Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Director of Operational Finance / Deputy Chief Financial Officer

The closing date is 07 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking for an exceptional leader to join our Finance Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and in conjunction with the Director of Strategic Finance, you'll be pivotal in building and developing the Finance Team and implementing highly effective systems and practices. To succeed you will have the ability to provide strategic leadership and to foster a culture of compassion, innovation & inclusion, that improves the services we provide, whilst supporting financial sustainability. As an expert communicator, you'll be comfortable to lead on the sharing of highly complex information in a way that empowers others and facilitates their contribution. You will be working with colleagues across the Trust and the wider Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care system.

The Trust is part way through the delivery of its Financial Sustainability Plan that will see it return to financial balance. This role is key in leading the delivery of the financial management, financial services and procurement functions.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide expert strategic and technical advice to the Board, Finance &Performance Committee and Audit Committee, ensuring robust stewardship of a £1.9billion budget.

  • Lead and motivate the Financial Services, Financial Management, Procurement &Supply-Chain and Finance-Transformation teams, embedding a high-performance, digitally enabled culture.

  • Own the full cycle of budget-setting, in-year performance, statutory accounts, cash and working-capital management and drive delivery of cost-improvement and productivity plans.

  • Champion OneNHSFinance principles, modernise processes and systems, and cultivate strong partnerships across our Integrated Care System.

  • Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer, acting as a visible, values-led senior leader across the Trust and on the gold on-call rota.

About us

At NUH you will join an executive team committed to compassionate, inclusive leadership and continuous improvement.

We offer:

  • Competitive Very Senior Manager (VSM) package with NHS pension.

  • Agile / hybrid working based mainly at City Hospital but with the requirement to work at QMC and at other ICS partners.

  • Access to national OneNHSFinance and leadership development, plus strong university links.

  • A collaborative culture that celebrates diversity, wellbeing and the Trust's core values of Kind, Inclusive, Ambitious and One Team.

With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Details

Date posted

18 August 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

Depending on experience Depends on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

164-7387102

Job locations

City Hospital

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG5 1PB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Leadership &Governance

  • Shape and deliver the Trusts financial strategy and annual financial plan in line with NHS England, DHSC and ICS requirements.

  • Lead recruitment, development and performance of c.250 finance and procurement professionals, embedding continuous improvement and professional standards.

  • Provide assurance on financial controls, risk management and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, IFRS and Better Payment Practice Code.

FinancialServices

  • Oversee accounts payable/receivable, treasury, cash forecasting, investment and tax arrangements with NHS SBS.

  • Ensure production of monthly management accounts, statutory annual accounts and all NHSE returns to deadline and to auditready standards.

FinancialManagement

  • Coordinate Trustwide budget setting, forecasting and reporting; translate strategic objectives into clear, costed and assigned targets.

  • Provide insightful analysis and earlywarning indicators to support decisionmaking and corrective action.

Procurement &SupplyChain

  • Develop and deliver the Trusts Procurement Strategy, driving value for money, clinical engagement and Model Hospital excellence.

FinanceTransformation

  • Sponsor projects that modernise finance processes, data and systems, improving efficiency and the user experience.

PersonSpecification at a glance

  • Degree and CCAB/CIMA qualification with 5years postqualification experience at Deputy/Director level in a large, complex NHS (or comparable) organisation.

  • Expert knowledge of NHS finance regime; proven delivery of largescale turnaround and costimprovement programmes; outstanding leadership, communication and stakeholdermanagement skills.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Leadership &Governance

  • Shape and deliver the Trusts financial strategy and annual financial plan in line with NHS England, DHSC and ICS requirements.

  • Lead recruitment, development and performance of c.250 finance and procurement professionals, embedding continuous improvement and professional standards.

  • Provide assurance on financial controls, risk management and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, IFRS and Better Payment Practice Code.

FinancialServices

  • Oversee accounts payable/receivable, treasury, cash forecasting, investment and tax arrangements with NHS SBS.

  • Ensure production of monthly management accounts, statutory annual accounts and all NHSE returns to deadline and to auditready standards.

FinancialManagement

  • Coordinate Trustwide budget setting, forecasting and reporting; translate strategic objectives into clear, costed and assigned targets.

  • Provide insightful analysis and earlywarning indicators to support decisionmaking and corrective action.

Procurement &SupplyChain

  • Develop and deliver the Trusts Procurement Strategy, driving value for money, clinical engagement and Model Hospital excellence.

FinanceTransformation

  • Sponsor projects that modernise finance processes, data and systems, improving efficiency and the user experience.

PersonSpecification at a glance

  • Degree and CCAB/CIMA qualification with 5years postqualification experience at Deputy/Director level in a large, complex NHS (or comparable) organisation.

  • Expert knowledge of NHS finance regime; proven delivery of largescale turnaround and costimprovement programmes; outstanding leadership, communication and stakeholdermanagement skills.

Person Specification

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

  • Driving licence required to meet travelling requirements at short notice.
  • Ability to provide senior on call support and if necessary, physical attendance in an emergency if required.
  • Demonstrates high levels of motivation, drive and determination
  • A leadership role model who promotes organisational values and desired leadership behaviours

Training & Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
  • CCAB / CIMA accounting qualification with at least five years post qualification experience.
  • Must have significant evidenced continual professional development.

Desirable

  • Doctorate/ Masters in a subject relevant to the role or equivalent level management / operational experience

Experience

Essential

  • Expert understanding of the NHS finance regime
  • Experience of delivering complex change programmes
  • Experience of applying programme management techniques
  • Experience in managing teams
  • Must be able to demonstrate substantial experience of leadership across multiple financial disciplines and multiple stakeholders.
  • Evidence of continual improvement in a challenging setting.
  • Must be able to demonstrate significant experience of strategic financial leadership at a personal level across multiple financial disciplines; with evidence of achieving cross-discipline, targets/goals.
  • Must be able to demonstrate substantial experience in financial management of both capital and revenue budgets; including evidence of cost improvements/efficiencies as well as in financial planning.
  • Must be able to demonstrate experience in dealing with complex people issues and providing pastoral leadership to teams
  • To have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the NHS and its culture.
  • A proven track record in project management, managing and delivering highly complex and multiple projects across functional boundaries
  • Experience of cultivating a high performance culture

Desirable

  • To bring experience of working at Board level with exceptional track record of achievements.
  • To bring proven management experience from within a large Acute or complex NHS setting
  • Deputy or Director level experience

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills demonstrating highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels
  • Proven track record of building successful teams
  • Able to work collaboratively with partner organisations
  • Ability to influence and motivate staff at all levels (include Board level) through the use of integrity, influence and credibility
  • Must possess the experience, credibility and gravitas to communicate with senior stakeholders; both internally and externally; to provide the confidence at the technical expert level; producing clear and non-technical advice on complex technical issues succinctly.
  • Must be able to facilitate, build and maintain strong professional relationships across multiple disciplines - within the technical, customer and supplier bases - to provide confidence and assurance to peers, staff and others, the service provided is a trusted, respected enabler
  • Must be able to demonstrate strong negotiation skills in complex and challenging situations with the ability to adapt and flex within agreed parameters to deliver mutually acceptable outcomes
  • Demonstrate an external as well as internal focus; able to "learn from the best"
  • Must inspire others and lead by good example to deliver chaAbility to present very complex, sensitive and contentious information to a range of colleagues and in a variety of media.nge
  • Proven negotiating skills
  • Ability to Manage conflict and communicate in a hostile or emotive atmosphere

Desirable

  • Able to promote and market
  • Able to manage communication with external bodies, in other industries (eg Universities) in a proactive manner
  • To have received media training

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of NHS policies and regulations
  • Able to interpret and provide judgement on highly complex facts or situations
  • Able to manage a multiplicity of targets and objectives
  • Provides judgements regarding resource allocation where no precedent exists and where potential for disagreement at a senior level exists
  • Innovative thinker with the ability to cut through barriers to change
  • Required to plan and organise a broad range of complex and technical activities
  • Required to manage a series of targets
  • Required to organise duties in a way which meets rigorous external scrutiny by regulators, Commissioners, etc
  • To be able to demonstrate taking a financial solution through the design, business case, approvals, planning, delivery, business as usual and benefits realisation stages.
  • Ability to interpret national, health and broad organisational policies and establish the way in which these will be implemented and interpreted
  • Able to manage and prioritise conflicting demands and meeting various deadlines required for producing highly complex tasks requiring a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
  • Proven record of pro-active performance management
  • Able to work independently and on own initiative

Desirable

  • Able to judge value for money in its broadest sense
  • Able to analyse highly complex and technical information within tight timescales
  • Demonstrates detailed "risk" management" judgements in the development of responses to financial / business and quality challenges
  • Experience of presenting service level performance management data to enable continual service improvement
  • Experience of presenting patient level information to enable continual service improvement

Physical skills

Essential

  • Able to work across the local health community and travel often at short notice
  • Ability to manage long periods of concentration and pressured work
  • Advanced IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information

Desirable

  • Able to travel nationally
Person Specification

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

  • Driving licence required to meet travelling requirements at short notice.
  • Ability to provide senior on call support and if necessary, physical attendance in an emergency if required.
  • Demonstrates high levels of motivation, drive and determination
  • A leadership role model who promotes organisational values and desired leadership behaviours

Training & Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
  • CCAB / CIMA accounting qualification with at least five years post qualification experience.
  • Must have significant evidenced continual professional development.

Desirable

  • Doctorate/ Masters in a subject relevant to the role or equivalent level management / operational experience

Experience

Essential

  • Expert understanding of the NHS finance regime
  • Experience of delivering complex change programmes
  • Experience of applying programme management techniques
  • Experience in managing teams
  • Must be able to demonstrate substantial experience of leadership across multiple financial disciplines and multiple stakeholders.
  • Evidence of continual improvement in a challenging setting.
  • Must be able to demonstrate significant experience of strategic financial leadership at a personal level across multiple financial disciplines; with evidence of achieving cross-discipline, targets/goals.
  • Must be able to demonstrate substantial experience in financial management of both capital and revenue budgets; including evidence of cost improvements/efficiencies as well as in financial planning.
  • Must be able to demonstrate experience in dealing with complex people issues and providing pastoral leadership to teams
  • To have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the NHS and its culture.
  • A proven track record in project management, managing and delivering highly complex and multiple projects across functional boundaries
  • Experience of cultivating a high performance culture

Desirable

  • To bring experience of working at Board level with exceptional track record of achievements.
  • To bring proven management experience from within a large Acute or complex NHS setting
  • Deputy or Director level experience

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills demonstrating highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels
  • Proven track record of building successful teams
  • Able to work collaboratively with partner organisations
  • Ability to influence and motivate staff at all levels (include Board level) through the use of integrity, influence and credibility
  • Must possess the experience, credibility and gravitas to communicate with senior stakeholders; both internally and externally; to provide the confidence at the technical expert level; producing clear and non-technical advice on complex technical issues succinctly.
  • Must be able to facilitate, build and maintain strong professional relationships across multiple disciplines - within the technical, customer and supplier bases - to provide confidence and assurance to peers, staff and others, the service provided is a trusted, respected enabler
  • Must be able to demonstrate strong negotiation skills in complex and challenging situations with the ability to adapt and flex within agreed parameters to deliver mutually acceptable outcomes
  • Demonstrate an external as well as internal focus; able to "learn from the best"
  • Must inspire others and lead by good example to deliver chaAbility to present very complex, sensitive and contentious information to a range of colleagues and in a variety of media.nge
  • Proven negotiating skills
  • Ability to Manage conflict and communicate in a hostile or emotive atmosphere

Desirable

  • Able to promote and market
  • Able to manage communication with external bodies, in other industries (eg Universities) in a proactive manner
  • To have received media training

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of NHS policies and regulations
  • Able to interpret and provide judgement on highly complex facts or situations
  • Able to manage a multiplicity of targets and objectives
  • Provides judgements regarding resource allocation where no precedent exists and where potential for disagreement at a senior level exists
  • Innovative thinker with the ability to cut through barriers to change
  • Required to plan and organise a broad range of complex and technical activities
  • Required to manage a series of targets
  • Required to organise duties in a way which meets rigorous external scrutiny by regulators, Commissioners, etc
  • To be able to demonstrate taking a financial solution through the design, business case, approvals, planning, delivery, business as usual and benefits realisation stages.
  • Ability to interpret national, health and broad organisational policies and establish the way in which these will be implemented and interpreted
  • Able to manage and prioritise conflicting demands and meeting various deadlines required for producing highly complex tasks requiring a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
  • Proven record of pro-active performance management
  • Able to work independently and on own initiative

Desirable

  • Able to judge value for money in its broadest sense
  • Able to analyse highly complex and technical information within tight timescales
  • Demonstrates detailed "risk" management" judgements in the development of responses to financial / business and quality challenges
  • Experience of presenting service level performance management data to enable continual service improvement
  • Experience of presenting patient level information to enable continual service improvement

Physical skills

Essential

  • Able to work across the local health community and travel often at short notice
  • Ability to manage long periods of concentration and pressured work
  • Advanced IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information

Desirable

  • Able to travel nationally

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

City Hospital

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG5 1PB


Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

City Hospital

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG5 1PB


Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

EA to Chief Financial Officer

Helen Johnson

helen.johnson92@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

18 August 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

Depending on experience Depends on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

164-7387102

Job locations

City Hospital

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG5 1PB


Supporting documents

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