Information from our Chief Executive
North Yorkshire Council is seeking an exceptional Corporate Director of Resources - Section 151 Officer to lead one of the most influential and high impact finance portfolios in local government today. This is a rare opportunity to steer a newly established unitary authority through a period of bold transformation delivering financial stewardship, strategic innovation, and long term sustainability for over 620,000 residents.
The post holder will be:
- influential - shaping strategy at scale
- transformational - leading financial modernisation
- purpose-driven - improving lives across communities
- ambitious - for leaders seeking a bigger stage and bigger impact across a wide portfolio of services
The current post holder, Gary Fielding, has been a great servant to North Yorkshire, has played an important role in getting the council to where it is today, not least in ensuring the financially sound position that the council has. As Gary returns to his home in Lancashire, I am excited to appoint a new Corporate Director of Resources at what is a great time to join us.
North Yorkshire Council is one of the UK’s most ambitious, forward thinking, and high-performing local authorities. Formed in 2023, we bring together eight former councils into a single, modern, resilient organisation that champions innovation, efficiency, and community impact. You will join the largest geographic council in the country and the third largest unitary, providing the opportunity to progress your career.
North Yorkshire Council has been named the third most productive local authority in the country by the IMPOWER Index, which measures the performance of councils based on outcomes delivered for every pound spent. The highest ranking in the North of England, the result is being seen as evidence that the move to create a single unitary authority for North Yorkshire is paying off.
As our Corporate Director of Resources, you will join me and the corporate leadership team in shaping a new era of excellence, delivering strong financial governance and customer quality and transforming enabling services at scale.
This is leadership with purpose.
This is finance with impact.
This is North Yorkshire.
Finance matters in North Yorkshire, it is in the DNA of our culture as a place and as an organisation. Finance is everyone’s business, and you will get drawn into all aspects of local government. An opportunity to really make a difference.
The council faces the same challenges as others in local government including diminishing finances against a backdrop of growing demand and complexity. However, we have a legacy of tackling savings early, prioritising investment in prevention and innovation to drive impact. Against our £1.5 billion turnover budget, the council need to save £40 million over the next couple of years. We have the plans in place to do this, and with your financial governance, we are confident that we will continue to be a financially stable organisation.
You will work at scale as the principal financial adviser for a £1.5 billion turnover, £650 million revenue and £750 million capital and our wider arm’s length organisations. You will lead a team to execute your role as treasurer of a £5 billion pension investment fund, one of the highest performing funds across the country.
In addition, you will lead a wider portfolio of enabling services including Customer, Revenues and Benefits, Procurement, Property and Commercial, and Technology and Digital. This will place you at the heart of our enabling services, influential across the council, the companies we own, our partners and wider region.
On arrival some of your early priorities will be to:
- drive forward the financial aspects of SEND reform
- strengthen our integrated approach to service, financial and transformational planning
- lead our strategic financial and council planning ahead of elections in 2027 to see us through the following four years and beyond
- realise the benefits of a new finance system and encourage the modernisation of enabling services
- drive the transformation of the strategic resources portfolio to deliver highly valued and best in class support to the council achieving customer excellence
This is not a ‘back office’ finance role. You will use your commercial acumen to identify the challenges to be faced early, and the opportunities to invest in for long term financial strength all the while being a true customer ambassador.
Why North Yorkshire?
Because here:
- your leadership truly matters
- you can make decisions that change lives
- you can build something lasting
We provide a solid base for you to build your career with:
- a high-performing authority including Children's Services assessed as Outstanding by Ofsted who share their practice nationally, Health and Adults Services that have one of the highest scores from recent Care Quality Commission inspections, plus many innovation awards for our technological advancements
- the stunning backdrop of North Yorkshire, one of the most desirable places in the country
- unparalleled quality of life in a county rich with culture, heritage and landscapes
- the chance to shape a new council your way in a place where money really matters to all
- an opportunity to operate at scale and depth across a varied portfolio of services beyond a typical finance role
You will be welcomed by a strong management board and political leadership, together with talented teams.
This role is an ideal platform for emerging finance leaders and those aspiring to be a future Chief Executive.
If you want scale, purpose and the opportunity to leave a legacy, we look forward to hearing from you.
Richard Flinton
Chief Executive
About the role
Title: Corporate Director of Resources - Section 151 Officer
Salary: £141,233 to £164,272 plus relocation
Location: Northallerton
North Yorkshire is a place of unparalleled natural beauty, thriving market towns, strong communities, and bold ambition. As England’s largest county, we are shaping an exciting future—one grounded in sustainability, innovation, and opportunity.
To deliver on this vision, we are seeking a Corporate Director of Resources - Section 151 Officer who can bring strategic insight, financial leadership, and a collaborative spirit to our corporate leadership team.
This is a role that demands strategic vision and exceptional financial acumen. As our Section 151 Officer, you will:
- lead the strategic financial planning and stewardship of one of the most significant local authority budgets in the country
- drive an ambitious transformation programme across finance, procurement, commercial services, property, digital, customer and wider resource enabling services
- provide authoritative advice to Members, the Chief Executive, and senior leaders
- champion evidence-based financial decision-making and long-term sustainability
- build a modern, high-performing resources directorate
- ensure strong governance while enabling innovation and improvement
You will shape not only our financial strategy, but our organisational culture—empowering teams, strengthening partnerships, and enabling the council to thrive. As Corporate Director of Resources - Section 151 Officer, you have a wider portfolio for enabling services that includes:
- Procurement, Property and Commercial Services
- Technology and Digital Solutions
- Customer, Revenues and Benefits
You will work closely with other enabling services to drive efficacy across all corporate services.
This is a politically restricted post.
About you
You are an influential, forward-thinking finance leader who can:
- provide strategic clarity in a complex, evolving environment
- build trust with Members, partners, and communities
- lead modernisation and digital enablement across finance services
- navigate uncertainty with confidence
- bring fresh thinking and a solutions-focused mindset
A qualified accountant (or related field) with significant senior leadership experience, you will thrive in an organisation committed to continuous improvement and positive impact. You will execute the statutory Section 151 duties with ease and have a track record in robust financial assurance.
Key documents
Job description and person specification (pdf / 275 KB)
Q3 - quarterly performance and budget monitoring report
Revenue budget for 2025/26 and medium term financial strategy 2026/27 to 2027/28 - executive summary
North Yorkshire council capital five year spending plan
Treasury management and capital strategy
Housing revenue account budget 2025/26 and medium-term financial plan
Our role, structure and objectives
Why work for us
We are a strong performing authority, with supportive political leadership and talented teams providing the platform to have a fulfilling, challenging and successful career in a truly stunning place.
A peer challenge found that the council is a good place to work, with strong leadership and a loyal and committed workforce who have access to well-regarded training and development.
We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice, offering a range of training and development opportunities and career progression allowing you to manage your own development journey and empowering you to control your career. Your career can change with your life here in North Yorkshire.
We positively encourage flexible working, and we provide you with the technology you need to work from a wide variety of locations.
We believe in the importance of inclusion, which is why we are always working towards being a more diverse, equitable and inclusive employer. Find out more about our equality, diversity and inclusion work on our working for us page. You can bring your whole self to work, and we will support you to be the best that you can be.
Our values, behaviours and ambitions underpin everything we do.
In addition to your salary, we have a range of great benefits to help you financially. These include:
- a local government, career average employer contribution pension scheme
- family friendly leave
- salary sacrifice schemes
- modern flexible working practices
- learning and development packages
- career advancement opportunities
- employee discount benefits including shopping and gym discounts
- green car and cycle schemes
- travel loans
You can find more information on the range of benefits we offer on our total rewards page.
You can also watch this video to find out about our employee networks.
Our relocation package
If you are considering relocating to North Yorkshire, we provide a comprehensive relocation benefits package. This features up to £8,000 to cover reasonable costs such as:
- removal expenses
- storage costs
- legal and estate agent fees
- travelling expenses
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 best places to live in the UK across all quality-of-life indicators and is 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, 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 Visit North Yorkshire website.
You can also watch this video to find out more about what North Yorkshire has to offer.
Key dates
Closing date: 21 April 2026
Assessment event: Monday 11 May 2026 in person at County Hall in Northallerton
Final interview: Friday 15 May 2026 in person at County Hall in Northallerton
How to apply
To apply, send us your CV and a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Do not send PDF's.
We will remove your personal details from your application to enable anonymised shortlisting. This is why it is important that you send your application as a single Microsoft Word document.
Make sure your application fully addresses the experience criteria in the person specification.
You must also include:
- your contact details including email address, telephone and address
- your full employment history including names of your employers and your job titles, dates of employment and salaries
- your full education history including your qualifications, grades and dates and places of study
- explanations for any gaps in your employment
- contact details for at least two referees including your current or most recent employer and whether you content to us contacting your referees before interview
- details of your current salary and notice period
Contact us
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, contact Penny Keatings on 07811 411462 or penny.keatings@northyorks.gov.uk.
You can also contact Sarah France-Gorton, Head of Resourcing Solutions on 01609 798106 or sarah.france-gorton@northyorks.gov.uk.
We believe in the importance of inclusion, which is why we are always working towards being a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive employer. You can find out more about our equality, diversity and inclusion work on our working for us page.
This is a politically restricted post.
We are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.