4 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

• The Interim Strategic Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive provides strategic leadership and assurance across the Council’s financial function, ensuring strong financial stewardship, governance, resilience and value for money.
  
• As the designated Section 151 Officer, the postholder is responsible for the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs, including its role as administering authority for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the Council’s finance function, ensuring sound financial management, governance and compliance.
  
• Lead financial policy, strategy and long‑term financial planning to support organisational priorities and service delivery.
  
• Develop and oversee the Medium‑Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for a large, complex authority.
  
• Fulfil all statutory duties of the Council’s Section 151 Officer, ensuring the proper administration of financial affairs in line with legislative and regulatory requirements.
  
• Provide advice and assurance to Members and senior officers on financial risks, controls and decision‑making.
  
• Oversee treasury management, internal audit and risk assurance functions.
  

Essential Experience Required

• Significant senior leadership experience within local government or a complex public sector organisation.
  
• Proven experience acting as, or operating at, Section 151 Officer level.
  
• Extensive experience developing and delivering a Medium‑Term Financial Strategy for a council with a gross budget exceeding £300m.
  

Essential Qualifications Required

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant with substantial post‑qualification experience (Essential).
  
• Strong working knowledge of the Local Government Act 1972, particularly Section 151 responsibilities.
  

Additional information to note

• Working Hours: 23 hours per week.
  
• County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD, United Kingdom
  
• Work pattern - Likely to be a weekly presence required onsite due to statutory Section 151 obligations
  
• Whilst some work will be able to be carried out remotely in an agile way, the nature of this role (Section 151) requires in person attendance at meetings here on the Isle of Wight so the successful candidate should expect to spend significant time here.
  
• We work on bi-weekly schedule.
  

The role closes on 8^th May 2026, apply ASAP.