Royal Borough set to appoint new Executive Director of Resources and Chief Finance Officer

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This is a portrait photo of Elizabeth Griffiths

Elizabeth Griffiths is set to be appointed the new Executive Director of Resources and Chief Finance Officer at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.

Ms Griffiths, currently the Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at West Oxfordshire District Council, has been recommended by the Royal Borough’s Appointment Committee following a national search and rigorous recruitment process.

She is due to join the Royal Borough later this summer on a date to be confirmed, subject to confirmation of her appointment at an extraordinary meeting of Full Council on 27 June. 

In the role, Elizabeth will have overall responsibility for the council’s financial management, contributing to the authority’s strategic direction, as well as leading a directorate that also includes revenues, benefits, libraries, customer services, HR, corporate projects, IT, law and governance. 

A qualified accountant and project manager, Elizabeth also has significant experience in the private sector, working in companies ranging from small entrepreneurial start ups to international retailers. This includes managing renewable energy companies and delivering transformation projects in commercial environments and at Oxford University. 

More recently, Elizabeth has shifted her focus to roles that give back to the community, working for companies with charitable and social objectives, before moving into the public sector several years ago. 

Elizabeth said: “Every council is facing challenges and needs to adapt to meet them. The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead already has some exciting transformation initiatives underway and an excellent management team overseeing them.

“Everyone I've met so far has had a strong commitment to maintaining a positive, supportive and inclusive culture which makes it very welcoming and I feel both honoured and excited to be joining Stephen Evans and his team.”  

Councillor Lynne Jones, deputy council leader and Cabinet member for finance, who chaired the Appointment Committee, said: “Solid financial management is an important foundation of everything we seek to achieve as a council, and we are delighted to recommend Elizabeth to this key position.

“She is an impressive candidate and brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a finance and project management background spanning the public and private sectors, along with strong experience of senior leadership within local government.”

Stephen Evans, the Chief Executive, added: “Elizabeth’s professional expertise and financial stewardship are well suited to taking on this important senior role at the council. Elizabeth displayed a clear passion for public service during the recruitment process and came across as an engaging leader. I look forward to welcoming Elizabeth to the council, to help shape an exciting agenda for the Royal Borough.”

Ms Griffiths will take over in the permanent role previously held by Adele Taylor, who left the council in March 2023. Andrew Vallance, the council’s Head of Finance, continues to fulfil the statutory role of Chief Finance Officer (also known as Section 151 Officer) on an interim basis until Ms Griffiths starts.