Head of Finance - Transactional Services and Systems
Permanent, Full Time
Up to £108,513 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 4th October 2026 (11:59pm)
The Role
This critical role leads the Payments, Income, Banking, Reporting &
Compliance and Adult Social Care financial assessment strategy ensuring
exemplary financial processes, compliance with all corporate requirements,
statutory reporting, and fiduciary duties. The Head must ensure front to end
processes are digitally optimised, benchmark with best in class and provide
the optimal customer experience.
This strategic leader will be an influencer, work with other senior leaders
and accountable for the relationship with key Cabinet Members to provide
assurance and drive value for Essex. You will be well networked, providing
insight and innovative service solutions, work with strategic and market
suppliers to optimise systems and processes that traverse front to end and
across ECC (notably Social Care, Finance & Procurement). The Social Care
Platform Programme (SCPP) is modernising the Council’s Social Care systems,
migrating data to new servers, improving workflow design, and delivering an
integrated finance solution. The leadership of the oversight of the finance
technology solution and planning and implementation for a new system is a
significant strategic responsibility and will require strong partnership
working within and outside of Essex.
Accountabilities
- The translation of system leadership thinking (typically annual
plans) to their area of work to deliver the political objectives
and priorities of the council and which will ensure that all risks
are actively managed.
- Working collaboratively across the Council and thinking technically
and operationally to support the delivery of best possible outcomes
for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
- Accountable for the development/delivery of the 'front to end'
financial strategy and business plan for Payments, Income and
Financial Assessments, including systems, processes, financial
compliance, reporting and performance data.
- Accountable for leading and motivating a large team to ensure
exemplary standards in the continuous improvement in financial
transactions, systems, processes and reduction of debt.
- Accountable for ensuring systems and processes maximise the
collection of all income and debt due to the Council, the
cost-effective payment to all providers/suppliers in accordance
with organisational expectations and financial regulations.
- Accountable for providing management information, data and insight
which ensures efficient payment of suppliers, maximises the
collection of all income, and empowers budget holders by improving
awareness and capability for financial systems and processes.
- Maintaining and nurturing collaborative relationships for the
Function with external organisations that support the delivery of
annual plans and develop a joint understanding of likely
longer-term developments.
- Identifying opportunities using evidence-based insight for the
improvement within their area of work, managing the changes so the
highest possible levels of service quality are continually
delivered.
- Implementing technical innovative solutions to emerging and complex
issues that meet the needs of customers and deliver the best
possible outcomes within agreed resources.
- Effective identification, use, and management of technologies and
innovation across the council and with stakeholders and partners.
- Ensuring that equality and diversity are celebrated and considered
as part of all decisions taken.
- Using professional expertise to develop and translate functional
strategies, goals and plans into prioritised and resourced work
plans that comply with relevant legislation and statutory
requirements (at an appropriate level of risk).
- Managing the delivery of exemplar customer interactions to
individuals and communities which support the management of strong
relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving
issues.
- Being both outwards and inwards facing to ensure ECC is always
making the most relevant and modern technical decisions.
- Maximising digital technologies and innovation across the council
and with stakeholders and partners.
- Using professional expertise to translate the vision and strategy
into strategies, goals and plans for the functional area.
- Being widely externally networked with fellow professionals,
partners, stakeholders, and communities outside the council to
evaluate and bring in and apply new practices.
- Overseeing service design recruitment, management, and development
of a strong community of practice.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Educated to RQF level 6 or possess equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and expert
knowledge in relevant professional areas, with chartered membership
of a relevant professional body.
- Comprehensive experience of complex financial systems development,
sourcing, implementation, and management.
- Knowledge and understanding of the Adult Social Care Act 2014
particularly in relation to Charging and Financial Assessments.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of strategic financial
management systems, processes, and frameworks in a public-sector
setting.
- Proven track record of strong delivery and performance focus in a
high-volume environment.
- Comprehensive experience of developing and managing financial
management systems, processes, and delivering improvements.
- Excellent leadership skills and behaviours with a proven track
record of forging a highly performing and motivated finance team
from diverse backgrounds.
- Engaging and working with senior leadership teams, providing
strategic financial systems and processes advice and critical
decision-making.
- Comprehensive experience of successfully leading and delivering
major cultural and organisational (transformational) change in a
large complex organisation which is rapidly progressing.
Assessment Process
An indicative timeline of the assessment process is:
-
First stage online interview - 15 October 2026.
-
Final in person interview at County Hall, Chelmsford - 26 October
2026.
Candidates will be required to complete a presentation
exercise, with the topic provided upon arrival, before
presenting to the interview panel.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will
be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In
addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution
priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral
Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what
this may mean for this role, on
our careers
site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re
committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our
Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.
Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments
during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care
leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are
applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive
many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and
flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly
ask that you embrace our code of conduct and
the Nolan
principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your
commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful
workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and
volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities,
blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council,
please join
The Essex Talent Community
If you have queries or require anything further, please email
Strategic.Resourcing@essex.gov.uk
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Further details can be found on
our careers
page.
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