Finance Business Partner (Headquarters, Chelmsford)

Location of Role: Chelmsford 

Advert Closing Date: 14/04/2025 

Starting Salary: £56,073.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)

Part/Full Time: Full Time 

Contract Type: Secondment/fixed-term 

Working Pattern: Mon-Fri 

Weekend/Evening Working: No 

Provide strategic professional advice and guidance covering all aspects of financial management to designated business areas and be a core part of the management decision-making team, using financial information to influence and shape outcomes, utilising effective communication and presentation skills to contribute effectively to the delivery of operational objectives in partnership with Chief Officers and senior management teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as principal advisor to Chief Officers and management teams within the business area on all matters relating to financial management; building strong relationships and working closely with Chief Officers and management teams to support their portfolio and guide them in effective financial management, including significant restructures and business change; simplify complex situations so management are able to easily understand the current situation and the consequences of alternate courses of actions.

• Influence, challenge and support management teams in identifying, managing and implementing change to improve financial performance and efficiency; advise on strategic financial development to enable the business to deliver its objectives; communicate findings, advice and options in an optimal way for both finance and non-finance professionals to support effective decision making.

• Consider and provide guidance on both the revenue and capital implications of any business cases, project related work or proposal for change, ensuring that outcomes are communicated and reported effectively. Act as an ambassador for Corporate Finance and drive the delivery of the financial management strategy within the business area to ensure a high performing finance service.

• Develop effective working relationships with other Finance Business Partners to ensure a joined-up service to Chief Officers and senior management teams; work on a rotational basis with other Business Partners at periodic intervals, engaging in new areas of work as and when required.

• Directly contribute to strategic management development, formulation of policy and business planning through the provision of advice and support in relation to resources, financial planning, reporting and control/audit issues, review and identify efficiency savings, develop innovative solutions to these issues ensuring statutory and financial regulations are complied with and accounting procedures are adhered to.

• Support the Chief Finance Officer of the Chief Constable, Head of Finance and Chief Officers in financial planning, reporting, performance monitoring by way of identification, development and review of proposals for growth and savings linked to the strategic aims of the force, through direct interaction with senior leaders and budget holders to contribute effectively to the force annual budget setting cycle and in-year monitoring of savings and investments.

• Attend strategic corporate meetings, policy group meetings and project boards, assist with corporate ad hoc projects which support operational efficiency and effectiveness and contributes to the force in achieving its strategic objectives and priorities.

• Apply professional expertise and strategic influence to take ownership and contribute to the in-year revenue and capital monitoring position for the force, ensuring that timely and accurate reports are produced and presented to Senior Leaders and Command Teams. Actively develop enhanced levels of management information in order to enable key stakeholders to fully comprehend the financial implications of decisions, ensuring that they protect the financial viability of the Force and demonstrate effective budgetary control.

• Provide financial advice and support to Chief Officers and senior management teams on contractual management, contractual negotiations and contractual variations for large scale complex projects including the 9- Force Athena contract.

Qualifications:

• CCAB level or equivalent professional body (Level 7 diploma and master's degree), representing a professionally qualified accountant.

• At least 1 year post-qualification experience supporting the delivery of the functional responsibilities of this role.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• A supportive and dynamic work environment

Join us and be a part of a dynamic team dedicated to excellence in financial management!

Essex Police offer agile working which allows some flexibility in terms of work arrangements.  In the event that home working is agreed for the successful candidate, there will be a requirement to regularly attend the contractual workplace, as agreed with the line manager.  The specific requirements of this role will be discussed during the interview stages with candidates. 

Essex Police offer incremental increases within this salary band, therefore the salary for this position will rise to a maximum of £59,634.00.

For the full job description please click here. 

Your application for this role will be shortlisted on the content you provide within the “reason for application” question, within the application form itself. CV’s, covering letters or attachments are not included in the shortlist. Within your “reason for application” answer, please refer to any experience, skills, and abilities you feel you have that will make you suitable for this role, based on the role criteria stated in the job advert or job description. Please provide as much detail as possible as insufficient content may mean you do not meet the shortlisting criteria, however please note this question is limited to 9000 characters and this system will count spaces and blank lines as characters. This count may differ from the Microsoft Word word count function therefore you may wish to use a different online character counter to check the characters used.

All of our posts require a level of vetting and security clearance.  During the recruitment process you will be sent vetting information forms to complete. 

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at recruitment.business.services@ecis.police.uk stating ‘Application Support and Adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833.

Where appropriate we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain.

If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.

Essex Police is a Disability Confident Leader, we:

• have subjected our Disability Confident self-assessment to external challenge and validation
• are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.