Strategic Finance Lead (Technical)

Strategic Finance Lead (Technical)

Working Pattern: Permanent, 37 hours per week
Salary: £68,052 - £74,075 plus excellent benefits
Location: Lincoln / Hybrid Working

Closing Date:

Interviews:

Lead the future of Technical Finance at Lincolnshire County Council

We are seeking an experienced CIPFA-qualified or equivalent finance professional to lead our Technical Finance function and play a key role within our Financial Services Leadership Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the country's largest county councils at a time of significant change and development. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical accounting expertise with the ability to lead people, build capability and drive continuous improvement.

You will lead a large and experienced professional team responsible for financial accounting, statutory reporting, treasury management, capital and technical financial advice. Alongside maintaining excellent financial stewardship, you will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of Technical Finance, strengthen organisational resilience and develop the next generation of finance professionals.

The Role

As Strategic Finance Lead (Technical), you will be responsible for the Council's technical finance function and will provide professional leadership on a broad range of financial governance and accounting matters.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the closure of the Council's accounts and preparation of the Statement of Accounts.
• Maintaining strong relationships with external audit and other key stakeholders.
• Providing expert advice on local authority accounting, financial governance and technical finance issues.
• Supporting treasury management, capital accounting and other specialist technical activities.
• Leading and developing a sizeable professional finance team.
• Strengthening organisational resilience and reducing reliance on specialist knowledge held by individuals.
• Improving consistency, governance and control across technical accounting activities.
• Contributing as an active member of a high-performing Finance Leadership Team.

This is not simply a statutory accounts role. It is an opportunity to lead, influence and improve a critical function that underpins the Council's reputation for strong financial management.

About You

We are looking for a CIPFA-qualified or equivalent accountant with significant experience in local government technical finance, financial accounting and statutory reporting.

You will bring:

• Strong technical accounting and financial governance knowledge.
• Experience of working with external audit.
• Credible leadership experience within a professional finance environment.
• The ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly and confidently.
• A track record of developing people, improving services and building effective working relationships.
• The confidence to provide constructive challenge while maintaining a collaborative approach.

We recognise that no candidate will have experience of every aspect of the role from day one. What matters most is a strong technical foundation, leadership capability and the ambition to make a positive difference.

Why Join Us?

Lincolnshire County Council has a strong track record of financial management and places real value on professional finance leadership.

You will be joining:

• A progressive and supportive Finance Leadership Team.
• An organisation that is committed to professional development and continuous improvement.
• A team that values collaboration, learning and innovation.
• A role where you can make a visible and lasting impact.

We are particularly interested in candidates who want the opportunity to shape the future direction of a service, develop people and leave a lasting legacy.

Interested?

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to arrange an informal conversation before applying.

Choosing the right senior leadership role is about more than reading a job description. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role, the challenges and opportunities ahead, and what it is like to be part of the Financial Services Leadership Team at Lincolnshire County Council.

To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Adam Hopley, Deputy Head of Financial Services, at adam.hopley@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

At Lincolnshire County Council, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a rewarding package designed to support your work–life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and career growth. Find out more about our offer to you in the attached brochure.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.