complex analytical skills to develop and prepare key management reporting and information to inform decision-making and the achievement of business objectives.  

• To provide specialist ad hoc financial guidance and advice, playing a key role within the senior management of specified directorates.  

• To support procurement activities, acting as liaison between Directorates and the Procurement function.  

•  To review and authorise payments within predetermined limits, including the transmission of BACS payments, handling cheques and petty cash Business Planning  

•  Support the senior finance team in maintaining effective financial control within designated Directorates by contributing to the organisation’s financial strategy and financial plan through participation in the development of the Directorate’s business plans.  

•  Support the development of the annual budget setting process for designated Directorates, including the annual review of the budget setting policy, making recommendations for change and the provision of guidelines and timetables to relevant business support teams.  

• To work collaboratively with senior staff, both within finance and across the organisation, to ensure alignment of financial plans with overall financial strategy and assist in the delivery of the overall strategic priorities of the organisation.  

•  To have lead responsibility for finance, including provision of forecasting information and expert advice on a range of organisational-wide change projects and policy initiatives; and use initiative to develop innovative solutions and options to financial-related problems.  

• To provide specialist support to the development of financial management strategies, plans and targets, including budgets, covering a period of up to 10 years.  

• To work in partnership with the customer to deliver high-quality business cases and other option appraisals, providing assistance, specialist advice and guidance, and quality assurance, highlighting the financial consequences of operational decision making, including the development of long-term financial projections. 

• To be responsible for the recommendation of Business Case Appraisals to the Director / Executive Leadership Team for approval.  

• To provide specialist advice and guidance on the completion of post-project evaluations, with particular reference to financial performance, Governance & Risk Management  

• Ensure that all statutory financial and integrated governance requirements are met, including the identification and management of financial risks, escalating as appropriate. 

•  Ensuring that directorate management teams maintain an appropriate financial control environment by advising on the development of systems and processes that ensure control and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions.  

• Support budget holders and other senior managers in the fulfilment of their financial management responsibilities, helping to constrain their actions where necessary in order to ensure that they are consistent with the organisation’s objectives and do not contravene agreed policies and procedures.  

• To identify, highlight and provide information on the possible financial impact/risks of particular actions and/or decisions to the senior management team of the organisation.  

• Ensure compliance with standing financial instructions, professional standards, government accounting and Treasury and departmental guidance in the use and deployment of public funds.  

• To play a key role in the formation and implementation of relevant policies and procedures to ensure effective financial management and governance, including statutory compliance and recognised best practice across the organisation. Continuous Improvement 

•  To ensure an understanding of the business to enable the provision of value-adding insight to operational decision-making.  

• To support corporate initiatives to attain Best Value and promote the concept of value for money and continuous improvement.  

• To communicate and maintain an effective network with other Finance Business Partners to ensure consistency in service provision, enabling the identification and promotion of opportunities for enhanced processes and procedures and implementation of best practice. 

• To contribute to improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of the financial management service to the organisation 

• Represent the Finance Department on internal committees, working groups, project teams and external groups.  

• To help design and embed the new and emergent finance operating model(s) and contribute to continuous improvement into the future. 

• To play an active role in developing the organisation’s finance function; supporting the creation of a strong cultural identity and cohesion, promoting accountability across the service.  

• To contribute to the performance of the team by ensuring that maximum benefit is derived by the customer for the services delivered and providing resilience for other Directorates and financial functions as and when required. People Responsibilities 

•  As a member of the finance team, provide leadership to others within the financial management function and wider Finance Directorate to ensure a highly skilled, flexible and motivated workforce to provide high quality financial management.  

•  As a member of the finance team, responsible for professional development and performance of the wider team as required to contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.  

• To deputise for the Head of Strategic Financial Management when required, including representation at regional, internal and external meetings; and to provide support resilience as far as practicable within the Finance directorate General Responsibilities  

• To contribute as required to the preparation of the Financial Strategy, Business Plan and associated action plans.  

•  To provide a high level of internal and external customer service including taking ownership of customer queries and complaints and following issues through to completion.  

• To ensure continued and effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders such as Directors, Heads of Department, Business Unit Managers, Area Business Managers and budget holders.  

•  To direct and signpost managers and officers to the appropriate source for issues outside the remit of this post.  

•  To undertake project work as directed by the Head of Strategic Financial Management, using the principles of good project management.  

• To participate as directed in the organisation’s recruitment and selection procedures, in line with the organisation’s Code of Practice on Recruitment and Selection  

• To undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile.  

•  To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of developments across a broad range of finance-related activity to include changes to regulations, legislation and national/local terms and conditions of employment and maintain personal CPD. 

• To comply with all organisational frameworks, policies and procedures, including but not limited to those relating to legal requirement such as equality, health and safety and information governance. 

• To undertake any other duties which may be assigned to meet organisational need and the change agenda and which are reasonably regarded as within the nature of the duties, responsibilities and grade of the post as defined. 

 
Essential Skills: 
 

• Have successfully completed the professional examinations and be a full, current member of a CCAB recognised body.  

•  At least two years post-qualification* experience providing a comprehensive management accounting & analysis service to senior management.  

• Strong analytical ability with experience of analysing and interpreting financial information for the purposes of effective financial management, performance management and/or process improvement.  

• Experience of presenting financial information and advice to Senior Management in a clear and user-friendly manner in support of strategic decision making;  

• Experience of exercising sound judgement in providing financial advice, balancing the need to challenge and support teams appropriately.  

• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills and have worked with a diverse range of stakeholders achieving successful outcomes. 

• Strong IT skills to include experience using Excel at an advanced level. 

• Post qualification experience will be deemed to have commenced from the date on which applicants were admitted to full membership of one of their CCAB recognised body.  

• Can demonstrate:  

• Excellent planning and organisational skills;  

• Deliver high quality work with excellent attention to detail;  

• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written);  

• Ability to work accurately under pressure of multiple deadlines;  

•  Strong inter-personal and influencing skills;  

• A strong customer orientation.  

 
Possess a current driving licence or have access to a form of transport that will permit the candidate to meet the requirements of the post in full. 
 
Desirable Skills: 
Experience of working in a finance function in the Public Sector. 
 
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.