Head of Finance & S151 Officer

Dartford Borough Council

Kent

  • Location Kent
  • Sector Local Government
  • Client Dartford Borough Council
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £93,554.50 (£81,873.20 salary + £5,733 Special Responsibility Allowance + £5,948.30 Car Allowance)
  • Reference GSe128411
  • Closing Date Sunday 18th January

Shaping Dartford’s financial future together

Dartford is a borough defined by stability, ambition, and innovation. We are proud of our strong financial foundations, our collaborative culture, and our commitment to delivering services that make a real difference to our residents. Finance is central to that mission, and we are now looking for a new Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer to lead one of the most critical areas of our organisation.

This is a role with real influence and opportunity. You will lead the Council’s financial strategy, ensuring resilience and sustainability while enabling transformation. Dartford’s financial position is exceptionally strong:

  • In 2024/25 we delivered a £500k surplus on a £26.6m budget.
  • Contributions to reserves increased to £11.1m, almost double the original budgeted figure.
  • Earmarked reserves now stand at £77.8m, providing a robust buffer for future challenges.
  • Debt remains low at £27m, liquidity is strong with £53m in cash equivalents, and our capital programme, £26.8m invested in 2024/25 with £12.67m committed for 2025/26 is fully funded from internal resources.

 

This financial strength means you can focus on strategic leadership, innovation, and transformation, not short-term fixes. You’ll advise on major regeneration projects, shape the financial narrative during funding reforms, and play a key role in preparing for Local Government Reorganisation.

The Role

As a member of the senior leadership team, you’ll work across the organisation and with elected members, providing clear, authoritative advice and ensuring robust governance. You’ll also represent Dartford in Kent-wide finance forums, influencing future structures and building strong partnerships.

We are proud of our financial resilience, but we know the challenges ahead, rising demand, inflationary pressures, and structural change. This role is central to meeting those challenges. We are looking for a leader who can combine technical excellence with strategic vision, who can simplify complexity, and who can inspire confidence across the organisation.

You’ll be working alongside a highly respected finance team with deep technical expertise; what we need now is someone who can lead, innovate, and connect, someone who can ensure finance is not just a control function but a driver of transformation and value.

About You

You’ll bring senior level local government finance experience, a CIPFA qualification (or equivalent), and a track record of delivering robust financial strategies. You’ll be politically astute, collaborative, and confident in challenging constructively. You’ll also be a skilled communicator who can make complex information clear and compelling.

Dartford is a borough that doesn’t stand still. We are ambitious for our residents and for our services. If you share that ambition and if you’re ready to lead one of the most important roles in our organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

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