Senior Finance Business Partner

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking two high performing Senior Finance Business Partners to join our Finance team.

• Senior Finance Business Partner – permanent

As Senior Finance Business Partner you will lead one of our directorate Finance Business Partnering functions with a focus on managing and delivering complex financial modelling and savings tracking, medium & long-term financial planning, financial performance (KPIs) and financial strategy, financial implications of major service developments, financial support to major procurement exercises, decision reports, options appraisals, business cases and bids, project & transformation programme support.

You will be aligned to support our Children’s Services directorate in the first instance; however, we are committed to career development and the promotion of rotation opportunities to move to support other Directorates within the Council.

Why join us?

At Buckinghamshire Council, you will be part of something bigger. As a large and forward-thinking unitary authority, we are on a mission to make Buckinghamshire the best place to live, raise a family, work, and do business. This is your chance to help shape the future of our county - supporting residents, driving innovation, and making a real difference every day.

We are proud to be one of the largest local authorities in the UK, working in close partnership with a wide network of public and private sector organisations. Our scale and ambition mean you will have access to exciting challenges, meaningful work, and the opportunity to grow your career in a supportive and dynamic environment.

We are committed to flexible, modern ways of working that promote a healthy work-life balance. From the moment you join us, we will invest in your development and wellbeing, helping you to be your best every step of the way.

In addition to a rewarding role and the chance to make a tangible impact, we offer:

• Generous annual leave and flexible working arrangements
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• A strong focus on personal and professional development
• Exclusive discounts on a wide range of services, shops, and restaurants

Join us and be part of a team that is shaping a better Buckinghamshire for today and for generations to come.

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. 

Our Finance team plays a vital role in delivering the Council’s strategic vision. We support the Corporate Management Team, Cabinet, and key committees with expert financial insight and guidance. From shaping long-term financial strategies and setting budgets, to business partnering, procurement support, and statutory reporting we are at the heart of sound financial decision-making across the organisation.

As a Finance team, we are committed to providing high quality professional services. Our team works collaboratively to manage and deliver an excellent service and despite this we continually strive for improvements, valuing innovation, and a proactive approach to make the service the best it possibly can be. Our vision is:

“The vision for Finance Service is to use streamlined and cost-effective processes to support the delivery of Council objectives, inform decision making and deliver financial control. The Finance Service has three key improvement principles: Simplify, Streamline, Standardise.”

About the role

As Senior Finance Business Partner, you will report into a Head of Finance and will be an integral member of the Finance Management team and will work closely with the Service Directors and Heads of Service for a named Directorate(s) across the Council.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Financial planning and Medium-Term Financial Planning including ‘Critical 5’ business unit reporting (cost drivers, volume, and price)
• Financial implications assessment and inclusion into decision making papers, CMT reports and procurements
• Monitoring of savings in savings trackers, external funding bids along with related reporting
• Participation in Transformation Boards and supporting change and emerging issues
• Financial modelling, insight, analysis and advisory for complex financial issues and market management and intelligence gathering
• Supporting business case development, in particular the financial case
• Value for money and income optimisation and benchmarking insight support

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

To thrive in this role, you will bring experience of management roles within professional finance services within a large public sector organisation. You will be a CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant, with a proven track record operating at Senior Finance Business Partner level (or equivalent), ideally within the public sector.

You will have experience in Finance Business Partnering particularly managing areas with complex financial modelling, demand pressures, and savings targets. You will be confident navigating the financial intricacies of supporting high demand services and understand the pressures and priorities that come with balancing budgets with balancing need.

You will need to demonstrate your ability to manage large-scale budgets with precision, ensuring services are delivered within agreed resources while maintaining financial sustainability.

Exceptional communication and presentation skills are essential. You will be translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight for a wide range of stakeholders from senior leaders to frontline teams.

We are looking for proven leadership skills, someone who can inspire high-performing teams, build trust across the organisation, and foster a culture of collaboration and accountability. Your resilience, strategic mindset, and drive for results will be key to succeeding in this high-impact role.

Please see the attached job summary for further information about this role.

Other information

At Buckinghamshire Council, we follow a hybrid working model. As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you will need to be connected to our network to access digital files and systems but you can do this from home or from one of our offices.

You will be required to work as a minimum 2-days per week in the office, depending on your role and team needs, with the remainder working from home.

Closing date: Wednesday 9 September 2026 

Interview date: w/c 14 September 2026

Interview-type/process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Emma Wilding, Head of Finance, Children’s Social Care or Elspeth O’Neill, Assistant Chief Finance Officer – Financial Analysis and Business Partnering.

[email protected] or 01296 382012

[email protected] or 01296 382130

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 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 Service Area

Corporate Finance sets the overall financial strategy for the Council as well as the financial, risk and control assurance framework. The service is responsible for co-ordinating the Medium-Term Financial Plan, as well overseeing essential services, from statutory financial reporting and pensions administration to strategic procurement and supplier relationship management, as well as financial support for major projects.

Our expert staff work collaboratively to set a balanced budget and review the Council’s financial framework and procedures and to establish an appropriate assurance framework. Now is an exciting time to join Corporate Finance as we continue to play a key role in supporting all front-line services, ensuring that value for money is achieved and financial activities are directed towards the Council’s priorities.

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/