Finance Business Partner – Children & Education

Overview

In this role you provide strategic financial leadership for a circa £500m portfolio within Bristol City Council, guiding Children’s Social Care, SEND and education services. You will lead a high-performing finance team, partner with senior officers and elected members to ensure financial sustainability and service transformation. You’ll drive budget setting, planning, reporting and delivery of major change programmes, including the Stable Homes Programme and SEND initiatives. This is a mission-driven opportunity to shape outcomes for children and families in a complex public sector setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing finance team and act as trusted advisor to senior officers and elected members
• Oversee budget setting, financial planning and performance reporting for a £500m portfolio
• Drive delivery of complex change programmes (e.g., Stable Homes Programme, SEND transformation)
• Influence strategic decisions with strong commercial and analytical insights
• Ensure governance and financial controls across Children’s Social Care, SEND and education funding environments

Key requirements

• Significant experience leading finance teams in a complex organisation
• Strong finance business partnering with large-scale and complex budgets
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decisions
• Strong commercial and analytical skills balancing financial discipline with service outcomes
• Experience in children’s social care, SEND or education funding environments including familiarity with governance of the Dedicated Schools Grant
• Full CCAB qualification (essential)

• Stakeholder influence and relationship management
• Strategic thinking and political acumen
• Clear communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams
• Finance business partnering
• Budget planning and management
• Performance reporting and financial analysis

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