Description

Director of Finance and Commercial Services

Thank you for your interest in joining Norwich City Services Ltd.

We are proud of what we deliver. Clean streets. Safe homes. Maintained Parks. Essential services that people rely on every day.

Now we are stepping into our next phase.

We are strengthening our financial resilience, sharpening our commercial edge and preparing for growth across a changing local government landscape. This appointment is central to that ambition.

About NCSL

NCSL delivers environmental and building maintenance services, We are a Local Authority Trading Company wholly owned company by Norwich City Council, operating with commercial discipline and public purpose.

We exist to deliver quality services, protect public value and create long term financial sustainability for our shareholder.

This is a senior executive role with real influence and real accountability.

The Role

As Executive Director of Finance and Commercial Services, reporting to the Managing Director, you will sit at the heart of strategy and delivery.

You will:

• Lead the financial strategy of the company, ensuring long term sustainability and resilience
• Own planning, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, balance sheet management and performance reporting
• Drive margin discipline and contract profitability across all service lines
• Lead commercial strategy including pricing, bid governance, procurement and contract management
• Maintain a trusted and transparent relationship with our shareholder, Norwich City Council
• Strengthen governance, internal controls, audit readiness and risk management frameworks
• Provide timely and high quality insight to the Board and Executive team to support informed decision making
• Lead and develop high performing finance and commercial teams
• Improve financial systems, reporting capability and performance intelligence
• Support organisational transformation and commercial growth beyond our core contracts

This is not a back-office finance role.

It is a strategic leadership position balancing control and ambition. Financial rigour and commercial growth. Public accountability and entrepreneurial thinking.

The Strategic Context

We are operating in a period of change.

Local Government Reorganisation, financial pressures across the public sector and rising service expectations demand stronger commercial thinking and sharper financial discipline.

Our objectives are clear:

• Deliver sustainable services with consistent margin performance
• Strengthen cash resilience and balance sheet health
• Grow our commercial portfolio responsibly
• Protect and enhance long term shareholder value

You will play a leading role in delivering against these priorities.

About You

You will be a professionally qualified accountant, CCAB, CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW.

More importantly, you will be a leader who combines technical excellence with strategic judgement.

You will bring:

• A strong track record of financial leadership at executive level
• Experience managing profit and loss, cash flow and balance sheet performance
• Proven ability to operate confidently at Board level
• Commercial acumen with experience in pricing, contracts and procurement
• Ability to initiate and deliver change
• Deep understanding of governance, risk and regulatory compliance
• Experience working in or alongside the public sector
• Knowledge of public procurement regulations
• The ability to balance financial control with commercial ambition
• A visible, values led leadership style

You will be comfortable in a delivery focused environment where accountability matters and performance is transparent.

You will understand that we are local people serving local communities. Public trust is not optional.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape the financial and commercial direction of a growing local authority trading company with strong foundations and clear ambition.

You will have:

• Direct influence over strategy and growth
• A close working relationship with the Managing Director, Board and Shareholder
• The opportunity to strengthen commercial performance at scale
• A platform to leave a lasting legacy

If you are ready to combine commercial discipline with public purpose, we would welcome a conversation.

Requirements

You will be a professionally qualified accountant, CCAB, CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW.

More importantly, you will be a leader who combines technical excellence with strategic judgement.

You will bring:

• A strong track record of financial leadership at executive level
• Experience managing profit and loss, cash flow and balance sheet performance
• Proven ability to operate confidently at Board level
• Commercial acumen with experience in pricing, contracts and procurement
• Ability to initiate and deliver change
• Deep understanding of governance, risk and regulatory compliance
• Experience working in or alongside the public sector
• Knowledge of public procurement regulations
• The ability to balance financial control with commercial ambition
• A visible, values led leadership style

You will be comfortable in a delivery focused environment where accountability matters and performance is transparent.

Please view our website for a full recruitment pack and details on how to apply.