Somerset Council’s Newly Appointed Chief Financial Officer Withdraws From Post
April 16, 2026 — Somerset Council has experienced a setback in its ongoing efforts to stabilise its financial management, with the recent withdrawal of its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Rachael Sanders, who stepped back from the role citing personal reasons. The position, which carries a salary of approximately £150,000 per year, was filled only weeks ago in March but now remains vacant once again.
The council has faced persistent challenges in recruiting a permanent CFO, a role crucial for overseeing the authority’s budget and managing its day-to-day spending on public services. In the interim, Somerset Council has relied on a series of temporary officers, with the latest interim CFO, Clive Heaphy, being paid around £7,000 a week. Following Sanders’ withdrawal, Heaphy will continue in his role until the end of March 2027 to ensure continuity through the council’s budget cycle.
Liberal Democrat council leader Bill Revans expressed his disappointment over Sanders’ decision but emphasised the broader shortage of qualified senior finance professionals. "There is a shortage of people to do this role all over the country, so lots of councils are struggling to recruit," Revans explained. He further outlined that the council had inherited a "really difficult situation" necessitating expert intervention to rescue Somerset from a declared financial emergency three years ago.
"The ability to solve an emergency takes expertise. If we have to buy in the expertise to solve that problem to make Somerset Council sustainable, that’s what we will do because, ultimately, the other choice is to go bankrupt," Revans stated.
The council is legally required to appoint a chief financial officer who carries the statutory responsibility for the authority’s financial oversight. For months, the extended reliance on interim officers has drawn criticism. Conservative opposition leader Councillor Diogo Rodrigues highlighted concerns about stability and costs, describing the situation as having "instability" at the council’s top and condemning the "extortionate amounts of money for temporary agency staff."
Rodrigues pointed out, "The current temporary finance officer is paid something like £7,000 a week. That’s a load more than we would be paying a permanent member of staff."
Despite these challenges, Revans remains hopeful about the council’s financial trajectory. He noted that Somerset Council is moving into a "recovery phase" after declaring the emergency status three years earlier, although he acknowledged the financial position remains fragile.
Somerset Council has confirmed that efforts are underway to recruit a permanent chief financial officer to provide stable leadership in financial matters moving forward.
Background
- Somerset Council declared a financial emergency three years ago due to budgetary challenges.
- The authority has since depended on interim CFOs, with associated high costs.
- Recruitment of a permanent CFO has been difficult, reflecting a nationwide shortage of finance professionals in the public sector.
For further updates on this story and other local news, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X, or submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. —
Reported by Daniel Mumby and Charlie Taylor for the Local Democracy Reporting Service, published on BBC News.