Location
Westminster, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£81,615 per annum

About the Role
The Finance Team at Westminster City Council is renowned for pioneering initiatives that deliver exceptional value and sustainability for our residents. A prime example is the award-winning King Street footway scheme, which achieved a 79% carbon saving by using zero and low carbon materials and equipment, setting a blueprint for future projects that have since reached up to 94% operational carbon savings. This innovative approach demonstrates our commitment to meeting the council’s net zero carbon targets through collaborative supplier partnerships.

As Strategic Finance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in delivering treasury management services across Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. You will lead the development, review, and implementation of Treasury Management and Annual Investment strategies and policies, ensuring compliance with relevant codes, guidance, and governance frameworks.

Your responsibilities will include providing strategic oversight of cash flow, liquidity, investment, and borrowing requirements, managing treasury risks, and overseeing investment counterparties and financial institutions. You will monitor financial markets, economic developments, and legislative changes to provide high-quality professional advice to senior colleagues, ensuring robust reporting of treasury activities and performance. You will also prepare reports for senior managers, audit committees, and other bodies.

In addition, you will support the governance of the three Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds, assisting with committee and local pension board reports, governance policies, regulatory compliance, Member training, and implementation of decisions. You will help implement LGPS investment pooling requirements and ensure effective monitoring of administering authority decisions.

As a professional leader, you will develop the capability, resilience, and succession planning of your team, fostering collaborative relationships across the three Councils and with external advisers, financial institutions, and professional bodies. You will champion efficient processes, appropriate technology use, and the highest standards of treasury management and pension fund governance.

Experience
Proven experience in a senior finance role within a large and complex organisation, preferably in local government or the wider public sector. Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality financial advice and support to key stakeholders, explaining complex issues clearly and supporting effective decision making. Strong knowledge of financial planning, financial management, corporate finance, and the local authority treasury framework.

About you
Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information, investment proposals, market data, and risk exposures. Strong strategic judgement and risk management capabilities. Exceptional interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with diverse colleagues and stakeholders. Proven track record in delivering complex projects and programmes to demanding deadlines. Highly developed writing skills for producing authoritative strategies, policies, committee reports, and briefings. Confident presentation and influencing skills to advise senior officers, elected Members, and challenge external advisers and financial institutions when appropriate. Inspirational leadership and management skills with strong organisational, project, and change management abilities. Ability to manage competing priorities, respond effectively to changing legislation and financial markets, and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications
CCAB, CFA, IMC, or an equivalent professional qualification is required.

Diversity and Inclusion
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We especially welcome applications from individuals from Global Majority backgrounds and will apply positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 where candidates of equal merit are identified.