Head of Finance

Head of Finance

Location: Office based- Hove, BN3
Rate: up to £500 a day DOE
Contract: ASAP start until mid-December 2026

A local authority organisation is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership and support during a key period of service delivery and transformation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior finance professional with strong leadership skills and experience working within a complex public sector environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting activities.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior leaders and key stakeholders.
• Support medium and long-term financial planning and sustainability.
• Oversee revenue and capital budgets, ensuring effective financial control.
• Deliver accurate financial reporting and performance monitoring.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, governance requirements and accounting standards.
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and support audit processes.
• Manage and develop finance teams, driving high performance and continuous improvement.
• Support business cases, investment decisions and organisational transformation programmes.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities, providing appropriate solutions and recommendations.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A recognised accounting qualification (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Significant senior-level finance experience within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong experience in financial planning, budgeting and financial reporting.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to influence and challenge senior managers effectively.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Experience managing and developing professional finance teams.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience within local government, local authorities or the wider public sector.
• CIPFA qualification.
• Experience supporting transformation programmes, major projects or capital programmes.
• Knowledge of local authority funding and public sector finance.

Please be aware this advert will remain open until the vacancy has been filled. Interviews will take place throughout this period, therefore we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.

Tate is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

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