Service Description: The Financial Management function provides a comprehensive range of financial and business support, services and advice to committees and directorates of the Council. We provide strategic support to service areas to deliver the Council's key priorities through effective budget management, medium term financial planning and an affordable capital strategy. We ensure compliance with external financial management and accounting standards including International Financial Reporting Standards. Treasury Management functions and Pension fund management requirements. We also work with the Resident Information and Consultation team to deliver an effective budget consultation process for residents, staff, partners and other stakeholders. The Business Effectiveness Unit within Financial Management, was formed in 2011 to bring together a number of corporate business management functions across the authority. The team brings leads on a range of disciplines and actively supports services in their application of Business Intelligence, Performance Management, Programme and Project Management, Risk Management, Value for Money, Business Planning and Data Quality. In addition, the unit provides reporting at a strategic level to Members and senior management in respect of the corporate priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan. The management of the council's internal audit contract is also managed from the unit.
Also known as:- Accountancy, Accounts, audit, Budget, Charges, effectiveness, Fees, performance, planning, risk, Treasury
Answer: Despite the fact the Council is obliged to provide a considerable number of services as a result of legislation, we are fully committed to consulting the local community about the Council’s budget to ensure that community views on provision of services have been taken into account. For each budget a combination of measures are used to identify priorities for the forthcoming year:- • consultations on individual service areas may take place separately to the overall budget consultation but will be considered as part of the decision making • an on-line budget simulator is used to gain more detailed feedback on priorities • a universal workshop is held with a range of stakeholder groups. The feedback gathered from these exercises and other sources informs the final decisions around the future years budget and levels of service provision.