Assistant Director of Finance
- Exeter, Devon
- Full Time
- £79,598 per annum
Fixed Term Contract – 12 Months
Shape the Financial Future of Devon
Devon County Council is seeking an exceptional senior finance leader to play a central role in safeguarding the Council’s financial resilience, statutory compliance and long-term sustainability.
As Assistant Director of Finance, you will play a central role in the Council’s corporate leadership, working closely with the wider accountancy teams to strengthen financial stewardship and support effective service delivery. You will help shape our medium- and long-term financial strategy, safeguard the integrity of statutory reporting, and provide authoritative, solutions focused advice to Members and senior officers. This role comes at a time of significant financial pressure and change across local government, offering the opportunity to influence critical decisions and help steer the organisation through an evolving and highly challenging fiscal landscape.
About the role
Reporting to the Director of Finance & Public Value (Section 151 Officer), and supporting the Deputy Director of Finance and Public Value (deputy Section 151 Officer), this role carries significant corporate responsibility and influence.
You will provide strategic leadership across the Council’s accountancy management teams while ensuring the authority remains compliant with statutory and professional standards and enabling informed, evidence-based decision-making.
Key elements of the role include:
- Working alongside the Deputy Director of Finance and Public Value
- Lead and coordinate monthly budget monitoring and reporting
- Developing key aspects of the Council’s Medium and Long-Term Financial Planning
- Lead service closure and supporting the production of the Statement of Accounts
- Providing authoritative advice to Members and senior officers
- Stewardship of complex financial relationships with external partners
- Leadership of large specialist finance teams
Why Devon?
Devon County Council is one of the largest and most complex local authorities in the country, managing a gross revenue budget of nearly £2 bn.
The scale, complexity and visibility of this role offer a level of professional challenge and influence that few finance positions can match. You will be part of a senior leadership community committed to transparency, strong governance and long-term financial stewardship in the public interest.
The successful candidate will help drive forward the next stage of our learning and improvement journey following the implementation of our new finance system. You will join a high‑performing, forward‑looking service recognised nationally as a MJ Awards Finance Team of the Year finalist (outcome pending) and a Public Finance Awards Digital Finance Team of the Year finalist. This is an exciting opportunity to shape modern, insight‑driven financial management, support continued transformation, and play a pivotal role in strengthening our culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Devon County Council is a CIPFA platinum accredited employer, an ACCA approved employer and CIMA premier partner. We are committed to supporting our teams professional studies and continuing professional development. Offering a great team spirit and culture within a challenging but genuinely supportive and collaborative environment.
About you
You will be a fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with substantial experience operating at a senior level within local government or a similarly complex public sector environment with a passion to support financial change and innovation.
For an informal conversation about this role please contact Matthew Thorpe matthew.thorpe@devon.gov.uk or Kathryn Long kathryn.long@devon.gov.uk
How to apply
Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Please click Apply Now to see the Job Description.
- DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
- For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
- We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Reference: REQ009349