Financial Improvement Manager in London - Cedar

Interim Finance Improvement Manager

Day rate: £500-£550 per day (Inside IR35)
Duration: 6 months
Location: Hybrid

We are seeking an Interim Finance Improvement Manager to lead the next phases of a complex service review within a local authority. This critical role will focus on redesigning services to improve efficiency, enhance financial sustainability, and ensure services deliver maximum impact for communities.

The Opportunity

You will lead two phases of an ongoing improvement programme, bringing together financial insight, strategic thinking, and operational collaboration. The role will combine hands-on financial analysis with high-level stakeholder engagement to drive meaningful change.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the financial workstream of a service review, ensuring strategic alignment and measurable outcomes.
• Develop comprehensive costing models that fully reflect direct, indirect, and overhead costs.
• Benchmark service performance internally and externally to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Undertake financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario planning to inform future delivery models.
• Conduct rigorous options appraisals to evaluate financial viability, risk, and value for money.
• Collaborate across departments to integrate financial insights into broader service redesigns.
• Ensure robust financial governance, data integrity, and transparent reporting.
• Present evidence-based recommendations to governance boards and senior leadership teams.

Essential Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with significant local government finance experience.
• Deep understanding of local government services, CIPFA frameworks, and public sector funding mechanisms.
• Advanced capability in financial modelling, scenario planning, and business case development.
• Proven track record of leading complex financial improvement or service redesign programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with political awareness and the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Confident communicator able to deliver impactful reports and presentations.

Desirable Experience

• Understanding of commercial strategy and income generation within the public sector.