Head of Finance

Job Description

Job title: Head of Finance (Deputy S73 Officer)

Location: Civic Centre, Southampton

Directorate: Finance

Job type: Permanent

Salary: £80k - £90k

This is a rare opportunity to join HSCCA at a pivotal stage in its development and help build the financial foundations of a brand-new Combined County Authority. As Head of Finance (Deputy S73 Officer), you will play a key leadership role within an ambitious organisation that is shaping the future of Hampshire and the Solent.

Working at the centre of decision-making, you will help ensure financial excellence underpins the authority's ambitions, supporting investment, growth and positive outcomes for communities, businesses and residents across the region. You will have the chance to influence the development of a modern finance function from the outset, contributing to the creation of systems, processes and governance arrangements that will support the organisation for years to come.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced finance leader who is motivated by building, improving and shaping organisations, and who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where collaboration, influence and innovation are valued.

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of HSCCA by providing financial leadership and helping establish the strong foundations needed to support an ambitious and growing organisation. You will:

• Play a key role in developing and embedding a modern, high-performing finance function within a newly established Combined County Authority.
• Work closely with senior leaders, elected members, partner organisations and stakeholders to support the delivery of HSCCA's strategic ambitions.
• Contribute to the development of robust financial governance, stewardship and decision-making across the organisation.
• Help create a finance service that enables growth, supports innovation and provides confidence across the authority and its partners.
• Support the organisation as it evolves, helping to build the systems, relationships and culture needed for long-term success.

We're looking for a finance leader who combines technical credibility with a collaborative and forward-thinking approach. Someone who is excited by the opportunity to help build a new organisation and create a lasting impact across the region.

You will bring strong leadership capability, sound judgement and the ability to build trusted relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. Comfortable operating in a complex and evolving environment, you will be motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of public services and contribute to an organisation that is committed to making a difference.

Most importantly, you'll bring energy, professionalism and a shared commitment to HSCCA's vision, helping to create a finance function that supports delivery, drives continuous improvement and enables the organisation to achieve its ambitious goals.

We are building the HSCCA on the basis that how we work is as important as what we deliver. We want people who bring enthusiasm, drive, and authenticity - who are proactive, open to challenge, and motivated by progress rather than process. We value collaborative leadership: the ability to bring people together across organisational boundaries, respect the expertise of others, and create shared direction without needing to own everything.

We act in line with the Nolan Principles. We use public money responsibly, make evidence-based decisions, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity, inclusion, and accessibility. We expect feedback to be given and received constructively, challenge to be welcomed, and relationships to be built on openness, trust, and mutual respect.

This is a complex, fast-moving environment. We need people who are energised by that.

As we take on new responsibilities devolved from Government, you will have a genuine opportunity to contribute to building a public service organisation that does things differently.

Our reward package includes:

• A flexible working environment, with hybrid working arrangements…