Temporary Finance & Data Team Leader

Reference no: Haringey RQ818845

Pay rate: £18.91 per hour PAYE

Role Length:  This opening assignment is for 2-3 months

This role will play a key role in all aspects of financial management relating to the SEND service and play a critical role in providing key data to support service improvement. The role will require line management of up to six current staff in relation to Data, Performance and Support.

The SEND service is responsible for the administration and the resourcing of educational health and care plans. The Finance and Data Team Leader will play a vital role ensuring that the data across the SEND team is accurate for reporting to DfE/EFSA and in managing effective performance to create service improvement. Continuous liaising with schools and other providers will be a pivotal part in collecting this information. Strong engagement and the ability to influence stake holders will be key to this role. To play a key role in monitoring a large and complex High Needs Budget ensuring a high-level oversight to support the service deliver best value.

Key responsibilities:

• Responsibility for the day to day management of the EHCP performance reporting and budget. Acting as a liaison between internal and external stakeholders in relation to the funding of EHCP’s and performance in relation of statutory deadlines.
• Ensure that all work carried out within the area of responsibility is done so in accordance with the Authority’s required standards, standing orders, legal requirements, statutory Legislation and national and local objectives. Along with working within the guidelines and standards of the Department for Education.
• Ensure any amendments to agreed funding standards are reviewed in accordance with the Local Authority and Service requirements. All funding increases are to be reviewed, justified and appropriate Council approval given.
• Responsible for the day to day management for the High needs Funding Officer, Data Analyst and Business Support Officers within the Finance & Data SEND Support.
• Provide ad-hoc support to the service as required upon direction from Finance and Performance Manager/SEND Head of Service.
• Provide assistance through reporting and analysis to senior management. Produce a suite of KPI (key performance indicators) and populate data dashboard to support management oversight, this will be used to support internal performance management and to create reports of sufficient standard to external agencies including DfE and EFSA.
• Effectively monitor allocated work to the team, ensure that performance timescales are adhered to and that performance reports are produced on a regular basis.
• Identify areas of anticipated and actual under performance and work with colleagues within the service to agree specific improvement plans.
• Able to analyse and effectively use data and intelligence gathered, including Service User feedback, to shape and inform service delivery and make recommendations necessary to improve the service.
• Lead and assist on the delivery of responses to complaints, FOI Requests, Subject Access Requests and Enquiries from Members, MP’s and Local Residents in a timely manner within agreed timescales.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Experience & Knowledge:

• Experienced in identifying and implementing key solutions to improve the working partnership between the service and the finance counterparts. The analysis and breakdown of this will be completed within the service to report accurate review of performance, income, expenditure, forecasting and budgeting.
• Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
• Proven skills and ability of data and finance management in an education, social care and/or health care setting.
• Management knowledge and experience of one or more work processes associated with the operations of relevant service area(s).
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the legislative and contextual framework (Children and Families Act 2014; SEND Code of Practice 2015) affecting the work of the service, acquired through relevant qualification and experience.
• Knowledge of Local Government Finance regulations and systems.
• An ability and proven experience to work effectively and collaboratively with people services leads, and across agencies to develop a shared understanding of the importance of data to inform performance and financial management.
• Knowledge of meeting the needs of children and young people, in particular those children and young people deemed vulnerable, supported by relevant work experience.
• Knowledge and awareness of current relevant legislation, government policies and procedures and general direction of current government thinking.
• Knowledge and understanding of national and local processes for safeguarding children and young people.

Skills:

• Ability to deliver service plans and improvement, change management and integration.
• Ability to identify opportunities for cost saving, achieving value for money and ensuring that financial records and systems are maintained and processed and that budget allocations are appropriately controlled.
• Ability to use data and insight effectively to inform evidence-based recommendations.
• Ability to drive staff development/performance by setting clear measurable targets that are monitored through a robust performance management framework.
• Able to organise own work and the work of the team to maximise efficiency and productivity.
• Proficiency in the use and understanding of IT and Information Management and data protection legislation.
• Experience and ability to use a range of software’s in relation to the role including Microsoft Packages, Reporting Packages, SAP and Case Management Systems.
• Proven ability of communication skills, verbal and written, to high professional standard, adaptable to both internal and external stakeholders.
• An ability to rigorously adhere to quality assurance standards, including performance indicators, supervision, appraisal, and auditing.
• Proven experience and ability of working in a political environment and assisting in the development of positive partnerships with elected Members.
• Ability to provide and deliver reports and commentary to senior managers, Council committees, Boards and wider partnership reports.
• Articulate, with good verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience of managing budgets, delivering savings plans and ensuring that costs are contained within a budget.
• An enhanced skill in analysing and understanding detailed information, operating strategically and corporately, and being an appropriate representative for the service, for people who use these services and for the Council.
• An understanding of the SEND service and the key legislations around the process of EHCP’s, Annual Reviews, Payments, Income and Statutory Reporting.
• Strong IT skills using Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF.

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.