Southend Council wants financial officer at up to £750-a-day

Southend Council wants a new interim deputy officer to report to the director of finance and resources for half a year.

The authority says there is an urgent requirement for the new line manager, who will handle the accounts and insurance for the council, help deliver the annual budget and train other staff and councillors to help with finances.

The job advert, which closed on Monday, highlighted a salary of between £500 and £750-a-day for the full-time position.

The advert comes after the council chose to reshuffle senior roles so that the responsibilities of two deputy chief executive roles be expanded to four positions in total - for growth and housing, neighbourhoods and environment, children and public health and adults and communities.

The council said this would see an investment of £370,000 per year to the borough by 2022 and reduce the need for interim staff, saving up to £125,000.

The advert was criticised by Southend resident Daryl Peagram on social media, saying the town is “falling apart at the seams” while the council spent money on more temporary staff and called for more money for the town centre.

Ian Gilbert, Labour leader of Southend Council, said: “This is a senior position with a high level of qualifications, professional accreditation, financial responsibility and managerial skills required in a large organisation.

“The amount being offered for the role is based on research for similar senior finance positions in comparably large organisations in the south east.

“It is critical that the council can attract candidates with the right skills and qualifications in this important leadership role until it can be permanently filled

“As the position is interim in nature, the day rate is higher than the full-time equivalent role... due to the lack of security offered with the role.”