Job summary
This is an excellent opportunity to join the NHS England North West team as a Head of Finance. Accountable to the Deputy Director of Operational Finance, the post holder will be part of a dynamic team working closely with our 3 Integrated Care Systems to ensure that the NHS across North West England is financially sustainable and obtains value for money while delivering safe and effective services.
The Head of Finance will work as part of a team which oversees c. £17bn annual revenue budget and c. £1bn capital, across three of the largest and most complex ICSs in England, some with significant financial challenges.
The post holder will play an important role in ensuring the production and delivery of robust system financial plans. They will manage one or more senior finance managers and ensure effective review of significant capital business cases as well as taking the lead as a subject matter expert on specific areas of financial analysis and improvement.
The postholder must be a qualified accountant and CCAB member, with significantknowledge of the NHS Financial regime, and able to demonstrate well developed analytical, business and influencing skills specifically but not solely in the areas of investment case development and review, financial planning (both revenue and capital) and cost improvement programmes.
We are recruiting permanently, but will consider secondments.
Main duties of the job
- Support the development and delivery of coherent and credible system financial strategies and annual financial plans.
- Proactively manage the key risks and issues associated with delivery of plans ensuring appropriate actions including escalation are taken to mitigate or respond to emerging delivery risks.
- Provide leadership and management to finance staff engaged in the provision of support to systems and organisations on revenue and capital matters.
- Support the performance management and improvement processes of organisations and systems informed by efficiency opportunities and available benchmark data.
5.Lead on specific projects and support areas commensurate with the role and seniority.
The NHS England North West supports and promotes increased diversity and inclusion across the finance profession in the region. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds.
The role is based in the North West region and will frequently involve in person meetings with team members and external stakeholders.
We support flexible working including job shares and would be happy to discuss potential flexible working arrangements with prospective candidates prior to application if candidates would find that helpful.
About us
HS England and NHS Improvement came together on 1 April 2019 as a new single organisation. The NHS Long Term Plan focuses on delivering integrated care to patients at the local level and we can best support the NHS to deliver this as a single integrated organisation. Our new operating model represents a strong shift to regional delivery supported by expert corporate teams. Local health systems are supported by our integrated regional teams who play a major leadership role in the geographies they manage. We are jointly committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients. The seven integrated regions of our joint enterprise will work with local systems to support and improve how care is provided to patients and communities. These regions will be supported by the corporate centre providing expertise and developing policy. The focus will be on guiding and managing the delivery of services through local integrated health systems, sustainability and transformation partnerships, and devolution areas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Salary Progression Applicants will commence at the bottom of Band 8d with a full-time starting salary of £83,571 with a pay step increase after 5 years service. These salaries are offered in accordance with NHS Terms and Conditions and the HEE Pay Progression Policy and are subject to annual cost of living review.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Salary Progression Applicants will commence at the bottom of Band 8d with a full-time starting salary of £83,571 with a pay step increase after 5 years service. These salaries are offered in accordance with NHS Terms and Conditions and the HEE Pay Progression Policy and are subject to annual cost of living review.
Person Specification
Essential/Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Accountant
- CCAB qualified
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Knowledge & experience
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in the following area(s) : NHS finance regime NHS capital regime
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to financial performance management in improvement in complex organisations
- Proven and significant leadership experience and/or formal management qualification
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
- Skills Capabilities & Attributes
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in the following area(s) : NHS finance regime NHS capital regime
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to financial performance management in improvement in complex organisations
- Proven and significant leadership experience and/or formal management qualification
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Demonstrable experience of managing and prioritising a large budget with solid working knowledge of financial process requirements.
- Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes
- Member of relevant professional body
Desirable
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical, academic and all levels of staff High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
- Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusions
- Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing deadlines.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues. Autonomy to undertake actions as a result of own interpretation of policy and guidance providing a source of expert advice to the organisation
Desirable
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do. Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Ability to operate in a value-driven style consistent with the values of the public services and specifically with the new organisational values Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation.
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
- Self-awareness in teams of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
- Values diversity and difference operates with integrity and openness. Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop.
- Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
Desirable
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
Person Specification
Essential/Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Accountant
- CCAB qualified
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Knowledge & experience
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in the following area(s) : NHS finance regime NHS capital regime
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to financial performance management in improvement in complex organisations
- Proven and significant leadership experience and/or formal management qualification
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
- Skills Capabilities & Attributes
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in the following area(s) : NHS finance regime NHS capital regime
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to financial performance management in improvement in complex organisations
- Proven and significant leadership experience and/or formal management qualification
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Demonstrable experience of managing and prioritising a large budget with solid working knowledge of financial process requirements.
- Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes
- Member of relevant professional body
Desirable
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical, academic and all levels of staff High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
- Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusions
- Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing deadlines.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues. Autonomy to undertake actions as a result of own interpretation of policy and guidance providing a source of expert advice to the organisation
Desirable
- Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do. Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Ability to operate in a value-driven style consistent with the values of the public services and specifically with the new organisational values Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation.
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
- Self-awareness in teams of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
- Values diversity and difference operates with integrity and openness. Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop.
- Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
Desirable
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
Additional information
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).
