The service is led by the Assistant Director Finance who, as section 151 officer, is responsible for assuring the proper administration of the Council's financial affairs and providing an effective Internal Audit Service.   Finance's key functions are to provide leadership and direction to the County in the use of financial resources and financial and management controls and ensure that decisions are well informed with regard to value for money, financial risks and accountability, and to manage the pension fund.

The role of Finance is to:

  • Prepare and monitor revenue budgets
  • Prepare the medium term financial strategy including revenue, capital, treasury management and risk management.
  • Produce financial statements including the annual Statement of Accounts
  • Provide professional and technical advice and support for all services
  • Maintain, renew and control the Council's financial systems
  • Manage and monitor the Council's main control, suspense and bank accounts
  • Manage the Council's VAT responsibilities, including liaison with Customs and Excise and provision of tax advice and training for all services
  • Ensure there is effective finance input to support strategic planning and option appraisals
  • Evaluate partnership risks in supporting partnership working
  • Provide effective management of the County Council's pension scheme
  • Provide training on a range of financial issues across the Council and with partners                        

Accountancy

Accountancy team provides support to front line Council services through a mixture of technical, operational and professional advice. This supports services to effectively manage budgets, make effective decisions, develop strategic and operational change projects and ensure financial systems and accounting information is robust and effective. It provides the following functions in helping the Council to deliver high quality services

  • Prepare and monitor revenue budgets

  • Produce financial statements including the annual Statement of Accounts

  • Strategic planning involving preparation of the medium term financial plan and annual revenue and capital budget

  • In year monitoring of the capital programme

  • Technical financial advice on projects and programmes across the Council

  • Maintain, renew and control the Council's financial systems

  • Manage and monitor the Council's main control, suspense and bank accounts

  • Manage the Council's VAT responsibilities, including liaison with Customs and Excise and provision of tax advice and training for all services

  • Provide training on a range of financial issues across the Council and with partners

Paul Turney is the Interim Senior Manager - Accountancy (Deputy s151 Officer)

Telephone - 01228 221514

Internal Audit

Internal audit provides the council with independent assurance over its arrangements for governance, risk management and internal control.  The programme of internal audit work is set out within an annual risk-based internal audit plan which is approved and monitored by the Audit and Assurance Committee.  The purpose of internal audit's work is to provide an annual opinion to senior management and elected Members over the areas considered to be of highest risk to the Council.

Internal audit adds value by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal control processes.

Richard McGahon is the Group Audit Manager

Telephone - 01228 226261

Technical Finance

Technical finance provides support to front-line Council services through a mixture of strategic, professional and technical advice alongside the delivery of operational accounting and finance services.

Technical Finance provides the following functions in helping the Council to deliver high quality services:-

  • Strategic planning involving preparation of the treasury management strategy
  • In year monitoring of the treasury management function
  • Insurance services
  • Management of the Cumbrian Local Government Pension Scheme (net assets of over £1.4 billion)
  • Treasury and banking services

Alison Clark is the Senior Manager - Pensions and Financial Services

Telephone: 01228 226272 

The above functions are overseen by Julie Crellin (Director Finance), Section 151 Officer.

Contact address: Cumbria House, 107-117 Botchergate, Carlisle, CA1 1RZ.

Telephone: 01228 606060