Finance Business Partner - Re

Reading Borough Council is looking for an ambitious and analytical Finance Business Partner to join our Finance Business Partnering Team to take a lead role in providing Financial management support to re3 a Joint Waste PFI contract partnership dealing with Waste Disposal across 3 authorities Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, providing expert financial advice, insight and challenge across one of the largest and most important contracts that supports key decision-making and helps deliver Waste Disposal services for residents across the 3 Authorities

As a trusted finance professional, you will work closely with senior managers and budget holders across the 3 Authorities , helping them manage resources effectively, identify opportunities and risks, and deliver value for money. You will play a key role in financial planning, budget monitoring, business case development and service transformation.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

Working alongside the Head of Finance and the re3 Waste Team, you will provide high-quality financial support to a range of service areas across the 3 councils, ensuring sound financial management and strong governance across the organisations. You will contribute to major projects, transformation programmes and strategic decision-making, while supporting budget managers to deliver services within available resources.

You will also help drive continuous improvement across the Finance Service, providing commercial and financial insight that supports innovation, efficiency and sustainable financial planning.

• Act as a key financial adviser to budget managers and senior leaders.
• Support the preparation, monitoring and management of budgets.
• Provide financial analysis, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Identify financial risks, opportunities and potential efficiency savings.
• Contribute to business cases, investment appraisals and transformation projects.
• Support the annual budget-setting process and year-end accounts activities.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, legislation and CIPFA guidance.
• Build strong working relationships across services and Councils and act as a conduit to specialist finance expertise.
• Provide support, guidance and task allocation to Accountants, Accountancy Assistants and Trainee Accountants within the team.

We are looking for a proactive finance professional who can combine strong technical accounting knowledge with excellent business partnering skills.

You will have:

• A CCAB qualification (or equivalent), or be actively working towards full qualification.
• Experience in a finance business partnering or similar advisory role.
• Experience working within the public sector, ideally local government.
• Strong financial planning, budgeting and forecasting skills.
• Experience influencing decision-making and managing or advising on significant budgets.
• The ability to interpret complex financial information and present it clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• An ability to quickly develop an understanding of how the three councils and contractor operate within and contribute to the Joint Waste Management (PFI) Contract.
• Capabilities to analyse quarterly Waste Forecasts and performance data to produce financial and performance forecasts for the three councils.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to identify opportunities, drive improvements and support organisational change.

Working alongside the Head of Finance in conjunction with re3 Waste team , you will provide high-quality financial support to a range of service areas, ensuring sound financial management and strong governance across the organisation. You will contribute to major projects, transformation programmes and strategic decision-making, while supporting budget managers to deliver services within available resources.

You will also help drive continuous improvement across the Finance Service, providing commercial and financial insight that supports innovation, efficiency and sustainable financial planning.

You'll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their…