<p>There has never been a more exciting time to join Wirral Council. We\'ve got ambitious targets to meet and to achieve everything we have promised to our residents, we need people who are ready to deliver the very best for our communities and show how they can #BeTheDifference. Our vision is to secure the best possible future for our residents, defined by the community prosperity we create and supported by our excellent people and services. If you strive to #BeTheDifference and want to be at the heart of our change and improvement journey, then this could be the perfect job for you. </p><p>About The Role<br>Wirral\'s SENDSTART team is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented SEND Data & Finance Officer to lead on the analysis, management and reporting of SEND finance and performance data. This role is essential to ensuring robust financial oversight and data integrity across Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes. </p><p>You will be responsible for maintaining and developing the SEND finance and pupil database, supporting budget monitoring, statutory returns and performance reporting. Working closely with commissioning, finance and casework colleagues, you\'ll help ensure the service meets its statutory duties and delivers high-quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND. </p><p>Key Responsibilities </p><ul><li>Design, maintain and optimise the SEND finance and pupil database as a strategic planning tool. </li><li>Monitor and report on financial commitments, including payments for out-of-authority placements and SEND provision in schools and colleges. </li><li>Prepare detailed reports for senior managers, including budget forecasts and performance analysis. </li><li>Support statutory returns such as SEN2 and the Alternative Provision Census. </li><li>Administer inter-authority payments and approve purchase orders for SEND placements and services. </li><li>Analyse SEND education performance data across all key stages, including benchmarking and post-16 destinations. </li><li>Ensure data quality through robust QA techniques and cross-referencing systems. </li><li>Contribute to inspections and service improvement initiatives through accurate data provision. </li> </ul><p>About You<br>You will bring: </p><ul><li>Proven experience in financial and data analysis, ideally within a local authority or education setting. </li><li>Strong IT skills, including proficiency in spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools (e.g. SQL, Power BI, Business Objects). </li><li>Experience in managing budgets and compiling statistical reports to support decision-making. </li><li>Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly to a range of audiences. </li><li>A proactive, organised approach with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet statutory deadlines. </li><li>Knowledge of SEND processes and funding mechanisms is desirable. </li> </ul><p>Why Join Us?<br>This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the continuous improvement of SEND services in Wirral. You\'ll be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team, helping to shape data-driven decisions that improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. </p><p>To apply or find out more, please contact Danielle Smith, SEND Manager, <br>If you are a Wirral resident, are unemployed or out of work, and require help with your application, please contact Involve Northwest\'s employment and skills team on or contact or </p><p>If you\'re already a Wirral Council employee, as part of our Talent Strategy, we\'re committed to strengthening opportunities for our people to learn, grow, progress and thrive. For many of you, this may be preparing and applying for your next role with us, and we\'re passionate about ensuring you feel supported throughout your internal recruitment experience. Please get in touch if you want to know more about some of the ways in which we could support you by emailing </p><p>Working at Wirral<br>You\'ll also want to know what it\'s like to work here so, as a start: </p><p>Our values are more than just pieces of paper on our walls We\'ve all played a role in developing these, so they reflect the immense pride we have in what we do, what matters to us, what inspires us and inform how we think, approach things and behave. </p><p>We believe in ensuring staff are well looked after, staff wellbeing is a priority for us. We\'re serious about recognising and rewarding people for the great things they do. You\'ll benefit from our track record of developing, growing and investing in our people. </p><p>We have a range of staff benefits including staff discounts, an excellent pension scheme which includes a generous employer contribution rate, immediate life cover and ill-health protection. We have a strong flexible working approach, hybrid working, family-friendly employment initiatives and an annual leave package starting with 28 days leave plus public holidays. </p><p>We have an inclusive, engaged culture, everyone has a voice, everyone is valued for their contribution and understands the role they play in delivering our strategic priorities. </p><p>Each voice is heard, each contribution valued. We embrace diversity in our workforce and recognise it is critical to our success. We support an inclusive culture that champions differences and nurtures a sense of belonging. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds, who share our values and our commitment to inclusion to apply for roles with us. </p><p>We want you to be your best at work, we create the conditions to help you thrive and we mirror this in our recruitment process. If you\'d like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process to make it barrier-free and as accessible as possible please contact </p><p>Please note that in accordance with the Council\'s policy, employees who are in a formal redeployment situation will be considered in the first instance for all vacancies. </p><p>It is Council policy not to re-appoint any employee who has left under the terms of the Council\'s Early Voluntary Retirement (EVR) scheme or who have left with a voluntary severance (VS) package, unless in exceptional circumstances. </p><p>Applications will be accepted until midnight on the closing date. </p><p>We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. </p><p>Applications can only be accepted through the Jobs page following registration. Forms received via the post will not be processed. </p><p>All applicants invited to interview must evidence their right to work in the UK. Details of required documents can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of the Jobs page. </p><p>The job description and other supporting documents will not be accessible once the vacancy closing date has passed so if a copy is required you should download it now. </p><p>We do not accept applications or CV\'s from recruitment agencies, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, any candidates submitted via a recruitment agency will not be considered for this role. </p><p>How To Apply<br>Please apply online by clicking the link below </p>