Finance Business Partner at North Somerset Council in North Somerset

Finance Business Partner

Job reference: CSDA0255

Salary: £65,495 - £74,209 p.a.

Hours: 37 per week (full time, permanent)

Closing date: Monday 9 November 2026

Interview date(s): Monday 16 November 2026 and/or Tuesday 17 November 2026

Reporting directly to the S151 Officer, this is a high-impact role where you will act as a trusted strategic advisor to the Director of Environment, Assets and Transport Services and the senior leadership team, helping to shape the financial direction of the essential public facing services.

The Environment, Assets and Transport Services directorate delivers diverse and high-profile services which includes highways and transport, waste and recycling, streets and open spaces, leisure, property and asset management, and major capital projects and strategic infrastructure. The Director manages significant revenue and capital expenditure, and you will play a key part in helping services respond to significant financial challenges while maintaining focus on delivering outcomes for residents.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional to work closely with senior leaders on some of the council's most significant strategic and financial challenges. The role offers exposure to major capital investment, transformation programmes and corporate decision-making, allowing you to make a visible impact across the organisation and the communities we serve.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic partnership - work closely with the Director and senior leaders to provide strategic financial insight, robust challenge, and insightful advice to support effective decision making within the context of the Council’s annual revenue budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) cycles.
• Reporting - prepare and present clear, concise financial reports and analysis, translating complex financial data into actionable business insights.
• Service transformation - partner with senior officers to identify efficiency savings, service transformation opportunities, and alternative revenue streams that support the council’s sustainability goals.
• Risk and governance - ensure robust financial governance and compliance with CIPFA codes, statutory requirements, and best practice in local government finance.
• Stakeholder engagement - build strong relationships across the organisation, ensuring financial and governance considerations are embedded in service planning and delivery.
• Capital and revenue - oversee financial impacts arising from capital programme, grant funding compliance, and revenue budget monitoring.
• Management and supervision - manage a small team of finance professionals who directly support the Directorate and as a senior leader, contribute to service development, mentoring colleagues and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

The position is primarily home-based, with attendance at key meetings, workshops, leadership events and corporate activities as required.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified accountant: You are a fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, or CIMA or equivalent) with a strong technical foundation.
• Local government experience: You have proven experience working in local government finance, ideally within a senior business partnering or strategic finance role. You understand the unique pressures facing the sector today.
• Business partnering skills: You are an influential communicator who can build trust at the most senior levels. You are comfortable challenging senior leaders constructively and presenting financial narratives to non-financial audiences.
• Strategic mindset: You can see the big picture, linking financial data to service outcomes and corporate priorities.
• Resilience and adaptability: You thrive in a dynamic, public-sector environment and can manage competing priorities with composure and integrity.
• Proven track record: You will have demonstrable experience leading complex budget-setting and forecasting processes, identifying and delivering financial savings and service transformation opportunities and supporting major capital programmes and investment decisions.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of supporting environmental, transport, property or infrastructure-related services.
• Experience in developing and evaluating complex business cases and investment proposals.
• Project or programme management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of financial modelling and scenario planning.
• Knowledge of treasury, capital financing or asset management finance.
• Experience supporting grant-funded programmes.

How to apply

https://jobs.n-somerset.gov.uk/ce0985li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf.open?wvid=385762Qh12

For more information email Melanie Watts: melanie.watts@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01934 634 618.