News / Council seeking permanent chief bean-counter
SHETLAND Islands Council is advertising for a permanent new head of finance, with the post commanding a salary in excess of £70,000 a year.
After previous finance boss James Gray left the local authority in 2014, an arrangement was put in place with Aberdeen City Council for a year whereby staff from its finance department were seconded to Shetland.
That has seen Steve Whyte serve as senior financial officer in a dual role with both local authorities, while Jonathan Belford has effectively been running the SIC’s finance department’s day-to-day affairs.
The arrangement with Aberdeen has been temporarily extended while the post – banded at between £71,169 and £74,738 a year – is being advertised. The closing date for applicants is Monday (18 January).
SIC corporate services director Christine Ferguson said: “The arrangement with Aberdeen City Council was for a year, which has now come to an end. We’re now seeking to recruit to the post on a permanent basis, and in the meantime the arrangement with Aberdeen City has been extended.”
Gray left the council to much acclaim from elected members in late 2014 after playing a major part in getting the SIC’s finances back on track following a string of scathing reports from finance watchdog Audit Scotland.
Since then the finance chief’s role has reverted to the lower-key profile that might be expected for a local government accountant.
The local authority is due to set its 2016/17 budget on 10 February. In Scottish finance secretary John Swinney’s pre-Christmas local government funding announcement, the SIC learned it would have to find a further £3 million in spending cuts.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 630 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.