Finance Manager - Housing

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is aiming to be the best local authority in London.

We very much want to hear from people with the skills to lead a best-in-class professional finance service for the Council’s Housing Revenue Account which provides for the management of 18,000 homes with an annual turnover of £80m.

As the operational lead for the finance function, you will be leading a team that is going through a period of change and this will provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to lead improvements in the organisation of the finance function that will support the delivery of the financial plan for the Council’s homes. You will also provide support to the departmental Head of Finance in managing major finance-related projects within the Council and assisting with the formulation of the department’s overall policy and strategy.

This pivotal role will require excellent financial management, team working and leadership skills. You will manage the housing finance team (4 direct reports) and work proactively with budget holders, understanding and clarifying their finance requirements to deliver a professional high quality and responsive service. Budget preparation and management will be key responsibilities as will year end closure of accounts. You will also be responding to enquiries from a variety of stakeholders including tenants and Councillors on a regular basis and will necessarily be results driven, have very good communication skills, and be able to deliver great customer service with both a commercial and caring focus.

You will need:

• a full accountancy qualification with extensive experience and to be educated to at least degree level;
• a good understanding of the Housing Revenue Account and the associated legal, regulatory and accounting frameworks which govern the social housing arena, candidates from social housing providers will also be considered;
• a successful record of leading a team to deliver high standards of performance and service delivery;
• a track record of achievement in managing the key elements of the budget cycle within a social housing context;
• a good understanding of how to correctly cost activities and prepare business cases. You must be able to help budget holders ensure the money they spend is used effectively and efficiently so there is no waste.
• the ability to communicate effectively in providing high quality advice on complex financial matters in a straightforward manner and manage successful relationships with all levels of officer and other stakeholders.

Closing date 5th February 2017