Job Description
Job Title: / Director of Commercial Services and TransformationStrategic Team: / Joint Operations Team
Service:
Business Unit: / Commercial, Finance & Transformation
Responsible To: (day to day issues) / Chief Executive
Accountable To: (line manager) / Chief Executive
Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only)
JE Ref: / Know How Score 528
HAY57
1. Key Purpose of Job
1.1. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team provide strategic financial and commercial advice across the organisation to enable the Council’s operational activity to be delivered in sustainable and cost effective ways.
1.2. Overall responsibility for the function of the statutory role of Section151 Officer under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972.
1.3. To develop and lead the implementation of an innovative, growth focused commercial strategy to ensure that profitable business growth is accelerated and that commercial success is achieved in a way that secures the long term future of the Council’s finances.
1.4. To provide a strong financial challenge and direction to the contract management of the key significant contracts held by the Council.
1.5. To maintain a knowledge and understanding of national government policy as it emerges and to understand the implications for Torbay.
1.6. Responsible for driving improvements in financial management, operational excellence and compliance and organisational capability and growth through an aligned process, clear plans and policies and effective stakeholder engagement.
1.7. To provide a strong financial challenge and direction to the Council’s Transformation Programme, which includes the delivery of some shared services with other authorities.
1.8. Responsible for providing productive challenge, assurance and recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team and Members, ensuring the completeness and quality of financial management.
1.9. To ensure the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy, focussing on service prioritisation and sustainability, ensuring that it is aligned with other key plans and strategies of the Council.
1.10. To develop key relationships with other partners and stakeholders to secure the financial future of the authority e.g. neighbouring authorities, the LEP, LGA, etc.
1.11. Provide commercial guidance and support to Members, Directors and the Senior Leadership Team in translating their political objectives and priorities into coherent initiatives that will deliver their intended outcomes for Torbay
1.12. To be a member of the Council’s Senior Leadership Team providing strategic leadership to facilitate the best outcomes for Torbay by:
· Collaborating as SLT, within teams, across departments and with partners.
· Being future focused.
· Being adaptable.
· Putting people at the centre of everything we do – both our staff and customers.
To do this by:
· Working with members and overseeing the good governance of the council.
· Providing corporate direction and communicating this clearly.
· Confronting budget issues and challenging our performance.
· Supporting and challenging our colleagues in a safe environment to help tackle issues and develop opportunities.
· Getting the best out of our teams and individuals.
· Embedding our organisational values in everything we do.
2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post
2.1. Strong, visible leadership across the Council which builds a commercial culture of high performance, inspires people and supports the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives.
2.2. A culture of commercialism is embedded across the Council.
2.3. Strategies are in place which improves the Council’s overall position, including maximising partnership arrangements, external funding opportunities and income generation.
2.4. Effective Collaboration with operational teams and partners ensures compliant and effective financial and commercial services enabling the Council to deliver the agreed outcomes in the medium and long term.
2.5. Effective contract management of the Council’s key contracts, delivering outcomes whilst minimsing costs.
2.6. Strategies and plans which give a clear sense of direction and purpose for the Council.
2.7. The Transformation Programme is delivering its financial targets effectively.
3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post
3.1. Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times through the delivery of all Council services.
3.2. To deputise where necessary for the Chief Executive, in any of his functions.
3.3. To ensure compliance with the legislative and proper practice of the s151 officer including setting a robust budget, management of reserves, compliance with accounts and audit regulations, providing assurance to central government and external audits by certifying financial returns and financial reporting such as the statutory statement of accounts and the adherence to council financial regulations and the officer scheme of delegation.
3.4. Overall responsibility for a customer focused, consistent and pro-active Finance service ensuring that resource management and financial planning are at the heart of strategic decision making so that resources are aligned to priorities and support the long term financial sustainability of the Council. To lead the delivery of the Corporate Procurement Team and the Corporate Business Development and Administration Team.
3.5. Responsible for providing strategic input to the corporate budget planning processes, advising on the allocation and control of financial resources and maintaining overall responsibility for ensuring that revenue and capital budgets are produced to timescale.
3.6. To ensure that the financial affairs of the Council are in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and appropriate legislation.
3.7. To drive and support the business in meeting challenging budget reduction programmes.
3.8. Drive strong financial control and advocate financial priorities to the business through the provision of timely & relevant management information.
3.9. Ensure the provision of business modelling, analysis of financial risk and dynamic financial management information in support of Directors, and underpin strong financial performance.
3.10. Responsible for providing strategic and financial decision making support to budget holders in managing their income and expenditure, medium term financial plans and financial governance across the business.
3.11. Understand the value drivers of the business and identify profitable commercial opportunities to grow revenue.
3.12. Promote commercial awareness and assess the risks to the business of any new commercial opportunities.
3.13. Ensure market research and analysis is undertaken and to produce business plans/recommendations (including all associated costs and forecasted revenue for the business), to ensure that all business development opportunities are optimised.
3.14. Maintain an awareness of external factors in relation to commercial activities which impact the business and communicate such information and any subsequent changes to the Senior Leadership team.
3.15. Ensure that all commercial activities meet or improve on budget, cost, volume and efficiency targets such as Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in line with business objectives.
3.16. Represent the Council externally e.g. at networking events, conferences and exhibitions to enhance and strengthen the Council’s prolife and that of its services to optimise all business development opportunities.
3.17. Weigh up the priority and benefit of different actions and activities and advise on how to achieve cost-effective outcomes.
3.18. Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals.
3.19. Support and drive the Council in maximising impact for local residents and businesses through delivery of effective and efficient financial performance.
4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to make
4.1. Decisions on the implementation of key savings and transformation strategies.
4.2. Large scale investment decisions to secure good commercial returns for Torbay
4.3. Developing a medium term financial plan to secure the future of Torbay Council, including a detailed assessment of strategic alternatives for future structures.
5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post
5.1. Oversight of the whole of the Councils budget, including collection fund of circa £400 million.
6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide organisation structure as an appendices, showing official reporting lines
6.1. To undertake full line management of relevant Heads of Service.
6.2. This post may manage project teams as part of wider Transformation programmes. To assertively and continually challenge teams and managers to improve performance.
6.3. To establish annual objectives and ensure that these are cascaded to team members, monitoring their performance through the Council’s appraisal process.
7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post
7.1. Normal working environment and conditions
8. Physical Demands of the post
8.1. Normal physical effort.
9. Specific Resources used by the post
9.1. None.
10. Key Contacts and Relationships
10.1. External - Central Government, LGA, LEP, HMRC, Borrowing and Investment Counterparties, Other Local Authorities, Other public sector organisations and Bodies, Auditors – Devon Audit Partnership, Grant Thornton, Private and Voluntary organisations, employers and companies owned and controlled by Torbay Council or in which Torbay Council has an equity stake.
10.2. Internal - Elected Mayor, Other Elected Members, Chief Executive, Directors, Assistant Directors, Executive Heads, Management across the Council, Trades Unions, Employees at all levels across the Council
11. Other Duties
11.1. To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job
11.2. To undertake project improvement work that may include complex, innovative or novel initiatives, which may fall outside the normal area of work or expertise but would reasonably be commensurate with the level of seniority.
Other Information
a) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
e) This post is based at Town Hall but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
f) The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
g) If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
h) You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions
i) Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Note for CandidateAll Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Job Title: / Director of Commercial Services and Transformation / StrategicTeam / Joint Operations Team / Service: / Financial Services / Business Unit: / Financial Services
Essential Skills and Effectiveness: / Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:
1. Demonstrable financial strategic leadership skills, implementing and driving strategies and processes to ensure that budgets and financial targets are met.
2. Strong evidence of commercial acumen gained in a large diverse organisation.
3. Ability to motivate and demonstrate leadership, to influence and win the confidence of a wide cross sector of people within differing organisations.
4. Ability to monitor and evaluate services and practices to ensure agreed standards are maintained and intervene constructively where necessary.
5. Excellent analytical and performance management skills.
6. First class communication skills ensuring that the reputation of Torbay Council is promoted at every opportunity.
7. Able to think creatively and develop organisation wide innovation for the Council.
8. Ability to manage conflicting priorities.
9. Achievement and performance driven.
10. Ability to use judgement, tact and sensitivity.
11. High degree of personal integrity and political awareness and sensitivity.
12. Able to develop and negotiate challenging outcomes and goals, and make complex decisions based on facts and complete tasks to a high standard.
13. High level of financial acumen and ability to manage budgets and control costs.
14. Proven effective presentation and report writing skills.
Essential Knowledge: / Desirable Knowledge:
15. An understanding of how commercial acumen can be blended with public sector ethos
16. Broad knowledge of public sector services, the macro social and economic context within which local authorities work and the implications of this for delivery of Torbay Council’s aims.
17. Detailed knowledge of national and regional service priorities and the requirements for their local implementation in the context of the political and operational environment.
18. Excellent understanding of how best to achieve service outcomes with proven approaches to ensuring the correct approach is taken.
19. Understanding of wider local government issues and the political context and environment in which it operates.
20. Relevant legislation and wider issues in the context of the financial and political environment.
Essential Experience/Achievements: / Desirable Experience/Achievements:
21. Significant experience of successfully leading an annual budget process and closure of accounts.
22. Proven experience of successfully leading the delivery of strategic objectives and business plans.
23. Evidence of a successful commercial track record in a large, complex multi-disciplinary organisation.
24. Experience of developing and implementing new ways of delivering services and innovative working practice to succeed in achieving and maintaining service improvements and achieving best outcomes for service users.
25. Experience of successfully planning for and contributing to relevant audit and inspection processes.
26. Successful senior leadership role within a relevant organisation and working within partnership arrangements.
27. Proven experience of successful project/programme management.
28. Competence and confidence in working with elected members, regulators and partners. / 1. Private sector financial experience
2. Public sector financial experience and experience of undertaking the role of Statutory 151 Officer.
Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships: / Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
29. Fully qualified CCAB accountant and member of one of the major accounting bodies.
30. Relevant degree or equivalent by experience in an appropriate field.
31. Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership and business management. / 3. Management qualification or completion of a recognised management development/leadership programme
Essential – Other requirements of the job role
· Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people· Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties
· Ability to accommodate unsociable hours
· Ability to accommodate on-call working
· Ability to accommodate occasional home-working
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