Rodeo
Get started

GatenbySanderson

Assistant Director Finance & Governance and Deputy Section 151 Officer

Essex
£121.5k/yr
Posted 1 day ago
Sign up to applySee more jobs like this
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever

How your CV stacks up

1Upload CV
2Analyse CV
3Improve CV

Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role

?%

Assistant Director Finance & Governance and Deputy Section 151 Officer

Organisation: Basildon Borough Council

Salary: Up to £121,526 + a monthly car allowance of £200 per month + fringe allowance of £753 per annum

Closing Date: Friday 2nd October, 12pm midday

This job post will be advertised for a minimum period of two weeks on LinkedIn. After this time please apply directly to https://join-basildon.gs-attract.com until the closing date of Friday 2nd October, 12pm midday.

Turn financial grip into organisational confidence.

This is an opportunity for a finance leader who wants more than stewardship of the numbers. Basildon needs strong core financial management, a deliverable Medium-Term Financial Strategy and a savings programme that is understood and owned across the organisation. It needs clear information, effective financial planning and a finance service that enables senior leaders to make sound decisions at pace.

It also needs someone who can see the wider opportunity.

About the Role

As Assistant Director Finance & Governance and Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will lead a broad and influential portfolio including finance, revenues and benefits, procurement, audit, risk, insurance and corporate fraud. You will support income generation, value for money and delivery of Council priorities, while helping to strengthen governance and organisational assurance.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

See breakdown
Save jobNot relevant
View details

It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

See breakdown
Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

See breakdown
Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

You will be a key partner to the Executive Director of Resources and Governance, giving them the capacity to maintain a broader corporate and strategic focus while you build grip, coordination and confidence across the finance function.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead a broad and influential portfolio including finance, revenues and benefits, procurement, audit, risk, insurance and corporate fraud.
  • Support income generation, value for money and delivery of Council priorities.
  • Help to strengthen governance and organisational assurance.
  • Be a key partner to the Executive Director of Resources and Governance.

The Challenges

The brief combines the essentials of excellent local government finance with questions that are anything but routine. How does Basildon deliver its savings commitments without losing sight of its ambitions? How can its commercial activity, procurement and partnerships create greater value? How can the Council strengthen its long-term financial resilience? And how do we build a finance team that finishes this period stronger than it began?

What We Offer

You will also lead the continued development of the shared Revenues and Benefits service with Brentwood and explore wider partnership opportunities.

Get help with your application

Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.

Get help applying for this job

Who We're Looking For

We are open to experienced Deputy Section 151 Officers and ambitious senior finance leaders ready for greater corporate exposure. You will need a strong track record of delivery, the confidence to operate in a political environment and the ability to combine commercial judgement with the discipline and public purpose of local government finance.

Development Opportunity

For an aspiring Section 151 Officer, the development opportunity is significant. You will work closely with the Council's senior statutory leadership, gain exposure to major organisational change and play a leading role in strengthening the Council's financial sustainability and organisational performance.

Why Join Us?

This is a role from which you can demonstrate not only that you can manage finance, but that you can use it to make an entire organisation better.

Our Vision

Strengthen the foundations. Create the capacity. Shape the future.

Contact Us

For a confidential discussion, contact our search partner at GatenbySanderson:

  • Kembi Coakelin - kembi.coakelin@gatenbysanderson.com
  • Delicia Coutinho - delicia.coutinho@gatenbysanderson.com
Trusted by 25,000+ job seekers

“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Jessica, London

Get help applying for this job

Location

Essex, England, United Kingdom

Sign up to applySee more jobs like this