Finance Business Partner

Job responsibilities

Working to the Head of Management Accounts the main responsibilities of the role are:-

Supporting Directorates

To co-ordinate the provision of confidential, sensitive and specialist financial advice and support to the Directorates to ensure that they meet the targets set by the Trust Board, and the wider ICS, particularly, those relating to containing expenditure within budget, maximising efficiency and meeting patient activity targets from available resources.

To support Directorate performance, through raising awareness of issues and contributing to solutions, to help ensure that Directorate targets are achieved.

To be responsible for the oversight, co-ordination, production and distribution of accurate and timely monthly budget reports, including the review of forecasts for Directorates. To engage the service in this process in order to highlight early changes or issues in service provision.

To prepare and review comprehensive, formal financial reports for submission by the Head of Management Accounts to the Trust Board, ICS, NHS England and Directorate Management Teams on a monthly basis.

Strategic Planning

To support the Directorate team with developing strategic plans and operational changes, to optimise performance. This will include providing advice on efficiency savings, innovations, and service development opportunities. The finance business partner will be essential in analysing and evaluating proposals, and where appropriate the development of business cases.

With support from the Head of Management Accounts, lead the annual financial planning process for the clinical & or corporate areas that you have responsibility for including identifying, coordinating and quantifying service developments, cost pressures, cost improvements and capital bids to support the annual objectives. This should take into account the NHS Long Term plan, relevant national service guidance, the wider organisation and its position within the ICS geography.

Provide support to the Head of Management Accounts and Contracting team to facilitate the Trusts annual budget setting processes within the relevant Directorates. This is to ensure that the budgets reflect the current years Financial Plan approved by the Board.

Other Financial Responsibilities

Support the production of business cases within the clinical or corporate area, including the financial analysis. This will include a review of highly complex data from a variety of sources and the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques, where applicable. Ensure that the relevant financial information, particularly with regard to capital expenditure, recurrent and non-recurrent revenue expenditure and anticipated savings, are included within every Business Case developed by the Directorates. To provide continued support to the Head of Management Accounts in monitoring financial consequences of approved bids.

Responsible for the preparation of the Trusts annual costing and relevant benchmarking returns. To work with clinicians and managers to understand the relevance of benchmarking information. To ensure that Service Line Reporting/Patient Level Costing information is used to improve financial and service performance. To be aware of and access nationally available tools to promote efficiencies, eg the Model Hospital.

Responsible, in conjunction with the Head of Management Accounts, for the development of financial planning and reporting arrangements within the Trust for the completion of relevant in-year, annual and strategic financial models provided to NHSE.

Work in collaboration with the Contracting and Tender Management team to ensure that contract variations and updates are fully understood and that income is reflected appropriately to enable accurate, relevant and timely reporting. To include the reconciliation of income to contract values in order to satisfy audit requirements.

As a senior member of the Finance Department, work with the Head of Management Accounts to review and develop policies and procedures and accounting control systems within the Directorate Finance Section, revising and updating as necessary, including the establishment of working parties, where relevant, to take forward revision and implementation.

Provide the relevant input, as required, to internal and external audit reports, including the co-ordination and implementation of agreed recommendations

To work collaboratively with the Head of Management Accounts in determining monthly timetabling and scheduling and provide relevant and any necessary input in the preparation of the Annual Accounts of the Trust.

Any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post.

Line Management

Lead and manage the Directorate Finance team on a day to day basis, contributing to the development of the team, its services and the effective operation and development of the Finance Department. Act as a coach and mentor to less experienced staff both within and outside the team

Support and enabling Finance staff to work to the highest professional standards and encouraging a culture of continuous professional development.

Service development

Maintaining an overview within the Finance Department to share good practice, apply learning, improve processes etc. Evaluate service provision taking account of feedback and broader external developments.

To provide education and training on complex financial issues to non finance managers and convey financial concepts, policies and procedures clearly and persuasively. This includes ensuring that Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Schemes of Delegation are understood and adhered to.

To fulfil mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements of the relevant professional body and be responsible for keeping the skills and knowledge required for the post up to date.

Progression

In order to progress from a Band 7 to a band 8a the post holder will need to;

Work through the competency framework with support from the Head of Management Accounts. This will include progression against a CCAB accountancy qualification, experience in role and the development of both technical and behavioural skills.

Training and qualifications

Essential

• Honours degree or equivalent
• Achieved or studying towards a CCAB/CIMA qualification.

Desirable

• MBA or equivalent

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent IT skills, particularly Excel
• Ability to work proactively with the capability to manage and deliver on a variety of deadlines for self and team
• Capable of individual initiative and team working
• Effective team player with the ability to think proactively and develop approaches for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the team
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to manipulate and interpret financial data
• Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities
• Ability to gain trust, confidence and respect amongst colleagues
• Demonstrable enthusiasm, creativity and drive
• Willingness to work through the competency framework in order to gain key technical and behavioural skills.

Desirable

• Communicating with staff at all levels of the organisation.
• Experience of working in broader cross departmental teams
• Willingness and ability to facilitate and encourage development and change at all levels within the Trust and within the Finance Department

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of working in an accountancy environment, with sound knowledge of relevant accounting systems, policies, legislation and quality standards either within an NHS Trust or another large complex organisation.
• Experience of managing, motivating and developing the skills of a diverse team
• Experience of reviewing individual and team progress and performance
• Experience of developing, managing and monitoring of complex financial models
• Substantial skills and experience in setting standards of financial performance, financial planning, forecasting, budget monitoring and control

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking project work from inception to delivery of outcomes
• Specialist in depth knowledge of current costing and cost comparison systems and processes either within a large NHS Trust or another large complex organisation.
• An understanding of NHS funding and payment regimes (including Payment by Results) and a knowledge and understanding of Service Line Reporting systems and developments within the NHS
• Knowledge and experience of NHS Service Line Reporting/Patient Level Costing & Reference Cost Systems.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with a real interest in developing people
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including report writing and delivering presentations.
• A focus on the importance of the delivery of superb customer service
• Ability to motivate high performance in others
• An innovative and strategic thinker
• Approachable and personable
• Confident with a willingness to challenge and be challenged
• A high standard of persuasion and influencing skills with the ability to remain impartial and objective

Experience

Desirable

• Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances

Other

Essential

• Evidence of up to date mandatory CPD.
• Flexibility in relation to working hours, particularly to achieve deadlines, eg in relation to production of annual accounts and other statutory returns.

Desirable

• Car driver.

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).