University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Finance Business Partner

The closing date is 23 February 2026

Job summary

To provide a comprehensive and high quality finance business partnering service to directorates.

To promote innovation and improvement by providing expertise and analysis to inform good financial decision making and optimal use of resources.

The Trust is one of the largest acute healthcare providers in the country. Our services include Emergency and Acute Assessment units, General Medical and Surgical Services, Cancer Care, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Ear Nose and Throat, Neurosciences and Renal services. We offer a full range of general hospital services to around 450,000 people in Plymouth, North and East Cornwall and South and West Devon. These include emergency and major trauma services, maternity services, paediatrics and a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical sub-specialties.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for an ambitious, high calibre finance professional to join a respected and forward thinking Finance team at a pivotal time for the Trust.

This is a genuinely influential role at the heart of decision making across Finance and Operations. You will help shape the Trust's future by providing insight that informs clinical and operational strategy, supports sustainable service delivery, and enables investment in patient focused care. Your work will span demand and capacity planning, service line viability, benchmarking performance, delivering transformational savings, and developing major capital and revenue business cases.

We are seeking someone who thrives on complexity, brings curiosity and commercial insight, and can translate sophisticated financial analysis into clear, compelling advice for senior leaders and clinical colleagues. You will be a professionally qualified accountant with strong analytical skills, excellent communication, and the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.

This role offers a genuine opportunity to grow. We are committed to developing future finance leaders and welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate strong potential. Where appropriate, candidates may be supported in a development role at the band below, with a clear pathway into the substantive post.

For an informal discussion, please contact Steve Cavendish, Associate Director of Finance (Steven.Cavendish@nhs.net)

About us

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a dynamic and challenging environment, which provides acute healthcare for people in Plymouth, South West Devon and South East Cornwall, and has more than 6,500 staff working in its services.

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online or need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

216-AM-CO7756824

Job locations

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

o Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and Divisional Management teams;

o Encourage and influence Directorate Management Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;

o Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the Service Line/Directorate financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;

o Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Directorate Managers and Budget Holders.

o Assist and advise Directorate 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 Directorate for that purpose

o Oversee the accuracy and integrity of Service Line/Directorate financial information relating to Patient Level reporting and reference costs in particular;

o Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with Directorate to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions

o Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with Directorates to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with Directorates and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.

o Benchmark the Service Lines/Directorates 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 Directorate Management Teams and work closely with Directorate Management teams to effect such changes.

o Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.

o Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

o Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and Divisional Management teams;

o Encourage and influence Directorate Management Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;

o Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the Service Line/Directorate financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;

o Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Directorate Managers and Budget Holders.

o Assist and advise Directorate 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 Directorate for that purpose

o Oversee the accuracy and integrity of Service Line/Directorate financial information relating to Patient Level reporting and reference costs in particular;

o Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with Directorate to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions

o Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with Directorates to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with Directorates and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.

o Benchmark the Service Lines/Directorates 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 Directorate Management Teams and work closely with Directorate Management teams to effect such changes.

o Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.

o Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification

Knowledge & 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.
  • Awareness of the current NHS "Agenda", national directives and all Governance aspects.

Desirable

  • NHS Management Accounting demonstrable experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • Fully qualified Professional Accountant or studying towards qualification
  • "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

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent level of numeracy
  • Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data
Person Specification

Knowledge & 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.
  • Awareness of the current NHS "Agenda", national directives and all Governance aspects.

Desirable

  • NHS Management Accounting demonstrable experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • Fully qualified Professional Accountant or studying towards qualification
  • "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

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent level of numeracy
  • Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data

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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director of Finance

Steve Cavendish

steven.cavendish@nhs.net

07876028282

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

216-AM-CO7756824

Job locations

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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