Job Purpose The role of the Finance Business Partner is to lead and manage the provision of high quality financial support to Directors, Heads of Service and Service Managers. This is a high profile role and requires good management skills to ensure that finance services provided are professional and customer focused. Within the LGSS Finance Team the post-holder will be expected to be able to operate in any of the Finance Business Partner (finance support) posts. Principal Accountabilities:- 1. Lead on the Strategic Financial Support to Budget Holders Support Directors, Heads of Service and Budget Holders to understand the financial context in which they undertake the Business Planning process (BP) and to meet corporate requirements. Challenge and support budget holders to maximise value for money and use of resources within LGSS. Identify long term trends and specific developments in demand, demography, inflation, policy change, etc and evaluate the financial impact. Support budget holders in financial planning and budget modelling for different scenarios. Support budget holders to undertake risk analysis of all options and develop contingency plans as appropriate. Provide professional business advice to budget holders. Maximise entitlement to any government grants or external funding2. Lead on the Operational Financial Support to Budget Holders Support budget holders through all aspects of the annual financial cycle. Work with budget holders to ensure accurate and timely budget monitoring including risk appraisals when required. Ensure budget holders operate within the parameters of the corporate financial regulations of the core councils and service specific financial management schemes. Ensure written procedures and instructions are produced and updated to facilitate sound financial management. Support and train budget holders in the use of the council's ERP system. Support budget holders to integrate financial monitoring with performance monitoring. Monitoring and reconciliation of grant claims. Challenge budget holders as necessary to ensure their financial plans and projections are accurate and realistic. Work with Directors to get an overview of the financial risks and pressures within their directorates and advise them on options for mitigating actions. Support the delivery of the savings programme.3. Financial Support Evaluate and risk-assess the viability of budget holders' submitted budget proposals. Monitor budget holders' compliance with core council financial regulations, protocol and guidance, including Financial Regulations, Contract Regulations, and Schemes of Delegation. Risk assess all budgets to ensure the risks are clearly understood and those with the highest risk get additional monitoring arrangements.4. Service Development Provide specialist financial advice to service managers on various specific and general service developments. Advise budget holders of the financial implications of changes in national legislation or local practice.5. Management Provide leadership and mentoring to team members, including training where appropriate. Contribute to the team planning and monitoring process. Contribute to the development of finance support services to meet customer needs in a changing business environment. Contribute to the overall management and development of the team, and deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner as necessary.Education, Qualifications and Training CCAB qualified, or AAT qualified / CCAB part-qualified plus extensive experience of accounting work including support to service / budget managers Good 'A' Level qualification or equivalent. Evidence of commitment to ongoing personal and professional development