Finance & Assurance Director

Strengthen Oversight and Value Across Bristol's City-Owned Companies

Bristol Holding Ltd (BHL) with Bristol City Council is seeking an experienced finance and assurance leader to provide independent oversight, robust governance and clear shareholder assurance across Bristol City Council's wholly owned companies. This is a senior role with high autonomy and significant influence, supporting better commercial decision making and long‑term value for the people of Bristol.

Since 2015, Bristol City Council has used local authority trading companies to deliver services, drive innovation and reinvest value back into the city. As sole shareholder, the Council sets strategic direction and oversees performance through defined governance arrangements.

BHL supports the Council in this role, providing oversight, assurance, and a small number of shared services across the group. It is the parent company of two high‑profile organisations.

Bristol Waste Company delivers recycling, waste collection, street cleansing, and facilities management across the city. It employs over 800 colleagues and operates at significant scale, delivering around 17 million collections each year. The business is entering a period of transformation, including contract renewal, investment in fleet and infrastructure, and responding to evolving regulation.

Goram Homes is Bristol's commercial housing delivery company, focused on accelerating new homes, including social and affordable housing. It is moving into a phase of increased delivery through joint ventures and partnerships, playing a key role in addressing housing need and supporting sustainable growth.

Following a successful period of interim leadership, BHL is now recruiting a permanent Finance and Assurance Director to build on strengthened governance and improved reporting. This is a senior, influential role operating with a high degree of independence. This is primarily a strategic financial oversight, governance, and assurance leadership role rather than a transactional operational finance post reporting to the Chair and Shareholder.

You will act as a trusted adviser and constructive challenger to subsidiary boards and executive teams, while providing clear, independent assurance to the Council as shareholder. You will play a central role in ensuring the group is financially resilient, well‑governed and positioned for long‑term success.

• Provide independent financial oversight and assurance across the group
• Lead governance, reporting, risk management, and internal control
• Support delivery of ambitious business plans, challenging assumptions and performance where required
• Strengthen alignment between Council financial planning and company business plans
• Enable clear, effective communication between the Council and its companies
• Protect and enhance shareholder value through transparency and accountability
• Contribute to the development of BHL as a centre of excellence for assurance and oversight

This role requires the confidence to speak truth to power, balancing support with challenge in the interests of strong governance and better outcomes.

Bristol's wholly owned companies play a critical role in delivering services, managing risk, and unlocking value at a time of increasing demand and financial pressure. As Finance and Assurance Director, you will sit at the centre of this system, influencing commercial strategy, strengthening accountability, and supporting long‑term resilience across Bristol's city‑owned businesses.

With ambitious plans and a clear public purpose, this is a compelling opportunity for a senior finance leader who wants their work to have visible impact.

Full time or part time (minimum 22 hours per week, salary pro‑rata accordingly). Hybrid working arrangements.

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