Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a driven, proactive and enthusiastic Corporate Finance Business Partner to join the award winning Finance team at Great Western Hospital. The role will suit a qualified accountant with strong communication skills who enjoys working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in Finance and the wider Trust. This is an exciting time to be joining Great Western as we move to a Group model, leading to opportunities for career development and collaboration with a broad range of colleagues not only at Great Western, but also with our Group partners at Royal United Hospitals Bath and Salisbury District Hospital.
Main duties of the job
This is an important post that is key to the success of the organisation's financial efficiency programme. The post holder is expected to work at a high level in the organisation and demonstrate credibility with Corporate Directors, the Transformation & Improvement team and divisional teams at all levels.
Reporting to the Head of Financial Management and Value, the post holder has the following key areas of responsibility:
- Work closely with the Transformation & Improvement team to build, oversee, challenge and support the Trust's improvement programme to meet its short and medium term efficiency targets.
- Responsible for the maintenance, development and management of the Trust's efficiency tracking system, ensuring adequacy of governance and control arrangements/systems, with exception highlighting on risks and mitigation strategies in support of the Clinical teams.
- Test and challenge schemes with project leads, confirming savings values and performance against quality-related KPIs, gaining evidence for assurance purposes.
- Provide business leadership advice to the Corporate and Estates divisions and ensure effective use of financial resources in pursuit of agreed Divisional and Corporate goals and be responsible for ensuring that monthly performance monitoring reports are robust and that key management decisions are based on accurate business information and all risks are assessed.
About us
Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
- Responsible for ensuring effective operation of key governance meetings (including multiple programme, oversight and control boards) to include producing and maintaining terms of reference, preparing and co-ordinating papers, reports, minutes, decisions and actions.
- Provide expertise on programme structuring, planning, benefits quantification and tracking on behalf of the PMO, ensuring that outputs and benefits are defined within the overall project scope and that programmes are delivered on time, within budget and to the required standard of quality.
- Hold SROs (Senior Responsible Owners) to account for delivery of efficiency programmes, including the provision of a high quality programme management and reporting service to Boards and divisional meetings as required.
- Ensure the development of the Improvement and Efficiency programmes and review key performance indicators in relation to goals and outcomes and that project delivery is monitored.
- Ensure that staff are fully engaged in the process of change management, and in particular, that Clinicians are fully involved at the forefront of operational improvement and efficiency projects.
- Actively challenge clinical practice and decision making through the use of reliable and effective patient cost data.
- Lead on the qualitative and quantitative analysis and project audit as part of the benefit realisation process ensuring lessons are learned for future programmes.
- Undertake the project management role for assigned projects in conjunction with Transformation and Improvement team.
- Design an appropriate and proportionate project structure which will enable successful delivery including outcomes, products, objectives, scope, credible project plans, risks, interdependencies, benefits and resources in collaboration with others.
- Make decisions on a range of highly complex issues where there may be more than one course of action to achieve the desired results.
- Ensure plans are maintained and updated consistently across assigned projects in accordance with Trust requirements.
- Manage projects using best practice approaches and tools, for example PODs, project plans, and report templates. Input into the continuous development and improvement of agreed approaches and tools.
- Link with system partners and ensure learning from financial improvement methodologies is shared and acted upon to deliver efficiencies.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Present information in an understandable manner to Corporate Directors to enable an accurate understanding of the budgets and resources available. Influence the Corporate and Estates teams to ensure achievement of the Divisions financial objectives.
- Provide the Head of Financial Management and Value with the relevant information to gain assurance all relevant financial risks within the Corporate and Estates Divisions are assessed, understood and mitigations plans are in place.
- To provide all aspects of financial management within the Corporate and Estates Divisions, including:
- Monthly detailed financial reports to the management team and for inclusion in the Trust board papers
- Identification of all financial risks, opportunities and mitigation strategies
- Variance and trend analysis
- Year-end forecast outturn and future year impact
- Progress against efficiency programme targets
- Workforce trends and trajectories, with financials
- Activity trends and trajectories where appropriate, with financials
- Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to inform decision making and inform financial plans and forecasting.
- Hold the Division to account for its financial practice and position, challenging poor financial performance and delivery of the efficiency programme, ensuring all services are cost effective, efficient and provide best value.
- Work the Divisional Directors of Operations and the Transformation and Improvement team to analyse and interpret complex financial and non-financial data, using benchmarking and other resources to make recommendations and advise on a range of options for improvement. This will include the responsibility for developing and implementing KPIs and performance reporting of productivity and efficiency programmes that impact on Trust-wide budgets.
- Responsible for the preparation of the Corporate and Estates Divisions annual budgets, ensuring that:-
- Managers are fully involved in the budget setting process
- Recurring impact of prior year cost pressures, developments and savings are considered, and challenged where applicable
- Divisional workforce plans are accurately reflected in budgets
- Budgets are agreed and signed off by managers
- Budgets are directly linked to planned and contracted activity levels
- Trusts budget setting framework is fully adhered to.
- To ensure all the aged debt position within the Divisions is effectively managed and be responsible for the debtor and creditor positions
- Lead the financial elements of peer comparator returns including the Corporate benchmarking and ERIC returns, as well other system and regional submissions.
- To increase the financial capability of Divisional management teams through the provision of financial awareness training and continuous support for budget managers and service leads.
- To provide input as required to the Trusts statutory financial reports.
OTHER
- Responsibility for the line management of the Financial Efficiency Accountant. This includes managing any performance conduct, sickness, grievance and bullying and harassment issues should they arise in line with Trust policies and best practice.
- Undertake annual appraisals and objective setting to ensure continuous professional development is maintained alongside agreeing appropriate personal development plans to ensure staff are developed to maximize performance in their roles.
- Ensure the Divisional management accounts team delivers a service which meets the priorities and service requirements of the Finance department and Division.
- To ensure the effective health and safety of all own staff.
- Develop, influence and implement Trust wide policies and processes with the support of Clinical/Corporate senior managers and departments for the improvement of service delivery.
- Take overall responsibility in ensuring the Division complies with Procurement processes and that all quotations, tenders and contracts are managed in line with policy.
- Be accountable to the Director of Finance for the Divisions adherence to statutory accounting requirements, DHSC and NHSI/E accounting standards and Trust policies for internal control, corporate governance and reporting requirements.
- Develop the training and knowledge of managers throughout the Division in the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and core financial and budgetary procedures.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
- Responsible for ensuring effective operation of key governance meetings (including multiple programme, oversight and control boards) to include producing and maintaining terms of reference, preparing and co-ordinating papers, reports, minutes, decisions and actions.
- Provide expertise on programme structuring, planning, benefits quantification and tracking on behalf of the PMO, ensuring that outputs and benefits are defined within the overall project scope and that programmes are delivered on time, within budget and to the required standard of quality.
- Hold SROs (Senior Responsible Owners) to account for delivery of efficiency programmes, including the provision of a high quality programme management and reporting service to Boards and divisional meetings as required.
- Ensure the development of the Improvement and Efficiency programmes and review key performance indicators in relation to goals and outcomes and that project delivery is monitored.
- Ensure that staff are fully engaged in the process of change management, and in particular, that Clinicians are fully involved at the forefront of operational improvement and efficiency projects.
- Actively challenge clinical practice and decision making through the use of reliable and effective patient cost data.
- Lead on the qualitative and quantitative analysis and project audit as part of the benefit realisation process ensuring lessons are learned for future programmes.
- Undertake the project management role for assigned projects in conjunction with Transformation and Improvement team.
- Design an appropriate and proportionate project structure which will enable successful delivery including outcomes, products, objectives, scope, credible project plans, risks, interdependencies, benefits and resources in collaboration with others.
- Make decisions on a range of highly complex issues where there may be more than one course of action to achieve the desired results.
- Ensure plans are maintained and updated consistently across assigned projects in accordance with Trust requirements.
- Manage projects using best practice approaches and tools, for example PODs, project plans, and report templates. Input into the continuous development and improvement of agreed approaches and tools.
- Link with system partners and ensure learning from financial improvement methodologies is shared and acted upon to deliver efficiencies.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Present information in an understandable manner to Corporate Directors to enable an accurate understanding of the budgets and resources available. Influence the Corporate and Estates teams to ensure achievement of the Divisions financial objectives.
- Provide the Head of Financial Management and Value with the relevant information to gain assurance all relevant financial risks within the Corporate and Estates Divisions are assessed, understood and mitigations plans are in place.
- To provide all aspects of financial management within the Corporate and Estates Divisions, including:
- Monthly detailed financial reports to the management team and for inclusion in the Trust board papers
- Identification of all financial risks, opportunities and mitigation strategies
- Variance and trend analysis
- Year-end forecast outturn and future year impact
- Progress against efficiency programme targets
- Workforce trends and trajectories, with financials
- Activity trends and trajectories where appropriate, with financials
- Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to inform decision making and inform financial plans and forecasting.
- Hold the Division to account for its financial practice and position, challenging poor financial performance and delivery of the efficiency programme, ensuring all services are cost effective, efficient and provide best value.
- Work the Divisional Directors of Operations and the Transformation and Improvement team to analyse and interpret complex financial and non-financial data, using benchmarking and other resources to make recommendations and advise on a range of options for improvement. This will include the responsibility for developing and implementing KPIs and performance reporting of productivity and efficiency programmes that impact on Trust-wide budgets.
- Responsible for the preparation of the Corporate and Estates Divisions annual budgets, ensuring that:-
- Managers are fully involved in the budget setting process
- Recurring impact of prior year cost pressures, developments and savings are considered, and challenged where applicable
- Divisional workforce plans are accurately reflected in budgets
- Budgets are agreed and signed off by managers
- Budgets are directly linked to planned and contracted activity levels
- Trusts budget setting framework is fully adhered to.
- To ensure all the aged debt position within the Divisions is effectively managed and be responsible for the debtor and creditor positions
- Lead the financial elements of peer comparator returns including the Corporate benchmarking and ERIC returns, as well other system and regional submissions.
- To increase the financial capability of Divisional management teams through the provision of financial awareness training and continuous support for budget managers and service leads.
- To provide input as required to the Trusts statutory financial reports.
OTHER
- Responsibility for the line management of the Financial Efficiency Accountant. This includes managing any performance conduct, sickness, grievance and bullying and harassment issues should they arise in line with Trust policies and best practice.
- Undertake annual appraisals and objective setting to ensure continuous professional development is maintained alongside agreeing appropriate personal development plans to ensure staff are developed to maximize performance in their roles.
- Ensure the Divisional management accounts team delivers a service which meets the priorities and service requirements of the Finance department and Division.
- To ensure the effective health and safety of all own staff.
- Develop, influence and implement Trust wide policies and processes with the support of Clinical/Corporate senior managers and departments for the improvement of service delivery.
- Take overall responsibility in ensuring the Division complies with Procurement processes and that all quotations, tenders and contracts are managed in line with policy.
- Be accountable to the Director of Finance for the Divisions adherence to statutory accounting requirements, DHSC and NHSI/E accounting standards and Trust policies for internal control, corporate governance and reporting requirements.
- Develop the training and knowledge of managers throughout the Division in the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and core financial and budgetary procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st degree or equivalent
- CCAB fully qualified accountant with minimum 5 years post qualification experience in financial management within a large organisation and a member of a professional body.
- Evidence of CPD
Experience
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of current NHS agenda and challenges and the NHS and its financial regime
- Experience of advising on the management of large budgets and of providing financial advice to non-financial managers in a clearly understood and authoritative manner
- Expert knowledge of management accounting techniques and relevant Financial Reporting Standards
- Expert knowledge of the NHS and its financial regime and of NHS service delivery
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st degree or equivalent
- CCAB fully qualified accountant with minimum 5 years post qualification experience in financial management within a large organisation and a member of a professional body.
- Evidence of CPD
Experience
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of current NHS agenda and challenges and the NHS and its financial regime
- Experience of advising on the management of large budgets and of providing financial advice to non-financial managers in a clearly understood and authoritative manner
- Expert knowledge of management accounting techniques and relevant Financial Reporting Standards
- Expert knowledge of the NHS and its financial regime and of NHS service delivery
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.
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).
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.
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).
