Senior Finance Analyst

Overview

Are you an experienced finance professional with a passion for turning data into insight? We are looking for an experienced Senior Finance Analyst to join our Children's Services finance team, with a particular focus on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and High Needs funding.

This high-profile role sits within a challenging and evolving financial landscape. Working closely with senior leaders, budget holders, and operational teams, you will provide robust financial analysis, forecasting, understanding cost drivers and modelling to support the effective management of multi-million-pound DSG budgets.

Through high-quality financial reporting, modelling and insight, you will help identify risks, improve financial reporting and planning and support decisions that deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families across the county. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys working with data, solving complex problems and influencing decisions.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

As part of the Financial Analysis and Business Partnering team, you'll provide advice and support to Service Directors and Senior Managers on service planning, budget management, financial modelling, financial controls and contracts and procurement. You'll also work closely with other Finance staff to provide technical and professional advice.

By working with us, you are part of something bigger. As a Buckinghamshire Council employee, you help support residents and shape services for current and future generations. As one of the UK’s largest local authorities, we work with partners across the public and private sectors.

Our services are wide-ranging, and the opportunities to grow and progress are significant. We are committed to work-life balance and flexible ways of working, supporting you to be your best.

About the role

This role focuses on providing high-quality financial analysis and insight to support the management of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), particularly the High Needs Block and wider SEND services.

A key part of the role involves analysing large and often complex datasets to identify trends, understand cost and demand drivers, and support financial forecasting and monthly budget monitoring. You will present financial information clearly to non-financial managers, helping them understand financial performance, risks, and opportunities

Working with data from multiple business systems and SAP, you will develop meaningful management information and contribute to the development, monitoring and maintenance of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), supporting sustainable service delivery and long-term financial planning.

You will support the application of accounting policies and technical accounting requirements relating to DSG-funded activities, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and financial procedure rules, supporting the year-end closedown process, preparation of working papers and disclosures for the Statement of Accounts, and responding to audit enquiries.

In addition, you will contribute to financial modelling, business cases, statutory returns, funding reviews, and responses to information requests.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

We are looking for a candidate with up-to-date knowledge of accounting best practice and processes, extensive experience in financial analysis, modelling, forecasting and reporting. You will have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, advanced Excel skills and experience of financial systems.

You will be confident interpreting complex financial information and communicating it clearly to non-financial audiences. Experience of working with large datasets and developing meaningful management information is essential, as is the ability to manage competing priorities effectively and maintain high standards of accuracy.

An effective communicator with well-developed interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills to build relationships and influence the stakeholder community, you will be able to work under your own initiative, with the ability to resolve most problems without the need for escalation.

You’ll be AAT fully qualified with significant relevant post-qualification experience or CCAB part qualified as a minimum.

Other information

For more information about this role, please contact Grace Woolnough at [email protected] for an informal discussion.

Closing date: Thursday 27th August 2026

Interview Date: 2nd/3rd September 2026

Interviews will be carried out in the offices in Aylesbury.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Resources cover a wide range of specialisms, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT and Business Operations. Our main focus is supporting the other directorates to provide the best possible service to our residents. To do that, we have to make sure we have the right people in the right roles across the organisation. From our finance teams, working strategically to ensure the best value from public money; to HR keeping our employees healthy and happy, each service is vital in making sure Buckinghamshire Council has what it needs to run effectively and efficiently.

As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/