Business Analyst – Shared Services at Essex County Council – Epping, Essex, England

Job Description

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Epping Forest District Council to recruit a Business Analyst on a temporary basis for an initial period of 6 months.

The role

Colchester City Council (CCC) and Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) are committed to creating a shared Finance function across the two councils. This will feature a Shared Finance Team, initially focussing on the Technical Accounting operations. A Shared Finance Team will enhance professional Finance capacity, competence, and efficiency, as well as increasing resilience and providing enhanced opportunities for staff development and job enrichment. It is also expected that the newly created function will enable the realisation of budget savings for both councils.

The wider Shared Services agreement also includes Braintree District Council (BDC) who are likewise committed to closer working and are keen to explore the available opportunities for shared working on its Finance functions, either partially or fully, in the future.

The project requires a Business Analyst to support the Share Service Director (Finance) in identifying options to develop and deliver a shared Finance function across Colchester City and Epping Forest District councils, and also to identify additional options for further shared working with Braintree District Council.

Key accountabilities

To deliver a Shared Finance Team across Colchester City and Epping Forest District councils and identify options for further shared working with Braintree District Council as part of the wider Shared Services Programme

Primarily to bring together two separate Finance Teams currently operating at the partner councils, with the initial primary focus being on combining Technical Accounting operations. Expected outcomes from the project include the following:

• A combined/shared Finance Team delivering the professional support service needs of Colchester City and Epping Forest District councils.
• A single team solution (CCC and EFDC) to the delivery of the councils’ Technical Accounting operations.
• A tailored solution (but with a common operating model) to the delivery of the councils’ (CCC and EFDC) Finance Business Partnering operations.
• The identification of additional options for further shared working with Braintree District Council.
• The delivery of sustainable financial savings.
• The elimination of duplication and other process waste.
• Common – resilient – working practices that are based on transparency, simplicity, best professional practice (including the requirements of the CIPFA Financial Management Code) and ‘lean systems thinking’.

The Business Analyst will be responsible for examining the detailed operations of the respective Finance Teams, working with the Shared Service Director (Finance) and other key stakeholders (including the Section 151 Officer at Braintree District Council) to help realise the benefits and outcomes of the project.

The Business Analyst role will include the following specific requirements:

• Identify, document, and illustrate current working practices (in detail) across all three partner councils.
• Identify synergies and opportunities to realise economies of scale.
• Identify opportunities to realise sustainable budget savings (including the potential for joint procurement)
• Identify areas of duplication, process waste and non-value adding activities.
• Seek opportunities to improve resilience and capacity.
• Constructively challenge (many long-established) ways of thinking and working
• Identify and pursue benchmarking opportunities with high performing sector comparators (including the private sector if appropriate).
• (Intelligently) utilise data and other empirical evidence to illustrate findings, conclusions, and arguments.
• Seek, record, and apply feedback from a range of service users (customers).
• Liaise and work effectively with ‘shared services colleagues’ (including the Project Manager and Business Analyst for the Shared Finance System project) and positively contribute to the smooth running and delivery of the wider Shared Services program.
• Demonstrate willingness, enthusiasm, flexibility, and genuine ambition for the future Shared Services Finance Team; and
• Anything else requested by the Shared Section 151 Officer or the Shared Service Director (Finance) to assist in the development and delivery of a high performing Shared Finance Team.

This is a hybrid role, and the Business Analyst will be required to attend meetings at Epping Civic Offices, Rowan House, Colchester and Causeway House, Braintree, as well as attending the offices and/or meeting colleagues regularly to help build relationships.

The Experience You Will Bring

•  Business Analysis Skills: Proficiency in analysing complex business processes, understanding organisational structures, and identifying areas for improvement.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential for documenting current processes, presenting findings, and making recommendations to stakeholders.
• Analytical Thinking: Capability to critically evaluate data, identify patterns, and draw meaningful insights to inform decision-making.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying problems, proposing solutions, and overcoming obstacles to achieve project goals.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Capacity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and shared services colleagues to achieve shared objectives.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, or for a full copy of the role profile, please email [email protected]