YNYCA - Finance Opportunities

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in learning more about the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (“the Combined Authority”) and these exciting opportunities.

As the first Director of Resources of the Combined Authority, I am proud to be at the forefront of an organisation which will bring positive and lasting change for the residents and business communities of our fantastic region. This is a very exciting time for York and North Yorkshire - we are at a pivotal point in our history, and these roles will appeal to ambitious and experienced leaders in finance who, like me, are eager to play a key role in making sure we forge a bright future and create a lasting legacy for York and North Yorkshire.

We are in the fortunate position of being able to capitalise on devolved funding from central government. It is now over 2 years since the Combined Authority was established and so we are now very well placed to develop our existing structure to meet our growing agenda and opportunities.

This is where you come in – the service is currently undergoing a period of transformation, and these new roles will form part of a talented team of inspirational leaders with the vision and ambition to help drive the change.

As the Assistant Director Finance (serving as Deputy Section 73 Officer), you will report to me as Director of Resources (Section 73 Officer). This is a highly visible and influential role which will involve close collaboration with the Mayor to provide strategic and executive leadership for the finance service within the Combined Authority and for the region as a whole. I am looking for an exceptional strategic leader who will see the importance of people, be ambitious in supporting their career development and act as a true role model in shaping and maintaining a positive culture for all. You will make a difference through process implementation and major projects, with the confidence to lead in a fast paced and ambitious environment.

As Head of Finance, you will lead and develop the finance function, blending the finances and resources necessary to achieve the Combined Authority's ambitious plans, making a substantial difference to the communities in our region. You will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, working on diverse projects and building a high-performing team. You will work to reporting deadlines, acting as a finance liaison and championing financial operations within the Combined Authority.

Finally, I am also looking for a Finance Business Partner due to the continued growth of the Combined Authority. This role will play a pivotal role in supporting the Combined Authority’s directorates and Programme Management teams by providing expert financial oversight and guidance. The role includes monitoring the financial performance of projects and programmes, developing financial plans budgets and costings, conducting financial due diligence on delivery partners, and assisting with financial forecasting and reforecasting.

These roles provide a fantastic opportunity to help lead this next phase of the York and North Yorkshire success story at a critical moment in it’s history. Opportunities to join an organisation during an exciting period of growth which enable you to make your mark and leave a legacy, will not come much better than this.

If you have the experience, passion and ambition to join us and help lead at this pivotal time in our history, then we would like to hear from you. In the meantime, following an initial conversation with one of my colleagues in the Resourcing Solutions team, we would be very happy to arrange a further conversation to discuss our exciting plans with you.

Assistant Director of Finance

Salary: £80,216 - £89,556 per annum, plus relocation support

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

We are looking for an experienced finance leader ready to shape the financial future of a growing Combined Authority. This is a unique opportunity to lead our Finance function, acting as Deputy Section 73 Officer, and play a pivotal role in delivering our regional ambitions.

As the Assistant Director of Finance, you will:

Lead the Finance Service – Reporting into the Director of Resources, oversee all aspects of financial management, including budget setting, monitoring, and year-end accounts across general budgets and emergency services.
Drive Strategic Financial Planning - Develop and implement medium-term financial plans, ensuring alignment with corporate strategies and statutory frameworks.
Champion Governance & Risk Management - Maintain robust financial controls, compliance, and risk management processes, future-proofing governance for new mayoral powers and strategic programmes.
Shape Finance Structures - Collaborate with policing and fire colleagues to design and implement integrated finance systems aligned with our Target Operating Model.
Enable Transformation - Support the Combined Authority’s devolution journey, including steps toward achieving “single settlement” funding.

Additional Key Responsibilities include:

Provide strategic financial advice to the Mayor, senior leadership, and elected members on major programmes and investments.
Lead the specification and transition of finance systems onto shared platforms with emergency services, ensuring efficiency and transparency.
Oversee procurement and contract management, embedding value-for-money principles across all services.
Develop and lead a high-performing finance team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Represent the Combined Authority in external forums, including government departments and regional partnerships.

The role requires proven leadership success in public sector finance and financial planning across complex organisations, with significant experience managing large, complex budgets and delivering savings. The successful candidate will be a CCAB/CIMA qualified accountant and have a track record of developing finance functions and raising organisational awareness of financial controls, skilled in preparing and presenting financial reports to boards, committees, and elected members.

For more details, please see the Job Description / Person Specification [doc 258kb].

Key Dates

Closing: 05/02/2026 at 12 noon
Shortlisting: 05/02/2026
Stage One Assessment Event: week commencing 09/02/2025 (Online)
Final Stage Assessment Event: week commencing 16/02/2025 (In person - Northallerton)

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Charlotte.Wilkinson@northyorks.gov.uk

Head of Finance

Salary: £71,425 - £80,216 per annum, plus relocation support

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced finance leader to take responsibility for the Combined Authority’s financial strategy and operations. This is a pivotal role that ensures robust financial planning, governance, and compliance to support informed decision-making and the effective delivery of regional priorities.

As Head of Finance, you will provide visionary financial leadership, developing and implementing medium and long-term financial plans aligned with organisational objectives and statutory requirements. You will oversee all aspects of financial governance, including budgeting, reporting, audit processes, and risk management, while advising senior leaders and elected members on the financial implications of investment proposals and funding strategies.

This role also involves leading and developing a best-in-class finance and corporate services function, ensuring the organisation is equipped to meet current and future challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Develop and deliver financial strategies and plans that align with organisational priorities and statutory obligations.
Provide expert advice on investment proposals, funding strategies, and risk management.
Represent the Combined Authority in high-level interactions with government, local authorities, and key stakeholders.

Operational Management

Oversee financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and final accounts.
Lead on project support including investment appraisals, financial modelling, and value-for-money reviews.
Ensure compliance with all statutory and legislative requirements.

Team Leadership

Inspire and manage a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer focus.
Take responsibility for recruitment, development, and performance management.

Systems & Process Development

Drive transformation through improved financial systems and processes.
Ensure robust performance management systems and disaster recovery arrangements.

Corporate Contribution

Act as a key member of the directorate management team, shaping strategic direction and delivering organisational objectives.
Promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity across all activities.

The role requires CCAB accountant (CIPFA preferred) with extensive senior leadership experience in financial management within large, complex organisations, ideally in the public sector. You will demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking, strong technical accounting skills, and a proven ability to develop and deliver financial strategies that ensure sustainability and compliance. Key strengths include stakeholder engagement, risk management, and the ability to lead organisational change. The role requires excellent communication and influencing skills, high-level analytical ability, and proficiency with financial systems such as Oracle and advanced Excel. A deep understanding of local government, devolution, and public sector finance regulations is essential, alongside a commitment to integrity, equality, and continuous improvement.

For more details, please see the Job Description / Person Specification [doc 264kb].

Key Dates

Closing: 23/02/26 at midnight
Shortlisting: 26/02/26
Stage One Assessment Event: 05/03/2026 (Online)
Final Stage Assessment Event: week commencing 09/03/2026 (in person - Northallerton)

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Charlotte.Wilkinson@northyorks.gov.uk

Finance Business Partner

Head of Assurance

The Combined Authority was launched as a new organisation in early 2024. It is a public sector employer with access to powers and funding to unlock transport and housing improvements, boost skills provision and help the economy transition to net zero for York and North Yorkshire. Making the most of the combined strengths of the city region and rural powerhouse, the Combined Authority is a long-term commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come. As one of only two combined authorities to incorporate partners in the form of Police, Fire and Crime and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, plans are in place to harness huge economic opportunity for the region and to raise the living standards for communities to enable the region to make a full contribution to the UK economy. There is a focus on delivery to put the York and North Yorkshire area on the map for regional and national success.

By working for us you will play a part in making positive changes, unlocking investment, supporting business and communities to thrive and creating new and better opportunities for people that live and work here.

Roles within the Combined Authority operate on a hybrid basis. While flexible working is supported, postholders will be expected to attend in-person meetings and partnership activities at our offices in Harrogate, Northallerton, and York, as required by the role and service.

The benefits of working for the Combined Authority include:

Generous leave entitlement, starting at 28 days plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rota for part time staff)
Flexible working practices including working from other locations and from home
Local government pension scheme
Commitment to staff development and continuous learning

York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Living and working in York

We are proud of York’s status as one of the safest and best cities to live in the UK, engaging our 202,000 residents and 7 million visitors to live healthier, happier independent lives.

We are a vibrant, digital city at the heart of Yorkshire - the best of tradition and the modern. With excellent connectivity by road and rail, the neighbouring towns and cities of Leeds, Hull and Harrogate are in easy reach. National Parks and areas of areas outstanding natural beauty are on our doorstep, with their quaint villages and market towns, whilst the Yorkshire coast provides a retreat ideal for sunny days.

We are known for our considerable assets – we have our internationally important heritage, with strong creative industries and a significant cultural offering. We have strengths as a science city, and our digital infrastructure recognises us as the UK’s first Gigabit City. We have a young and highly skilled workforce, and lay claim to world-leading universities and some of the highest performing schools and colleges in the country.

We are ambitious and aim to be a prosperous city for all - where local businesses can thrive and residents have good quality jobs, housing, opportunities and access to quality public services. We celebrate and champion the diversity of our population and encourage everyone to play an active role in the city, so that our vibrant economy and rich communities can make York the acclaimed city it is. We are one of the safest cities in the country and offer some of best available education.

A city of Sanctuary and Human Rights, our community is truly multicultural and diverse. We are the first city in the North of England to set the aspiration to make our city an anti- racist and inclusive one. We are committed to tackling discrimination in all aspects of services that the Council delivers, including public health, in order to have an impact and bring about positive change to our residents.

Our thriving retail and visitor economy welcomes millions of visitors every year. We have been recognised as the ‘foodie centre of the universe’ and our Christmas market is the best in the UK. Our many awards include Sunday Times best place to live, Conde Nast city of best architecture and in 2018 YouGov found that we are the nation’s favourite city. We are friendly, community-spirited, festive and summer-friendly – what’s not to like?

Find out more about working and living in the City of York here It's All York

Living and working in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is a thriving county that adapts to a changing world and remains a special place to live and work.

North Yorkshire's natural beauty is captured in its three areas of Outstanding Natural Parks, National Nature Reserves, stunning coastlines, scenic rural villages, vibrant cities and market towns. North Yorkshire really is a beautiful, thriving and special place to live and work, rich in heritage and culture.

North Yorkshire features significantly in the ten best places to live in the UK in Halifax Quality of Life Survey. The Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are highest in the UK by ranking local performance across a range of indicators. Local areas featured in the top ten included Richmond, Selby and Malton.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics bulletin positions North Yorkshire as the safest place in England with extremely low crime rates.

In addition, the county benefits from excellent road and rail links, with easy access via the east coast mainline, the A1(M) and A19. Leeds, York, Newcastle, Durham and Teesside are all easily commutable, and London and Edinburgh are just two hours away by train.

From its lively cities to pretty villages, rolling countryside and grand coastline, North Yorkshire has so much to offer including great employment opportunities for your family members, along with a higher proportion of schools which are good or outstanding compared to national figures.

You can find out more about what North Yorkshire has to offer on the No place like North Yorkshire website North Yorkshire - start planning your visit - VisitNorthYorkshire.com

For an informal confidential discussion about these opportunities please contact a member of the team at The Resourcing Solution.

Charlotte Wilkinson – Charlotte.Wilkinson@northyorks.gov.uk 07483 103 301 or;

Katherine Brioude – Katherine.Brioude@northyorks.gov.uk 07974 406 838

To apply please submit one Word document that details a comprehensive CV, including current salary, and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role.

Please clearly state which role you are applying for in the email header. If you wish to be considered for more than one role, please stipulate which roles when you apply - Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.

It is important that your written application fully addresses the experience criteria as detailed in the person specification.

You should include contact details for at least two referees, one of whom must be your current / most recent employer/engager. If you specifically do not wish referees to be approached without your permission, please indicate this.

We will remove your personal details from your application on receipt to enable anonymised shortlisting, therefore it is important that your application is made using one Word document. Please do not send PDF versions and please make it clear which role you are applying for.

Please ensure that you have included both your work and home telephone contact numbers and e-mail addresses where applicable.

We believe in the importance of inclusion, which is why we are always working towards being a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive employer.

These are politically restricted posts and will require police security vetting.

We will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers.

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

City Region and Rural Powerhouse

Explore Career Opportunities

About the roles

Salary: £80,216 - £89,556 per annum, plus relocation support

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

Key Dates

Salary: £71,425 - £80,216 per annum, plus relocation support

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

Key Dates

Salary: £48,227 - £52,414 per annum

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

Key Dates

Salary: £71,425 - £80,216 per annum, plus relocation support

Location: York & Northallerton / Hybrid

About the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

About York and North Yorkshire

Living and working in York

Living and working in North Yorkshire

Key Documents

Contact Us and Apply