Finance Business Partner - Family Help and Safeguarding

Finance Business Partner

Are you a finance professional looking to make a meaningful impact in local government? Reading Borough Council is seeking a talented and motivated Finance Business Partner – Children’s Social Care to join our dynamic Finance Business Partnering Team. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of the Council, supporting children’s services directorates with expert financial advice and insight.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

At Reading Borough Council, we value innovation, collaboration, and ambition. We offer a hybrid working environment, combining office-based and remote work, and support flexible working patterns. You’ll be part of a supportive team that encourages professional development and recognises the importance of work-life balance.

About the role:

In this role, you will work closely with the Strategic Finance Business Partner for Children’s Services (currently delivered via Brighter Futures for Children) to deliver high-quality financial support across a range of services. You’ll be a key advisor to budget managers, helping them navigate financial planning, budget setting, and year-end processes. Your work will directly influence decision-making, ensuring that resources are used effectively and that the Council’s strategic objectives are met.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Provide expert financial advice to Children’s Social Care budget managers
• Support strategic planning, budget setting, and year-end processes for children’s services
• Contribute to business cases such as early intervention, care placements, and service transformation
• Analyse trends in demand and cost pressures, offering solutions to improve value for money
• Help shape service strategy through robust financial insight and forecasting
• Supervise and support junior finance staff

About you:

We’re looking for someone who is CCAB qualified (or working towards qualification) with a strong understanding of public sector finance. Experience in a business partnering role within Children’s Services Social Care is highly desirable. You should be confident in managing complex financial information, communicating clearly with stakeholders, and working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently, and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Jo Collis-Heavens - jo.collis-heavens@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Friday 25 July 2025
Interview Date: week commencing Monday 4 August 2025

Interview Process: Presentation & Interview

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.