Finance manager - children's services

Job Title: Finance Manager (Children’s Services) Reports into: Head of Finance Location: Macclesfield (Hybrid) Job Type: Contract Daily Rate: circa £400pd Responsibilities: * Lead and manage strategic financial services for the Council, supporting the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. * Collaborate with service directors, managers, and Council-owned company directors to achieve policy and strategic objectives. * Provide expert financial analysis, interpretation, and present solutions to problems and opportunities. * Oversee major financial work programs, including budget planning, in-year monitoring, and statutory/external reporting * Promote transformation and change through financial analysis, whole life costing, cost-benefit analysis, and benchmarking. * Be part of the Council's Finance management team, supporting and advising elected Members as needed. * Lead and develop a finance team, managing recruitment, performance, and professional development. * Promote the finance service and the Council’s financial management system to service customers and budget holders. * Manage and report on key performance indicators, including budget balancing, financial performance, investment, and customer satisfaction. Requirements: * Qualified Accountant (member of CCAB) * Degree or equivalent Professional Qualification * Expert knowledge and experience of best practice in financial planning, management and reporting, and emerging trends and innovations in local authority financial management * Expert knowledge of finance and accounting legislation and relevant national and local policy and strategy, including the Council’s Constitution and its Finance Procedure Rules, and the statutory reporting requirements of public and private sector accounting and financial reporting standards * Knowledge of all Council services, their service proposition and their impact on local residents and businesses * Expert knowledge of staff management and development of multi-functional teams and developing clear work programmes for individuals and teams * Processes for key reports and decisions * Knowledge of project management processes and how to apply the financial consequences to a complex array of projects and programmes * Knowledge of VAT and other relevant taxation regimes * Evidence of personal commitment to continuous professional development