Head of Finance and Planning
| Posting date: | 23 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £51,655 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 August 2025 |
| Location: | Peterborough, Eastern England |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | JNCC Support Co |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 202536 |
Summary
We are seeking to appoint a Head of Finance & Planning to play a critical leadership role within our Finance, Planning & Governance team. Reporting to the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance, this postholder will take operational responsibility for the financial delivery of JNCC’s strategic and statutory objectives.
This is a pivotal role that supports the financial planning, management, reporting, control and procurement functions across JNCC. You will ensure robust financial systems, effective compliance with government guidance including Managing Public Money, and deliver timely, high-quality information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will work closely with the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance to deliver sustainable financial strategies and act as a key source of financial expertise across the organisation. This includes preparing the Annual Report and Accounts, managing in-year forecasts and reporting, contributing to audit processes, and supporting procurement oversight.
The postholder will also line-manage the Finance & Planning team and foster a culture of financial awareness and accountability across the organisation.
This is a broad role for an ambitious finance professional looking to extend or consolidate their technical skills while developing their financial leadership experience within a supportive and encouraging environment. We welcome applicants with more experience in one aspect of the role than others as flexibility, enthusiasm and a strong motivation to learn and develop are also essential attributes for candidates.
Post Duties
The post holder is a senior individual within the Finance & Planning team and plays a pivotal role in supporting the operational delivery of JNCC’s financial strategy. They will contribute to the strategic and day-to-day functions and ensure effective delivery of plans, underpinned by robust short- to medium-term financial objectives. Working with the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance, finance and procurement colleagues and other colleagues within the organisation, the post holder’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
• ensuring organisation-wide financial systems and processes are compliant with statutory responsibilities and the effective delivery of JNCC’s national remit as an Arm’s Length Body (ALB).
• developing strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), auditors, and other ALBs as required.
• contributing to the financial reporting and assurance processes, providing high-quality information to the Finance and Resources Director and other stakeholders, including committee papers, management reports and external returns.
• supporting the development and maintenance of JNCC’s financial plans, including in-year monitoring, forecasting, and medium-term financial strategy, under the direction of the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance.
• contributing to the development of systems and processes that support the wider organisation, including financial controls, procurement oversight, and financial risk management.
• providing technical financial advice in line with best practice, managing public money principles, and JNCC’s framework agreement with Defra.
• supporting the integrity of financial data, ensuring timely and accurate monthly reporting and overseeing the financial accounts production.
• building and maintaining positive and constructive relationships with internal stakeholders, including the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) with budgetary responsibility. They will contribute to a culture of financial awareness across the organisation through guidance and training.
• deputising for the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance where appropriate and providing line management to the Finance & Planning team, ensuring an effective and responsive finance function.
• supporting key tasks relating to monthly budget management, production of management accounts, audit support, preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), and related regulatory and policy compliance activities.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Organisation.
Technical
To be a successful candidate you will be/have:
• a qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA);
• strong technical finance skills, including knowledge of public sector financial management principles and processes as well International Financial Reporting Standards to oversee the preparation of accounts and other financial reports.
Experience (Responsibilities)
To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable experience of developing high performing finance teams
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record in working confidently across teams to develop effective and trusted working relationships and proven ability to constructively challenge and influence decision-making at senior levels
• Proven ability to analyse and interpret complex financial data and present it clearly to both finance and non-finance audiences
• Evidence of leading the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, controls, and reporting processes
• Demonstrated capability to plan and manage competing priorities across short, medium, and long-term timeframes
• Experience of preparing statutory accounts and liaising with auditors and external stakeholders
This is a pivotal role that supports the financial planning, management, reporting, control and procurement functions across JNCC. You will ensure robust financial systems, effective compliance with government guidance including Managing Public Money, and deliver timely, high-quality information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will work closely with the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance to deliver sustainable financial strategies and act as a key source of financial expertise across the organisation. This includes preparing the Annual Report and Accounts, managing in-year forecasts and reporting, contributing to audit processes, and supporting procurement oversight.
The postholder will also line-manage the Finance & Planning team and foster a culture of financial awareness and accountability across the organisation.
This is a broad role for an ambitious finance professional looking to extend or consolidate their technical skills while developing their financial leadership experience within a supportive and encouraging environment. We welcome applicants with more experience in one aspect of the role than others as flexibility, enthusiasm and a strong motivation to learn and develop are also essential attributes for candidates.
Post Duties
The post holder is a senior individual within the Finance & Planning team and plays a pivotal role in supporting the operational delivery of JNCC’s financial strategy. They will contribute to the strategic and day-to-day functions and ensure effective delivery of plans, underpinned by robust short- to medium-term financial objectives. Working with the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance, finance and procurement colleagues and other colleagues within the organisation, the post holder’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
• ensuring organisation-wide financial systems and processes are compliant with statutory responsibilities and the effective delivery of JNCC’s national remit as an Arm’s Length Body (ALB).
• developing strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), auditors, and other ALBs as required.
• contributing to the financial reporting and assurance processes, providing high-quality information to the Finance and Resources Director and other stakeholders, including committee papers, management reports and external returns.
• supporting the development and maintenance of JNCC’s financial plans, including in-year monitoring, forecasting, and medium-term financial strategy, under the direction of the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance.
• contributing to the development of systems and processes that support the wider organisation, including financial controls, procurement oversight, and financial risk management.
• providing technical financial advice in line with best practice, managing public money principles, and JNCC’s framework agreement with Defra.
• supporting the integrity of financial data, ensuring timely and accurate monthly reporting and overseeing the financial accounts production.
• building and maintaining positive and constructive relationships with internal stakeholders, including the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) with budgetary responsibility. They will contribute to a culture of financial awareness across the organisation through guidance and training.
• deputising for the Director of Finance, Planning & Governance where appropriate and providing line management to the Finance & Planning team, ensuring an effective and responsive finance function.
• supporting key tasks relating to monthly budget management, production of management accounts, audit support, preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), and related regulatory and policy compliance activities.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Organisation.
Technical
To be a successful candidate you will be/have:
• a qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA);
• strong technical finance skills, including knowledge of public sector financial management principles and processes as well International Financial Reporting Standards to oversee the preparation of accounts and other financial reports.
Experience (Responsibilities)
To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable experience of developing high performing finance teams
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record in working confidently across teams to develop effective and trusted working relationships and proven ability to constructively challenge and influence decision-making at senior levels
• Proven ability to analyse and interpret complex financial data and present it clearly to both finance and non-finance audiences
• Evidence of leading the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, controls, and reporting processes
• Demonstrated capability to plan and manage competing priorities across short, medium, and long-term timeframes
• Experience of preparing statutory accounts and liaising with auditors and external stakeholders
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