Deputy Town Clerk and Financial Officer

Deputy Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
Salary Range and Job Type: SCP 45 – 48 (£59,025 – £63,218) depending on qualifications and experience.
Opportunity to progress linked to qualifications gained. Permanent, full-time role, 37 hours per week. Hybrid working with flexi time. Term time variations, compressed hours etc considered.
Normal working week will be Monday to Friday. Due to the timing of some committee and other meetings, some evening working will be required and the equivalent time can be taken as time off in lieu, in accordance with the council’s flexi policy.
Annual leave entitlement is 26 days’ leave increasing to 30 days after five year’s service.
Overview:
We’re looking for an exceptional Deputy Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a key role in the Council’s continued development.
The successful candidate will join one of the country’s largest Town Councils, managing a budget of over £4.2m, and supporting our 25 Councillors and up to 80 staff to ensure Weymouth is a great place to live for our 54,000 residents and over 1.25m visitors a year.
This is finance with a difference
As our RFO, you’ll have responsibility for the Council’s financial health and sound financial management, including budget setting and monitoring, year-end accounts, audit, VAT, investments, procurement, debt management, insurance, internal controls, and risk management. But this role goes considerably further.
You’ll provide strategic financial advice to the Town Clerk, Councillors and the organisation, clerk the Finance and Governance Committee, oversee procurement and information governance, and lead or contribute to projects across the Council.
You’ll also line manage two of our five service managers, giving you the opportunity to shape services and support people to do their best work. Importantly, you’ll deputise for the Town Clerk when required, carrying out the statutory and delegated responsibilities of the Town Clerk in their absence.
In other words, this is a senior role for someone who wants to use their professional expertise to influence how a Council works, rather than simply manage a finance function.
Who are we looking for?
You’ll need substantial experience of budget preparation, monitoring and year-end closure, together with a strong understanding of local government finance, accounting, and audit.
We’re looking for someone who can take complex information, understand what really matters, and turn it into clear, accurate advice to support proper decision making.
You’ll be comfortable working with Councillors and understand the importance of political sensitivity, discretion and diplomacy. You’ll be able to build strong relationships with colleagues, Councillors, partners and the public, while remaining calm and constructive when things get challenging.
You’ll also need to be an experienced manager who can lead people well, take the initiative, solve problems, and get things done.
AAT, CCAB part-qualified or equivalent is essential. A relevant degree or professional qualification is desirable, as is CiLCA.

Experience of local government financial systems such as Gov Finance would be an advantage.
Why Weymouth?
We’re a Council with ambition, not only that but we’re a Council with an award winning beach! Each year we welcome over 1.25 million visitors to our town, and we have a key role in ensuring we remain a destination of choice.
We work closely with our communities, Dorset Council and local organisations to make Weymouth a great place to live, work, play and visit. We value commitment, innovation and challenge, and we’re proud of our reputation for doing things differently and continuing to improve.
If you’re looking for a role…