Deputy Finance Business Partner (Children and Young People)

Deputy Finance Business Partner — Location: Berkshire; Contract: Temporary (3 months); Salary: £769.54 per day umbrella / £676.79 PAYE Inclusive / £603.90 PAYE Exclusive; Start Date: ASAP; Contact: rachel.burgess@servicecare.org.uk

Service Care Solutions are recruiting on behalf of a local council in Berkshire for a Deputy Finance Business Partner to join the team on a temporary basis. The postholder will provide financial insight, analysis and advice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, budget monitoring, forecasting, and reporting activities across Children’s Services, ensuring robust financial management and statutory compliance.
• Act as the technical lead for Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding, including school funding formula development, DfE returns, and financial support to maintained schools.
• Provide strategic financial advice and challenge to senior leaders, supporting business planning, decision-making, risk management, and service transformation initiatives.
• Manage and develop a small finance team, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality financial support services and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Candidate Criteria

• Part or fully qualified CCAB/CIMA accountant with significant experience in local authority finance, particularly within education and children’s services.
• Strong technical knowledge of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), school funding regulations, local government accounting practices, and statutory DfE returns.
• Proven ability to analyse complex financial information, influence senior stakeholders, and provide commercially focused financial advice in a challenging environment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to strict deadlines.

Contact

Rachel Burgess, Service Care Solutions – 01772 208969 | rachel.burgess@servicecare.org.uk

#J-18808-Ljbffr…