Senior Finance Business Partner

Job responsibilities

REPORTING

• Lead the production of the Directorate/Division monthly management accounts using the general ledger system within the timescales determined by the Trust.
• Ensure that reports are of the highest quality by defining the quality assurance process and ensuring that key validations and reconciliations are completed.
• Ensure that financial records represent a true and fair view and meet financial timescales and requirements of the
• Trust's corporate reporting system, external statutory returns and accounts, accounting policies and legislation.
• Ensure that there is a rigorous process of the production of the final monthly positions and year-end forecasts to ensure that all financial forecasts are operationally owned and understood.
• The Senior Business Partner has responsibility for the agreement of the financial position and must ensure any risks are highlighted to the Deputy Director of Finance and their Directorate/Division Management team.
• Manage the Directorate/Divisions financial performance against agreed financial targets, using the most appropriate means available. Produce action plans to manage financial Performance/risks and ensure that these are followed through.
• Undertake comprehensive analytical review of monthly, quarterly, annual historical and forecast reporting to ensure the accuracy of information and highlight any key issues.
• Produce an executive reporting pack for Directorate/Division meetings and Trust Committees to ensure that the key financial issues are clearly and professionally presented with any risks & mitigations clearly explained.
• Work with the Income, Contracts and Information teams to develop activity and income information to support the delivery of activity and income targets.
• The Senior Business Partner will monitor the service provided by the division to other Trusts in accordance with the
• Service Level Agreements, and with the Contracts team, discuss and renegotiate these SLAs as necessary.
• Support the production of the statutory annual accounts including the provision of information and co-ordination of stock-takes across Directorates/Divisions.
• Develop internal trading mechanisms as required, which will support service line management arrangements.
• Ensure that all operational reporting policies and procedures are followed.
• Planning and co-ordinating work activities across the relevant clinical and non-clinical areas to provide financial advice to managers and to ensure the availability of relevant information to provide accurate forecasts of potential future activities.

FINANCE & BUSINESS PLANNING

• To lead the Planning process within the Directorates/Divisions, including the integration of activity, workforce, income and expenditure, cost improvement or savings plans, the production of capital plans and utilisation of Charitable Funds.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Directorate/Division management teams during the annual financial planning process including identifying and quantifying of Service Developments, Cost Pressures, Cost Improvement Programmes, and Capital Bids to support the annual objectives.
• Identify risks to the financial stability of the Directorate/Division and agree mitigation measures with the relevant clinical or non-clinical managers, ensuring that plans are regularly maintained to ensure financial viability is retained.
• Take responsibility for budget setting for the Directorate/Division, ensuring the involvement of Executive Directors, Clinical Directors, Group Managers and other key Specialty managers.
• To support the management team and Executive Directors in the identification, delivery and recording of cost improvement plans (CIP).
• Support the Deputy Director of Finance in driving forward the continued development of the finance function and organisational financial awareness in response to national policy drivers eg PbR, reference costing, interpreting financial and other legislation/policies for the Trust.
• Take responsibility for the financial assessment/viability of proposed Healthcare Provider Tenders and any Qualified Provider bids. Interpret and advise management teams and Executive Directors of the financial implications arising from such processes.

EXPERT ADVICE

• The post will provide expert advice and interpret any change in local or national policy to the Group.
• The post holder will ensure that the Trusts standing financial instructions and codes of procedures are adhered to at all times.
• The Senior Business Partner will provide Financial, Informatics and Performance advice that support the agreed strategic direction of the Directorate/Division, ensuring that resources are effectively utilised to enable the objectives to be met within available resources.
• The post holder, will ensure that each service group or specialty has fully integrated Service Line Reporting/Patient
• Level Costing reports as part of its financial suite of reports and that this is understood and utilised within the Directorate/Division as a key performance management and performance tool.

RESOURCE UTILISATION

• Provide support and advice to the Directorate/Division during the production of business cases. This will include the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques to improve decision making. The Senior Business Partner should advise on financial risks and be able to articulate both long and short term consequences to enable decision making.
• The Senior Business Partner should ensure that the Deputy Director of Finance is aware of financial consequences of business cases being approved or in the planning pipeline.
• Work with the Directorate/Division to ensure that benchmarking data provided from the Transformation Team/PMO is understood at an operational level, and utilise this information together with value for money audits, to ensure best practice and optimal utilisation of resources.
• Work with the Procurement team to negotiate external contracts with suppliers, including provision of financial advice on the outcome of tender evaluations.
• The post will provide strategic direction for maximising income levels and ensuring that funding sources from all appropriate external agencies is recovered.
• Work with operational managers to ensure that Service Level Agreements are in place for all services and that consistent costing methodology and documentation is used across all contracts.
• Work with the Contracts and Informatics teams to minimise income loss through poor data capture, incorrect coding or pricing and contractual penalties through effective reporting.

CLINICAL ENGAGEMENT

• Take responsibility to ensure that Clinicians within the Directorate/Division are fully involved in all aspects of financial management.
• Take responsibility to ensure that all staff are fully engaged in the process of change management, and in particular, that Clinicians are fully involved at the forefront of service improvement projects.
• Take responsibility to ensure that mechanisms are in place to discuss business development initiatives with Clinicians and to monitor the effectiveness of actions taken as a result of such discussions.
• Take responsibility to ensure that information is made available to Clinicians to enable them to play an active part in the development of the Group services.
• Build a strong relationship and maintain a visible presence within the Directorate/Division management team and with relevant clinicians.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• The post will manage and provide leadership and direction to the members of their finance team, providing strategic, financial and individual objectives to each member of staff.
• Line manage staff within their respective financial management teams, taking responsibility for recruitment and selection decisions, appraisal, performance management, sickness absence, planning, agreeing, delivery and monitoring of departmental workload.
• Developing the skills and competencies of finance staff through training and development activities, ensuring progress towards individual Personal Development Plans is maintained, reviewed and updated.
• Lead the development and maintenance of the Financial Management training programmes for clinicians and managers at all levels throughout the Trust. Actively contribute to content and running of sessions.
• Ensure they and their teams compliance with the Trusts statutory and mandatory training requirements.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

• Support the Directorate/Division in developing and maintaining processes that deliver the Trusts Financial Accounting objectives for:
• Accounts Payable, including compliance with the Public Sector Payment Policy.
• Accounts Receivable, including improved debt recovery.
• Treasury Management including improvement of the Trusts cash flow.
• Statutory Accounting including the production of the Annual Accounts and quarterly returns for Monitor.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• To ensure that the process of financial management takes into account the need to enhance the quality of care provided within the Trust.
• To constantly review, update and upgrade information systems for managing the financial and accounting processes with the finance department.
• To conduct complex audits designed to improve financial and accounting services.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Qualifications

Essential

• Hold a professional qualification (CCAB or CIMA)
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Evidence of post qualification education (MBA etc)

Other

Desirable

• Car driver and owner

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Relevant work experience for the role
• Experience of computerised accounting and financial systems.
• Advance experience of using Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Experience of investigation and analysis into financial issues, including evidence of detailed and precise report writing skills.
• Experience in translating complex data from various systems into a clear and comprehensive financial model.
• Business planning and capacity expertise linked to forecasting and budgeting
• Experience in the analysis, translation and communication of service line reporting/patient level costing system outputs to non-financial colleagues.
• Experience in using benchmarking information to identify performance or productivity benefits
• Evidence of extensive line management responsibilities, ensuring teams deliver to their maximum potential
• Experience in working with, influencing and building effective working relationships with staff at all levels across the Trust
• Knowledge of the rules surrounding confidentiality, information governance and the Data Protection Act
• Expert Theoretical and practical knowledge of the NHS accounting
• Demonstrable detailed knowledge of the NHS financial regime including the wider NHS policies and strategic direction
• Knowledge of the costing standards
• Knowledge of the national commissioning and contracting process
• Worked in a devolved Directorate/Divisional structure

Desirable

• A minimum of 5 years post qualification experience covering a full range of responsibilities of a senior financial professional.
• Advance experience of Databases
• Working with activity related waiting list information. o NHS capital planning/approval processes
• NHS capital planning/approval processes

Skills

Essential

• Microsoft Office
• Negotiating skills

Skills

Essential

• Presentation (written and verbal) of complex information
• Ability to manage highly complex, sensitive, contentious information and situations.
• Ability to concentrate on complex issues for prolonged periods.
• Able to solve complex, multidimensional issues
• Ability to work autonomously with the skills to make complex decisions independently where decisions are required urgently.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet objectives with conflicting deadlines
• Able to plan and prioritise work of self and others
• Proven ability to operate and think strategically, reflecting wider organisational priorities and performance

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Comfortable working with minimal supervision, whilst under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate in contentious or difficult situations
• Demonstrate evidence of delivery against challenging objectives
• Able to work flexibly, independently or as a member of a team to achieve organisational goals

Desirable

• Multi-disciplinary team working

Other

Essential

• Commitment to develop and train staff
• Evidence a commitment to personal development
• Attendance at some early evening meetings may be required.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).