Greenwich Council is set to recruit an interim Head of Procurement to oversee a crucial phase of its Financials System replacement project, aimed at modernising council operations and improving financial transparency. The council purchased a new financial system from TechnologyOne as part of a modernisation journey, reviewing systems and processes to ensure staff have the right tools to do their job without bureaucratic barriers, with value for money delivered.
The new platform will modernise how the council operates, moving to a 'user led' model, empowering decision-making for in-house accountancy teams and budget holders. The council anticipates a more user-friendly system with enhanced reporting capabilities and more consistent business processes, providing budget holders with instant access and a more transparent view of council finances, which will support overall financial strategies.
The General Purposes Committee convened on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, and agreed to a salary range of £96,049 - £107,175 for the interim position (Chief Officer Grade D). The estimated cost of the Head of Procurement (Chief Officer Grade D) is between £127,955 to £142,864, and the report states that budget has already been allocated to the P2P Stream Lead post to which the current Head of Procurement will transfer, and this will be fully funded within the Financial Replacements project budget.
The move comes as the council plans to replace its Financials System, with a key focus on implementing an automated Purchase to Pay (P2P) Business Process. According to the Public Reports Pack, the current Head of Procurement will transition to work on the project, leveraging her experience from a previous successful P2P implementation.
To ensure a smooth transition, the council aims to fill the substantive Head of Procurement role on an interim basis. The council intends to first look internally for a candidate. The Public Reports Pack states that the current Head of Procurement will provide mentoring to the successful candidate. The interim position is expected to last 12 months, coinciding with the P2P project's duration, after which the council will review the need for a permanent appointment. If an internal candidate is not found, the council will have to go external to find a suitable candidate with the associated delays arising from external recruitment, at a significantly higher cost and lose the opportunity to develop internal staff at a time when procurement is supporting the delivery of the MTFS.
The Public Reports Pack includes a job description for the Head of Procurement role, outlining responsibilities such as contributing to corporate management and ensuring value for money. The Head of Procurement is also expected to act as the strategic lead for legislative changes, including the Procurement Act 2023 and the NHS Provider Selection Regime, and all statutory requirements arising from these.
The General Purposes Committee, including Councillor Anthony Okereke (Leader of the Council), Councillor Leo Fletcher (Chair of Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel), Councillor Averil Lekau (Deputy Leader), and Councillor Matt Hartley (Leader of the Opposition), approved the recommendations outlined in the Report during the meeting. The Minutes of the Previous Meeting from June 25, 2025, were also agreed upon.
