Reporting to the Interim Strategic Finance Lead, you will lead on a number of finance related projects. You will also support the Interim Strategic Finance Lead on a range of other financial issues required by the new Authority.

You will help to ensure that the programme of activity to develop the required finance strategies, plans, policies, systems and processes is aligned to the Implementation Strategy, that risks and interdependencies are well managed, and that delivery is consistently high-quality, transparent and accountable.

You will bring significant financial expertise, confidence and strong project management skills. You will need to work proactively with senior leaders, Members, partners, and programme sponsors to drive progress in the relevant projects, resolve issues, and ensure that all activity remains aligned to strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

- Leading projects to negotiate and then effectively client Service Level Agreements with constituent councils for the provision of effective finance systems for general ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, banking and treasury functions.

- Leading projects to determine, agree and effect the financial impacts of the transfer of certain functions from existing organisations to the new Authority, including disaggregation of staffing, operational and overhead costs and budgets as well as identification and transfer of relevant assets and liabilities.

- Supporting the development of Financial Regulations, Standing Orders, Treasury Management strategies and policies and other financial policies required by the Authority.

- Supporting the development of the Authority’s first budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan and helping to develop the processes and culture for effective budget and financial management within the Authority as it takes on its functions.

- Supporting the development of processes to ensure that potential business cases for investment can be appraised for Value for Money in line with the development of the Assurance Framework.

- Supporting the development of an effective VAT monitoring regime and sourcing of any required tax advice for the Authority.

- Assisting in the development of a strong system of internal control, including the development of the Audit and Governance Committee and an effective Internal Audit service.

You will operate at the highest level of professional competence, bringing clarity, structure and leadership to a dynamic and politically sensitive environment.

What you’ll need to succeed

As well as having an accountancy qualification you will need to be able to manage competing priorities within a fast paced and complex delivery framework to deliver agreed objectives without needing detailed day-to-day guidance from the Interim Strategic Finance Lead.

You will have had experience of setting up some of the financial processes of a new organisation from scratch, and have a detailed understanding of financial issues within one or more of the functional areas for which the Authority will be responsible (ideally including transport).

You will have excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with varied stakeholders from Local Authorities and other key partners across Sussex and Brighton when delivering your responsibilities.