A council has been shortlisting applicants to fill a key £100,000 a-year role being vacated by its finance chief.

Conwy county council’s senior employment committee has been meeting today to assess five applicants seeking to replace retiring strategic director of finance and resources Andrew Kirkham, who is stepping down.

Mr Kirkham has been with the authority since Conwy county borough council came into being during the local government reorganisation of 1996.

Prior to that he worked for Colwyn borough council from 1987 up to the formation of the new council body, meaning he has devoted more than 33 years to local government in the area.

The salary scale for the successful applicant begins at £97,682, rising to £103,632 at the top of the range,  plus expenses and employee benefits – such as subsidised leisure membership and employee discounts on cinema, shopping and travel purchases.

The postholder could also be given relocation expenses, as well as other perks, including “a rapid access physiotherapy service” with specialist support for back and musculoskeletal problems.

They can also enjoy 33 days annual leave plus public holidays and the ability to bank up to eight days a year.

The new person’s areas of responsibility are vast and he, she or they must remain politically neutral. The areas are:

Head of corporate human resources

Head of IT and digital transformation

Head of audit and procurement

Corporate performance and improvement manager

Corporate modernisation manager

Local taxation manager

Income and reconciliation manager

Benefits manager assessments – customer services

Head of accountancy and exchequer

Principal accountant – education

The job description continues: “The Strategic Director will provide strategic leadership and have line management responsibility, including ongoing provision and development of services, in the following areas.”

Accountancy and exchequer

Revenues, benefits, and incomes

Accountancy (including revenue budgeting and final accounts and capital budgeting and final accounts)

Risk management and insurance

Creditor payments (including the construction industry tax deduction scheme and self-employed payments)

The pension scheme including the teachers’ pension scheme

Treasury management (including investments and borrowing for cash flow and capital purposes and investment for funds for which the council is the custodian)

Payroll (including car allowances, expenses, employee benefits, income tax, national insurance and all other deductions including the local government pension scheme)

Car leasing scheme

Tax matters including the council’s income tax and VAT

Council mortgage interest rate calculations

Audit and procurement

Improvement and development

Corporate  HR, including health and safety

IT

The postholder will be at the sharp end of managing the council’s budget of around £230m.

Later this month shortlisted candidates will go before the council’s strategic leadership team (SLT) and its senior employment committee before their final interview, then selection of the successful candidate by full council on or around March 4.