Job summary
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an experienced and credible senior finance leader to join us on a 12-month fixed-term or secondment basis as Interim Head of Financial Management, Income, Contracting & Costing.
This role provides additional senior leadership capacity and resilience, ensuring continuity of delivery across core financial management responsibilities while supporting an evolving financial and contracting environment shaped by national and system priorities.
The post holder will operate at a senior level within the Trust, working closely with the Director and Deputy Director of Finance, Business & Value, executive colleagues, clinicians and system partners to maintain financial grip, deliver key priorities, and support robust, evidence-based decision-making.
This opportunity will suit a senior NHS finance professional who is comfortable working at pace, bringing clarity, assurance and adaptability in complex settings.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will lead the Financial Management, Income, Contracting & Costing functions and will be accountable for:
- Providing high-quality, timely and insightful financial information to support executive, Board and system-level decision-making, including monthly management accounts and external reporting.
- Leading the coordination of the Trust's financial planning processes, including budget setting, forecasting, scenario analysis and longer-term financial modelling.
- Ensuring statutory and national financial returns are interpreted, prepared and submitted accurately and on time, in line with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
The ideal candidate
We are looking for a senior NHS finance leader who can quickly establish credibility and provide calm, assured leadership. You will bring:
- CCAB qualification and significant post-qualification experience in senior NHS finance roles.
- Strong expertise across financial management, planning, reporting and performance.
- Experience of leading teams through periods of pressure and change, maintaining grip and delivery.
- The ability to communicate complex financial issues clearly to a wide range of stakeholders.
- A pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset, with resilience, integrity and strong values.
Experience within mental health services and/or complex system environments would be advantageous.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 24/02/2026 and the proposed interview date is week commencing 02/03/2026.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to masters level or equivalent
- Postgraduate management qualification or equivalent
- CCAB qualified
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Desirable
- Evidence of strong and recent commitment to wider finance staff development (including Towards Excellence Accreditation)
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Specialist knowledge covering more than one discipline
- Thorough knowledge of the NHS financial and performance reporting regimes
Experience
Essential
- Experience of overseeing Trust-wide programmes / initiatives; leading successful change management / service redesign processes; leading cost improvement programmes
- Experience of providing advice to, and liaising with, managers / staff at all levels, including working with Executive Directors and Senior Clinicians
- Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional and organisational boundaries
- Experience of successfully managing central / clinical support services in a complex organisation
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS across different organisations e.g. Commissioning, Acute Trusts, Mental Health Trusts
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to masters level or equivalent
- Postgraduate management qualification or equivalent
- CCAB qualified
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Desirable
- Evidence of strong and recent commitment to wider finance staff development (including Towards Excellence Accreditation)
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Specialist knowledge covering more than one discipline
- Thorough knowledge of the NHS financial and performance reporting regimes
Experience
Essential
- Experience of overseeing Trust-wide programmes / initiatives; leading successful change management / service redesign processes; leading cost improvement programmes
- Experience of providing advice to, and liaising with, managers / staff at all levels, including working with Executive Directors and Senior Clinicians
- Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional and organisational boundaries
- Experience of successfully managing central / clinical support services in a complex organisation
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS across different organisations e.g. Commissioning, Acute Trusts, Mental Health Trusts
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
