Overview
Are you a finance professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, influencing change and making a real difference through your work? If so, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
About us
Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses.
We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
About the role
The Commissioning & Procurement Finance Lead role is a great opportunity to combine financial expertise, strategic insight and attention to process detail.
We're looking for someone who can see the bigger picture, join the dots across complex systems and partnerships, and translate that understanding into practical improvements that strengthen financial management and service delivery.
Based within the Commissioning and Procurement Hub, you'll play a key role in improving financial processes, supporting decision-making and ensuring robust financial governance and value for money across commissioned services.
As our Commissioning & Procurement Finance Lead, you'll be at the heart of driving financial excellence across the Commissioning and Procurement Hub.
This is a role where no two days are the same. One day you could be analysing complex financial data and market trends, and the next you could be collaborating with commissioning teams, finance colleagues and service providers to improve processes and solve challenges.
The focus of the role will be providing dedicated financial expertise across commissioning and placement activity, helping to strengthen financial governance and deliver value for money.
Working closely with commissioning, operational and finance colleagues, you'll undertake detailed financial analysis to review placement and provider costs, identify opportunities for efficiencies and support evidence-based decision-making.
You'll also lead work to help streamline provider payment arrangements to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Through this combination of detailed analytical work and system-wide improvement, you'll play an important role in delivering financial sustainability across commissioned services.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading complex financial analysis, modelling, benchmarking and reporting to support strategic decision-making.
- Developing and improving financial processes, policies and guidance that strengthen financial controls, risk management and efficiency across the Commissioning and Procurement Hub.
- Providing expert financial advice on complex commissioning, contracting and invoicing matters.
- Developing approaches that help commissioners assess provider financial sustainability and risk.
- Building strong working relationships with internal teams, partners and commissioned providers to drive collaborative solutions.
Any-Desk:
As an 'any-desk' worker, you'll need a desk, screen a keyboard to get your job done.
You'll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required.
You will required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.
About you
We're looking for someone who combines strong financial expertise with excellent relationship-building skills.
You'll be naturally curious, analytical and solution-focused, with the confidence to challenge existing ways of working and identify opportunities for improvement.
You will enjoy collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and be comfortable communicating complex financial information to both finance and non-finance audiences.
To be successful in this role, you'll bring significant experience gained within a large and complex organisation, alongside expert financial knowledge and a strong understanding of governance, risk and financial management practices.
You'll have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, experience of developing processes and driving improvements, and the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
A degree-level qualification (or equivalent) is essential, and a relevant professional qualification would be beneficial.
Experience within local government, health, social care, commissioning or procurement environments would be particularly valuable.
Other information
Closing date: Sunday 22nd November 2026
Interview Date: TBC
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.
Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
Our values
We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are - Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.