Finance Business Partner

Job responsibilities

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Utilising specialist knowledge of complex organisations accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, for individual Services to:

• Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and operational management teams;
• Encourage and influence Operational Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;
• Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the operational areas financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;
• Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Operational Managers.
• Assist and advise Operational Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the organisations Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the service area for that purpose.
• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of operational financial information relating to service line reporting and costing in particular;
• Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with operational areas to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions.
• Thoroughly review monthly activity reports with service areas to ensure robust capture of activity. Work with operational managers, Business Analysts and Management Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts, performance target requirements and capacity constraints.
• Benchmark the services against other similar services using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as NHS Futures) - identify areas for improvement and work closely with Operational Management teams to identify actions and effect such changes.
• Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others. Ensure efficient delivery utilising digital products and systems, and adopting and developing efficient ways of working such as the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence.
• Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and utilising investment appraisal techniques.
• Take a lead role in developing contract issues papers with Operational managers, utilising detailed knowledge of guidance and contractual requirements.
• Represent the organisation at meetings with Commissioner colleagues as required to support the contract setting and in year monitoring process.
• Utilise knowledge of NHS and other guidance to ensure operational areas are correctly recording and being appropriately paid for all activity performed. Working with Operational teams to ensure a clear understanding of activity performance and attainment of key operational performance metrics, understanding financial implications and clinical risks.
• Provide information and advice to support the allocation of resources, Service Line reporting and improve the accuracy of costing.
• Work with the Business Planning, costing and income accountant and operational teams to understand all resources consumed and indirect costs of service delivery. The development and refinement of Service Line Reporting (SLR) is a key tool upon which both operational and strategic decisions can be based.
• Produce or assist in the production of reports to the organisations committees and Board, as required, using spreadsheets, databases, presentations and report writing skills.
• Work with operational areas and the Accountant to ensure an in depth understanding of the forecast position, any action plans to address variances and ensure accurate forecasting. Understanding the impact of other performance measures e.g. waiting times on this.
• Liaise with the Accountants with the activity and Income analysis to refine monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts of operational financial performance as required, taking into account likely profiles of activity, cost behaviours, savings plans and other influencing factors.
• Identify and maximise the financial impact of Cost Improvement Programme and Transformation schemes.
• Produce financial information to support organisation wide projects and business cases;
• Assist in the completion of the annual planning in accordance with the timetable set internally being aware of NHS planning deadlines, and ensure compatibility with the organisations long term financial plans.

Utilising professional and specialist finance knowledge and general management skills, for the Finance Directorate to:

• Manage all aspects of own workload and the organisation of the teams workload to balance frequently changing priorities to deliver work within tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality of information and meeting the needs of Operational Management teams. This will include using time management skills to ensure that workload and individual projects are delivered in a timely and accurate manner and balancing the demands of the Operational managers requirements with organisational needs.
• To coordinate with Operational Management teams and finance and business intelligence and other corporate areas to ensure smooth delivery of deadlines for all aspects of work.
• Take responsibility for developing and implementing discrete areas of financial policy and processes in line with latest accounting standards.
• To act in a professional manner at all times and instil the same standards in members of staff.
• To input and manipulate financial data in highly complex computer spreadsheets and reports, where speed and accuracy are essential.
• To undertake light physical effort and extended periods of computer use in an office environment.
• To concentrate when inputting data, checking and reconciling information and making calculations.
• To cope with unpredictable work patterns and respond flexibly to queries and requests from Senior Finance and Operational Management.
• To work under intense pressure on occasions and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis.
• To supply internal and external auditors with any information and explanations they require with regard to any aspects of the above.
• To act on own initiative and to carry out the above duties in accordance with broad professional accounting standards without reference to line manager.
• The postholder will be required to travel on occasion.

Line manage members of the Business Support Unit and provide a key link to other areas of the finance directorate:

• Ensuring clarity on priorities and expectations for team members working jointly with Operational Senior Managers to set these priorities.
• Ensure all members of the team develop their skills and knowledge, utilising other professionals within the organisation.
• Ensure close working between all finance directorate and corporate areas. Ensuring that core teams and the Business Support Unit work seamlessly together.

Communication and Relationships

The postholder will have to work extremely closely with the relevant Associate Director and Management Team/s they are assigned to. They should play an active role as part of the Directorates Management team and be seen as an integral part of this.

Internal Face to face and virtually

• Executive Directors
• Director of Finance
• Director of Operations
• Deputy Director of Finance and Business Support
• Associate Directors
• Management Accountants
• Business Analysts
• Heads of Finance Directorate teams
• Business Planning Costing and Income Accountant
• Financial Accountant
• Project Management Office (PMO) and Quality Improvement
• Clinical Director and Assistants
• Operational Managers
• Heads of Department
• Clinical teams
• Budget Holders
• Other Finance, Planning staff
• Procurement staff
• Other Trust staff as required
• Executive Board & Committees

External

• Other Providers
• ICB commissioners
• NHSE
• Other outside agencies including the external auditors, local authorities/social services and relevant partners

Internal Training delivery

• Finance Directorate Staff
• Operational Managers and Staff

Physical Demands of the Job

Physical Effort

Limited physical effort required, there will be long periods of desk work.

Mental Effort

There will be a high level of mental effort with sustained concentration, clear communication of complex issues and engagement with others.

Emotional Effort

Will have to deal with potentially contentious or difficult issues. Therefore must be able to handle conflict effectively and able to influence and support others.

Physical Skills

May require occasional travel other than base.

Working Conditions

Hybrid working.

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB or equivalent e.g. CIMA Professional Qualified Accountant with current registration and relevant demonstrable post qualification experience.
• A levels and 5 x GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent, including Mathematics and English Language at GCSE level A-C / 4-9.
• Commitment to continuing professional development in line with relevant Institute requirements.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent.

Disposition / Attitude / Motivation

Essential

• Ability to interpret policies and procedures and act on own initiative without reference to line manager.
• Leads by example and instils a team approach to workload.
• Ability to challenge and deal with highly sensitive and contentious situations.
• Able to handle & convey sensitive information in an appropriate and discreet manner.
• Ability to bring about change and embed a continuous process improvement culture.
• Proactive, flexible, enthusiastic, confident and highly motivated individual who demonstrates a commitment to organisation objectives.

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent level of numeracy.
• Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data.
• Advanced Analytical skills.
• Ability to resolve highly complex problems including integration of financial and operational aspects into Strategic and operational plans.
• Ability to review highly complex business cases and present to non finance managers giving clear and concise advice, comparing a number of options, including identification of risks.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Able to communicate highly complex/sensitive and contentious information effectively to large groups of staff.
• Excellent inter-personal skills including negotiation and presentation skills. Able to overcome barriers to acceptance.
• Ability to influence decisions at a senior level on occasions where there are strong conflicts of opinion.
• Ability to represent the Trust confidently at external meetings as well as representing Finance at internal meetings.
• Good attention to detail.
• Proficient with Office Packages pref. Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint. Aptitude for utilising digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence.
• Advanced keyboard skills to ensure highest level of accuracy at all times.
• Able to demonstrate excellent team working skills.
• Organisational skills and able to work as team leader.
• Able to prioritise own work and that of others effectively within ever changing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Able to plan and organise complex activities and programmes within the Finance Directorate and wider.
• Able to contribute to the formulation of long-term strategic plans involving risk and uncertainty in Front Line Service areas and at an organisation level.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service depending on monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.
• Ability to work in intense busy working environments and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis.

Experience

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate highly developed theoretical and practical proven knowledge at an advanced level and demonstrable experience and expertise in financial management, accounting procedures, relevant legislation and other policies relevant to a Community Interest Company and healthcare providers.
• Ability to demonstrate recent Continuing Professional Development including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating.
• Demonstrable experience of liaising with Internal and External Auditors.
• Extensive proven knowledge of NHS finance regime, contracting and business planning process.
• Ability to gain clinical engagement.
• Proven awareness of the current NHS Agenda, national directives and all Governance aspects.
• Proven record of providing all aspects of Finance business advisory service.

Desirable

• Management Accounting demonstrable experience.

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).