Finance Overview
Matthew Warren
Chair
Matthew began his professional career with Cambridgeshire County Council, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2000 and joining Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) as Head of Finance in 2004. Matthew has played an integral part of the leadership team for the past 15 years including as Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive. Throughout this period Matthew’s key focus has been driving cultural and organisational change. Under Matthew’s guidance, CFRS gained an “Outstanding” for how it uses its resources in our 2023 HMICFRS inspection.
In his personal life, Matthew is a dedicated family man and a keen supporter of football. He has harnessed his passion for football to support young adults in his community by coaching his local football team for the last 12 years. He is also a lifelong Luton Town supporter, a condition endured by his wife Suzi and his three children Katie, Thomas and Poppy.
Matthew was appointed as the new Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive for CFRS in July 2024 and is the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) lead for Finance.
The work of the committee
The Finance Coordination Committee seeks to develop the direction of Fire Service funding.
Technically qualified support will be provided by nominated senior finance officers providing a direct interface into the Fire Finance Network and the qualified leadership to support effective advocacy in forums such as NFCC.
Scope
- Provide effective strategic Fire Service leadership for the development of fire funding and fire related investments across all Fire Service governance arrangements.
- Provide effective strategic Fire Service leadership to assure and advise NFCC Coordination Committees and programmes on finance and commercial considerations.
- Provide effective strategic Fire Service leadership for change programmes in the Fire Service relating to finance.
- Provide direction and support to the Fire Finance Network and technical officers in support of the NFCC
- Provide effective strategic and technical Fire Service leadership concerning financial rules, procurement, charges, pensions, taxation and VAT.
- To support the professional development of Fire financial leaders.
- To support the professional development on finance of non-finance leaders.
Priorities for the NFCC Finance Committee:
Future funding basis for the Fire Service, including;
- negotiating a fair deal for the FRS
- evaluating the risks associated with funding options
- consider appropriate funding mechanisms across the FRS
- making recommendations to NFCC and HO
Securing future capital funding, including:
- negotiating access to capital funding for the FRS
- understanding the capital funding requirements across the FRS
- identifying options and criteria to use capital funding
Funding for national programmes and associated risks, including:
- understanding financial risks from national programmes
- developing options to sustain funding for national programmes
- making recommendations to NFCC and HO
Accessibility of transformational funding, including:
- negotiating access to transitional funding for the NFCC
- identifying criteria and options for transitional funding
- making recommendations to NFCC and HO
Work Streams
- Future funding basis for the Fire Service
- Securing future capital funding
- Funding for national programmes and associated risks
- Accessibility of transformational funding
