Head of Finance

Grade: Strategic Lead Support Manager

Conditions of Service: APT & C

Responsible to: Chief Fire Officer

Responsible for: Assistant Head of Finance; Payroll Manager; Systems Accountant.

General Description of the Post

1. Ensure that the Finance Department supports the Authority’s Treasurer and contributes to the achievement of the stated objectives of the Fire Authority and its Committees. This will include providing information and professional advice to elected Members and preparing and presenting reports.
2. Lead and maintain a finance function which is able to deliver a high quality financial service in line with regulations, standards and policies. Provide an effective financial management service, linking to the strategic aims and objectives of the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
3. Act as delegated Pensions Scheme Manager to provide advice on the administration of the pension scheme and ensure that the Authority meets all statutory requirements under the Rules 3 & 4 of the Firefighters Pension Scheme (England) 2014 Regulations (as delegated under Rule 5).
4. Contribute effectively to the corporate objectives of the Service as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team and take on strategic responsibilities as determined by the Chief Fire Officer.
5. Act as the agent of the Authority’s Treasurer in so far as this officer has delegated responsibilities under Section 151 and Section 114 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Outline Duties

In fulfilling these roles, the postholder will be directly responsible for:-

6. Monitoring the Authority’s compliance with the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1972, the Accounts and Audit Regulations and all other relevant legislation and statutory instruments being in force from time to time. Any potential breaches of statute or other regulation should be reported to the Chief Fire Officer and Treasurer.
7. Advising the service on any relevant events, pressures or other matters within the wider financial context which may have implications for the Fire and Rescue Service.
8. Providing strategic and technical support to the Authority on financial management issues. This will include:
   • work related to the overall revenue and capital budgets;
   • regular monitoring and reporting of performance against budgets;
   • negotiation and management of all external borrowing and other finance;
   • advising on taxation or other technical matters;
   • providing financial appraisals in respect of investments or projects;
   • providing the financial implications of all material business decisions to the Chief Fire Officer, the Authority and its Committees.
9. Ensuring the provision of a comprehensive financial accounting service, in accordance with recognised national standards and the requirements of the Chief Fire Officer and the Treasurer, to produce true and fair accounts that satisfy the external auditor.
10. Leading and developing the finance function to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. This will involve the effective management of change programmes and projects, as well as developing strategies to manage the seasonal nature of workload peaks.
11. Ensuring that safe and efficient stewardship arrangements are in place for protecting the assets of the Authority i.e. maintaining an effective financial governance framework designed to manage financial risk, collecting all income due to the Authority, paying employees and creditors, provision of adequate insurances and the management of investments, borrowings and cash flows.
12. Acting as Scheme Manager for the local Firefighter Pension Schemes on behalf of the Fire Authority, in accordance with pension regulations. This will include maintaining an effective Local Pension Board.
13. Liaising with internal and external auditors, and with the Treasurer, as well as with other external bodies, on finance and accounting matters. Procuring, managing and monitoring contracts relating to externally provided financial services e.g. internal audit, external audit and pension administration.
14. Briefing elected Members, both formally and informally, on financial matters and providing advice and training where required.
15. In consultation with the Treasurer, setting adequate standards and procedures for budgeting, accounting and treasury management, and maintaining a framework of monitoring to ensure these requirements are met.
16. This shall include preparing, maintaining and ensuring compliance with appropriate Financial Regulations, as well as the preparation of a Medium Term Financial Strategy, a Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Code indicators.
17. Monitoring the performance of the finance function, including using benchmarking for comparison. Maintaining an awareness of alternative ways of delivering the service, including consideration of collaboration with other organisations.
18. Leading on the promotion of ethical financial management throughout the Service and supporting the Strategic Leadership Team by ensuring that its members’ knowledge and understanding of financial issues is at the appropriate level.
19. Undertaking continuing professional development in order to maintain competence in the role. This will include maintaining technical knowledge as well as developing a professional network.
20. Undertaking work to support wider corporate objectives at a level commensurate with the level of the main role. An example of this would be involvement in the recruitment of other senior employees.
21. Representing the Service on regional/national bodies, as required.
22. The above list of duties is not exhaustive and the post holder will be expected to work not only within these guidelines but also those set out in the “Financial Principles and Delegation Profiles” and the “Role of The Chief Financial Officer” documents.
23. The post holder will also be required to carry out any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post determined by from time to time by the Chief Fire Officer

Specific Health, Safety and Environmental Responsibilities

Ensure the financial management of the Service, within the context of its corporate objectives, recognises and encompasses health, safety and environmental risk management legal expectations.

Ensure Strategic Leadership Team discussions on strategic risk management encompass health, safety and environmental considerations.

Ensure that financial appraisals of projects consider health, safety and environmental risk management ramifications.

General Responsibilities (all employees)

Health and Safety

To take reasonable care for your own health and safety at work and that of other persons who may be affected by your work activities.

To co-operate with Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue’s attempts to comply with health and safety legislation.

Where appropriate you must safeguard the health and safety of all persons affected by the work activities you supervise at any premises you have control over.

To work in a safe manner in which you have been trained and instructed and advise your line manager of any health and safety problems you become aware of.

To familiarise yourself with the contents of the Service’s Written Safety Policy

Use of equipment and other appliances

To take proper care in handling, operation and safeguarding of any equipment or vehicles, used or issued by the Service or provided or issued by a third party for individual or collective use in the performance of the job holder’s duties

Equalities

To uphold the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Dignity at Work and Equal Opportunities policies and practices and to treat all colleagues, service users and contacts with respect and in accordance with the expectations laid down by the Service.

To promote and deliver fair and quality services that are sensitive and responsive to all service users.

Code of Conduct

To adhere to the standards of the Code of Conduct established by the Service and NFCC Code of Ethics.

Personal Development

To keep up to date with current practice, undertake training and Continuous Professional Development as appropriate.

Information Technology

To comply with security measures to protect against unauthorised access to, alteration or disclosure of information held on computer and ensure adherence to the principles of the Data Protection Act.

To undertake any training and operation of new technologies and associated systems as required