HRA and Housing Finance Business Partner

Job Title: HRA and Housing Finance Business Partner

Service: Corporate Services

Responsible to: Strategic Finance Business Partner

Line Management Responsibility for: Finance Officer (TBC)

Contact with: Officers of all levels, external organisations and local authorities

Purpose of job: To lead on all aspects of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing financial management, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and compliance with statutory requirements. The postholder will be an effective communicator capable of building good working relationships with Heads of Service and other budget holders, members, Senior Leadership Board, finance committee and other stakeholders.

Budget responsibilities: None

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Responsibilities

• Manage HRA budget-setting and forecasting, ensuring accurate financial planning and risk management.
• Ensure effective monitoring of HRA finances, identifying risks early and implementing strategies to address them
• Manage the financial and business planning process for the HRA capital programme, ensuring effective financial control and reporting.
• Forecast and manage levels of HRA debt, working closely with the Treasury team.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the 30-year Housing Asset Management Plan, ensuring accountability and value for money
• Undertake the annual rent setting process
• Completion of statutory returns for the HRA.
• Provide regular updates, briefings and advice to the Senior Management Team, Cabinet, Portfolio Holders, Heads of Service and Budget Holders
• Act as the key liaison between the Council and its Arm’s Length Management Organisation, Colchester Borough Homes, on financial management and reporting matters.
• Work closely with the Finance Leadership Team and others in preparing for the impact of Local Government Reorganisation.
• Manage the team’s Human Resources in terms of performance, development, attendance and health and safety.
• Be responsible for the collection, maintenance and integrity of personal data ensuring confidentiality is maintained and data is processed in an accountable manner. Comply with our data protection policies and procedures to ensure we meet our legal responsibilities under data protection legislation. Ensure that the team/s you manage have an understanding of this legislation and meet compliance requirements.

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Person Specification

What we expect you to have:

• Be at least part qualified with a CCAB body and be actively studying towards the full qualification.
• Detailed knowledge and experience obtained within a similar role, preferably within the public sector.

What we hope that you have:

• Have experience in a similar role in another Local Authority

• Full membership by examination of a CCAB recognised body (eg CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA)

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Skills

Role-specific technical skills:

• Proven experience in finance role at this level
• Knowledge and awareness of issues affecting local government and wider public sector
• Ability to lead on preparation of complex budgets

Leadership/Management

• Have integrity
• Be able to inspire and motivate others
• Have organisational and political awareness
• Empower and enable staff

Impact and influence

• Be decisive
• Have business and financial acumen
• Develop team performance and motivate staff
• Deal with conflict
• Use appropriate management styles
• Be able to plan, monitor and prioritise change
• Understand risk management

Project Management

• Be able to plan, monitor and prioritise change
• Meet deadlines
• Be methodical and able to problem solve

IT Skills

• Microsoft Office365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Data Protection

• Up to date knowledge and understanding of the principles of data protection legislation to ensure compliance.