Finance Business Partner

Job responsibilities

• Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust revenue and capital financial arrangements, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS Tariff guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, to:
  • Identify and maximise the financial impact of Trust Wide Financial Improvement Programme (FIP) schemes and give sufficiently clear and concise financial information to decision making groups including the Trust Board and NHS England/Improvement.
  • Work closely with Care Group Managers and Directors on their Financial Improvement Programme, assisting with oversight and challenge.
  • Work closely with the existing Finance Business Partners (including Senior Capital Finance Business Partner) to ensure that the information used for financial improvements is robust and that the outcomes of projects are integrated into Service Lines and Care Groups strategic and operational Business Plans, as well as the long term plan. This will include the identification of associated savings expected from capital projects.
  • Provide and present sophisticated financial advice to project leads, senior managers, Service Line Management teams and Executive Directors about the financial improvement opportunities that exist and their potential impact.
  • Work with the ICS, service improvement and clinical strategy team to support services to make changes that ensure optimal use of resources.
  • Produce financial information to support Trustwide projects and business cases.
  • Encourage and influence individuals / 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 Service Line 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.
  • Assist and advise Service Line Management Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the Trusts Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the Service Line for that purpose.
  • Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with service lines to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions
  • Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with service lines to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with service lines and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.
  • Benchmark the Service Lines against other similar hospitals using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as GIRFT and the Model Hospital) - identify areas for improvement and advise Service Line Management Teams and work closely with Service Line Management teams to effect such changes.
  • Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.
  • Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.
  • Take a lead role in developing contract issues papers with Service Lines, utilising detailed knowledge of NHS Tariff guidance and contractual requirements.
  • Utilise knowledge of coding and NHS Tariff guidance to ensure Service Lines are being appropriately paid for all activity performed.
  • Represent the Trust at meetings with Commissioner colleagues as required to support the contract setting and in year monitoring process.
  • Provide information and advice to support the allocation of resources, Service Line reporting and improve the accuracy of National Cost returns.
  • Work with the Costing Team to develop Service Line Management Teams understanding of the in-year funding mechanisms for support services and their implications for cost control and savings measures. 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 Trust Board, as required, using spreadsheets, databases, presentations and report writing skills.
  • Work with Service Lines and the Accountant to ensure an in depth understanding of the income position, any action plans to address variances and ensure accurate income forecasting. Understanding the impact of other performance measures e.g. RTT on this.
  • Liaise with the Accountants with the activity and Income analysis to refine monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts of Service Line financial performance as required, taking into account likely profiles of activity, cost behaviours, savings plans and other influencing factors.

• Produce financial information to support Trustwide improvement projects and business cases. Assist in the completion of the financial dimensions of the Trusts planning in accordance with the timetable set by NHS Improvement/Executive and ensure compatibility with the Trusts 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 to balance frequently changing priorities to deliver work within tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality of information. This will include using time management skills to ensure that workload and individual projects are delivered in a timely and accurate manner.
  • To coordinate with Service Line staff and Finance staff 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, Service Lines, Care Groups and Clinical Directors.
  • 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.

Knowledge and 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 NHS finance policies.
• Ability to demonstrate recent Continuing Professional Development including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating to NHS Finance as well as national accounting standards.
• Demonstrable experience of liaising with Internal and External Auditors.
• Extensive proven knowledge of NHS Tariff regime, contracting and business planning process.
• Ability to gain clinical engagement.
• Awareness of the current NHS "Agenda", national directives and all Governance aspects.
• Proven record of providing all aspects of Finance business advisory service.

Desirable

• NHS Management Accounting demonstrable experience.

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB or equivalent (e.g. CIMA) Professional Qualified Accountant with current registration and relevant post qualification demonstrable experience.
• Proven evidence of recent CPD including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating to finance and national accounting standards.
• Masters level Business or Management Qualification (or equivalent demonstrable experience).

Aptitude and 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 modern "Office" Packages pref. Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint. Aptitude for IT.
• 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.
• Able to contribute to the formulation of long-term strategic plans involving risk and uncertainty in Front Line Service Lines and at a Trust level.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service depending on monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.
• Ability to work well within a busy environment and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis.

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 Trust objectives and the NHS as a whole.

Desirable

• Ability to contribute to overall strategic plans (both operationally and financially) of the Service Line.

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).