Head of Financial Management

Company Description

As Tees Valley Combined Authority continues its transformation journey, we’re investing in our finance function and recruiting talented professionals who want to make a real impact. Whether you’re looking to take the next step in your career or bring your expertise to a complex and rewarding environment, now is the time to join us.

We have made huge progress since our creation seven years ago, and we are not stopping now. We are driving forward the redevelopment of our transport network; revitalising training and education; boosting our businesses; championing culture and tourism; and supporting our boroughs in improving towns and communities.

Backed by devolved powers and significant Government investment, our ten-year Investment Plan outlines more than £1.7bn of spending.

TVCA is also involved in delivering financial functions relating to South Tees Development Corporation, which oversees Teesworks – the UK’s largest industrial zone and a cornerstone of the Teesside Freeport. Two Mayoral Development Corporations are also driving the regeneration of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough town centres, helping to create places where people aspire to live, work and play.

Alongside these major programmes, we’ve been on a significant journey of organisational transformation. Over the past year, we’ve strengthened our foundations, introduced new structures and teams, and made tangible improvements across the organisation. We are building a modern, ambitious and high-performing organisation that is insight-led, focused on delivering for our communities and committed to improving lives across Tees Valley. Our recently approved Tees Valley Local Growth Plan sets out a clear ten-year vision for regional prosperity and economic growth.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and motivate the Financial Accounting team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Provide strategic direction for financial accounting and reporting activities.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leadership on technical accounting matters.
• Develop and drive the Authority’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the Authority, ensuring efficient, effective and sustainable financial planning.
• Oversee the development and provision of financial data and analysis to drive evidence-based decision making, developing key financial metrics against which the Authority’s performance can be measured.
• Provide high-level, professional financial leadership and challenge in the development of significant business cases and option appraisals.
• Lead on the development of the Authority’s Capital Strategy ensuring consistency and coordination with the proposed Treasury Management Strategy.
• Liaise with the Head of Financial Accounting on all relevant matters to ensure consistency and coordination with financial accounting activities.
• Lead on the annual budget setting process ensuring best practice is followed.
• Liaise with the Head of Financial Accounting as appropriate, particularly in relation to the impacts of the Treasury Management Strategy and accompanying policies and documents.
• Oversee all in-year budget monitoring activity ensuring robust month-end closure and reporting processes, ensuring Cabinet reports are timely and of a high-quality.
• Be responsible for the completion of financial implications of all key decision reports and to ensure that Cabinet decision-making is based on robust financial information in relation to those decisions.
• Deliver an effective business partnering function to support the Corporate Leadership Team and wider organisation.
• Provide expert advice on complex accounting issues including capital accounting, leasing, pensions, and financial instruments.
• Ensure proper application of IFRS as adapted for the local authority sector.
• Oversee the Authority’s Treasury Management function ensuring compliance with relevant Prudential and Treasury Management Codes.
• Act as key contact for external treasury advisors ensuring expert advice is commissioned where needed and provide accurate and update information to support advice required.
• Act as client-side lead for Treasury Management services provided under a shared service arrangement with a local authority, ensuring accurate reporting of borrowing, investments, and cash flow.
• Be the custodian of the Authority’s financial system ensuring that the system is used and maintained following best practice.
• Lead improvements in financial systems, processes, and controls.
• Ensure efficient use of financial systems to support reporting and compliance.
• Be an effective member of the Combined Authority’s Operations Group to provide leadership, challenge and strategic direction across the Authority’s functions, in accordance with the organisation’s values, vision, objectives, plans and priorities and deputise for the Group Chief Executive as required.
• Act as an ambassador for the Tees Valley, promoting the interests of the sub region both nationally and internationally and raising the profile and reputation of the organisation.
• Adhere to all policies, practices and procedures with regard to financial management, legal matters including, procurement and those associated with the workforce including Health and Safety, promoting employee engagement and ensuring good practice is in place.
• Undertake any other duties that may be deemed reasonable to meet the duties and responsibilities of the post and undertake any training that is identified as being required to achieve this.
• Take reasonable care of your own Health and Safety and co-operate with management, so far as is necessary, to enable compliance with the health and safety rules and legislative requirements.
• Work flexibly and undertake such other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading and nature of the post.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance procedures, procurement regulations and the Data Protection Act and behave according to the Employees’ Code of Conduct.