Senior Finance Analyst

• Location: Bury (remote)
• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: £450 per day umbrella

We are seeking a Senior Finance Analyst to join our Finance Business Partnering team. This role is crucial in supporting the organisation's financial management and compliance, ensuring effective financial performance and strategic advice. The successful candidate will play a key role in the discharge of the Director's Section 151 responsibilities, including statutory and regulatory reporting.

Day-to-Day of the Role:

• Provide strategic financial and commercial services across the organisation to support planning and operational activities.
• Build effective relationships with staff and stakeholders, enhancing financial acumen among budget holders.
• Support the Finance Business Partner in planning, forecasting, and monitoring services, incorporating demographic changes and budget reduction programs.
• Assist in the preparation of the council’s statutory accounts and ensure timely completion of all financial returns.
• Monitor and analyse the performance of budget holders, using analytical techniques to assess the impact of reports, policies, and procedures.
• Contribute to policy development and system improvements, ensuring alignment with IT and full functionality of financial systems.
• Prepare and analyse business cases for new activities, investment decisions, and decommissioning activities, setting appropriate financial targets.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Qualified or Part Qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or equivalent experience.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel for data analysis, financial modelling, and reporting.
• Experience in Housing Needs/Homelessness Services with an understanding of sector-specific financial challenges.
• Expertise in grant management, including tracking multiple grants and forecasting future funding.
• Experience with financial closedown and year-end processes, including handling accruals and prepayments.
• Strong presentation skills, confident in delivering financial monitoring updates to senior colleagues.
• Previous public sector/local authority experience is desirable.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and knowledge of financial compliance and reporting requirements for government grants.