Job at a glance
As Finance Lead for the Combined Fire and Rescue Authority (CFRA) Theme, you will provide dedicated, specialist financial expertise to support Surrey Fire and Rescue Service through the financial requirements arising from Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (D&LGR). Working closely with the Assistant Chief Fire Officer, senior leaders, corporate colleagues and external partners, you will lead the CFRA finance-related elements of the transition from Surrey County Council (SCC).
You will help establish robust, legally compliant and operationally effective financial arrangements for the future authority, supporting strong governance, financial sustainability, statutory assurance, and service continuity. Day-to-Day Responsibilities You will lead and coordinate the CFRA finance-related workstream associated with the transition programme, helping to design and implement the future financial operating model.
This role will also lead the finance elements of devolution and local government reorganisation, overseeing financial disaggregation and helping to shape a financially sustainable future authority. It is responsible for establishing the organisation's financial governance, planning, management and control frameworks, including budgets, reserves, assets, liabilities and statutory Section 151 arrangements.
Working closely with procurement, audit and corporate support teams, the post ensures financial processes are successfully transitioned from Surrey County Council while maintaining compliance, managing risk and providing assurance that the new authority can meet its statutory financial responsibilities. Key Projects and Goals During this fixed-term appointment, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring the future Combined Fire and Rescue Authority is financially prepared to operate as an independent organisation from Vesting Day.
The role will focus on establishing a sustainable financial operating model, embedding robust governance, control and reporting arrangements, and progressing key financial planning activities, including budgeting, reserves, assets, liabilities, treasury management and precepting. Working through the transition from Surrey County Council, the postholder will identify and address financial risks, dependencies and gaps, while ensuring effective handover arrangements are in place to support the future Section 151 Officer and the authority's long term financial resilience., 1.
Please describe a complex financial transformation, disaggregation or organisational change programme in which you have held a senior role. What was your personal contribution, what challenges did you address and what outcomes did you achieve? 2. Please provide an example of how you have developed or strengthened a sustainable financial operating model, including its governance, controls and reporting arrangements, within local government or another complex public-sector organisation.
What approach did you take and what impact did your work have? 3. Please explain how your knowledge and experience of local government finance would enable you to establish the key financial arrangements required by a new standalone authority. Please use relevant examples covering areas such as budget setting and medium-term financial planning, reserves, assets and liabilities, treasury management, statutory reporting and precepting.
4. This role will require delivery at pace through professional leadership and influence, without direct line management responsibility. Please provide an example of how you have brought senior leaders, professional teams and partners together to deliver a time-critical and complex outcome. How did you manage competing priorities, communicate risks and secure the decisions required? Professionally qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) with substantial senior level finance experience in a large, complex organisation.
Extensive knowledge of local government finance, financial