Job summary
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is seeking a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Finance to lead financial strategy and transformation at the heart of one of the largest and most complex Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the country.
With a system budget exceeding £7 billion, a workforce of over 80,000, and a population of 2.7 million across nine boroughs, this is a rare opportunity to shape the financial future of health and care at real scale. The ICB's strong footprint and place-based structure provide a stable platform for strategic transformation--a distinct advantage as other systems face wider reconfigurations.
We are entering a period of critical financial recovery and reform. With a 2025/26 in-year savings requirement of £150m, we need a finance leader who can deliver cost improvement and transformation while maintaining our commitment to equity, sustainability, and system-wide collaboration.
If you are motivated by driving high-value, outcome-focused investment, and you want to make a profound and lasting impact across population health and public service integration, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As Executive Director of Finance, you will:
- Lead the ICB's financial strategy, ensuring stewardship, sustainability, and delivery of statutory duties.
- Drive financial recovery and transformation across the system in alignment with our Joint Forward Plan and Annual Delivery Plan.
- Oversee planning, performance, estates, and contracting portfolios, and embed a strong governance and assurance culture.
- Act as a strategic leader in data and digital investment, ensuring financial intelligence drives decision-making.
- Work in partnership across NHS, local authorities, VCFSE, and provider collaboratives to co-design and implement population-based financial frameworks.
- Represent the ICB nationally and regionally, influencing the finance agenda and contributing to NHS system leadership.
You will report directly to the Chief Executive and be professionally accountable to the NHS England North West Regional Finance Director.
About us
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB is responsible for planning, allocating, and assuring NHS services across nine boroughs: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.
We are proud to be a Marmot Community and an Anchor Institution, committed to tackling the wider determinants of health and improving the lives of the poorest fastest. Our current focus includes:
- Delivering system-wide recovery in urgent and emergency care
- Accelerating access to diagnostics and planned care
- Scaling digital transformation and population health analytics
- Embedding equity and prevention into financial strategy
Our Values and Culture
We are building a culture of compassion, inclusion, and mutual accountability across our system. Our leadership culture is rooted in the NHS Constitution, the Nolan Principles, and a strong commitment to public value.
We support flexible and hybrid working, value diverse leadership, and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups in NHS executive roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The Executive Director of Finance will lead the design and implementation of the ICBs financialstrategy, ensuring it support health equity, long-term sustainability and the broader objectivesof the system. They will also lead on resource allocation, financial recovery, investmentprioritisation, audit and assurance.
In addition, the postholder will oversee the systems planning and performance functions andestates strategy. They will support the digital and analytics agenda by embedding financialintelligence tools and leading on value-based investment.
The Executive Director will work in partnership with provider collaboratives, Place-basedpartnerships, local authorities, primary care and the VCFSE sector to develop integratedfinancial frameworks that support shared outcomes and population-based commissioning.
Full Job Description & Person Specification
Refer to the Job Description and Person Specification in Appendix A of the attached Candidate Pack for full responsibilities, criteria and key relationships. The post requires full CCAB qualification and significant experience of leading financial strategy and transformation at system scale.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The Executive Director of Finance will lead the design and implementation of the ICBs financialstrategy, ensuring it support health equity, long-term sustainability and the broader objectivesof the system. They will also lead on resource allocation, financial recovery, investmentprioritisation, audit and assurance.
In addition, the postholder will oversee the systems planning and performance functions andestates strategy. They will support the digital and analytics agenda by embedding financialintelligence tools and leading on value-based investment.
The Executive Director will work in partnership with provider collaboratives, Place-basedpartnerships, local authorities, primary care and the VCFSE sector to develop integratedfinancial frameworks that support shared outcomes and population-based commissioning.
Full Job Description & Person Specification
Refer to the Job Description and Person Specification in Appendix A of the attached Candidate Pack for full responsibilities, criteria and key relationships. The post requires full CCAB qualification and significant experience of leading financial strategy and transformation at system scale.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with current registration
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive senior leadership experience, including at Board or system level
- Strong track record in financial transformation, cost reduction and assurance
- Deep knowledge of NHS finance systems, governance and planning
Desirable
- Experience working across NHS and local authority or VCFSE partnerships
- Knowledge of health economics or value-based investment approaches
- Exposure to digital, data and analytics-led transformation
- Familiarity with Marmot principles or Anchor Institution
Skills and Values
Essential
- Excellent communicator with the credibility to influence across complex partnerships
- Values-led leader with resilience, political awareness and a commitment to equity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with current registration
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive senior leadership experience, including at Board or system level
- Strong track record in financial transformation, cost reduction and assurance
- Deep knowledge of NHS finance systems, governance and planning
Desirable
- Experience working across NHS and local authority or VCFSE partnerships
- Knowledge of health economics or value-based investment approaches
- Exposure to digital, data and analytics-led transformation
- Familiarity with Marmot principles or Anchor Institution
Skills and Values
Essential
- Excellent communicator with the credibility to influence across complex partnerships
- Values-led leader with resilience, political awareness and a commitment to equity
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
