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The Government is clear that unitary authorities are the future of local government, and we couldn’t agree more. With nearly 30 years’ experience providing all local authority services, Medway has a strong track record of delivering for our residents, businesses and visitors.

Medway Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Financial Planning and Business Partnering to lead a high-performing team of around 25 accounting and financial systems professionals. This pivotal leadership role will drive the coordination and delivery of the Council’s annual revenue budget process, ensuring robust financial planning and stewardship across the organisation.

As a key member of the finance team, you will champion a proactive and customer-focused finance business partnering service, providing strategic financial advice and insight that supports informed decision-making and helps deliver Medway’s priorities. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within a dynamic local authority committed to excellence and continuous improvement.

Applicants must possess a relevant professional accountancy qualification in a relevant organisation, preferably CIPFA and must be able to demonstrate significant experience of working at a senior level within a local government finance setting.

You will be a highly motivated, experienced and qualified Head of Service, with excellent communication and people management skills, a good eye for attention to detail and accuracy, who will thrive and motivate their team and be able to demonstrate the ability to lead a team through change.

This role has a broad strategic remit spanning across the Council, including responsibility for:

• Strategic Planning: Prepare and report on the Council’s medium term financial projections and prepare the annual budget report for Council.
• Project management: Coordinate the process, working with services, to set a balanced budget.
• Preparing reports: Coordinate and produce comprehensive monitoring reports in accordance with the agreed timescales.
• Stakeholder engagement: Collaborate with the full range of internal stakeholders, including Members, Corporate Management Team and other senior managers.
• Relationship Building: Confidently report to Members and Council colleagues through directorate management teams, oversight boards and overview and scrutiny committees.

Interviews will be held on 31 July 2026.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please call Abbey Gough Chief Finance Officer abbey.gough@medway.gov.uk

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency. Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change.

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
• Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
• Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.