Deputy Head of Group Financial Services

Job responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

Provide technical and systems operational leadership for finance across the Group and help strengthen its contribution to each Trust's activities.

Manage technical and transactional finance, financial governance, system and process compliance across the Group.

Support the development of options and implement the further collaboration and integration of Financial Services across the Group.

Support the technical implementation of financial controls and processes, overseeing delivery of the accurate production of statutory financial reporting in line with best practice requirements.

Support the Head of Group Financial Services in their role supporting relevant Board Committees (in particular Audit Committee), internal and external meetings, preparing papers and actioning relevant recommendations as delegated.

Provide day-to-day oversight, ensuring that financial policies, processes and systems are maintained and developed, so as to be fit for purpose and deliver high levels of assurance of financial stewardship and robust internal control.

Maximise the efficiency and timeliness of processing transactions within Financial Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Treasury Management and Cashiers, across the Group.

Manage the reporting of the Group/Trusts financial position to Board, external stakeholders and regulators, and internal stakeholders as required as required for scope of portfolio.

Operational Finance

Supporting the Group-wide coordination, management and reporting of treasury management, financial services, preparation, delivery of annual audited accounts.

Manage any relevant technical accounting matters, on behalf of the Head of Group Financial Services, including advising on options, risks and making recommendations for action as directed.

Manage the process for the delivery of the annual accounts across the Group, meeting all guidance and audit requirements in line with national timescales for delivery.

Support contribution to the development and maintenance of the Group/Trusts/Systems Long Term Financial Model (LTFM) and financial plans, providing insights and analyses linked to areas of expertise.

Be a day-to-day contact for internal and external audit teams, regulators and inspectors on all matters within scope and responsibility.

Lead and provide a point of escalation for debtors where cash collection is an issue including the management of debt collection agency contracts.

Support the development and management of efficient and effective financial services across the Group, ensuring effective supply chain accounting, timely invoice payment and collection of income and proactive debt management processes

Work with direct support, interpreting national and international policy and regulations in order to deliver excellence in financial control, assurance and revenue. Including implementation of Trust wide specific policy changes.

Manage processes to support proper accountability for and stewardship of resources is maintained. Support implementation of, and maintaining, a financial control environment of policies to deliver Trust objectives and provide internal and external assurance on the operation of control systems.

Support the Head of Group Financial Services in providing financial advice, scrutiny and oversight of the components of financial transaction processes.

Support the management, development and implementation of systems to monitor performance against cash flow, capital and revenue budgets.

Provide clear, timely and accurate information reported consistently, both internally and externally.

Implement the policies and procedures for sound forecasting, monitoring and management of the Trusts cash to secure liquidity and financial stability and to meet the Trusts statutory financial responsibilities.

Support management, development and implementation of financial systems, procedures and controls to ensure that the budgeting, accounting, income and expenditure systems operate efficiently to the highest professional standards.

Work with external consultants assisting with a variety of projects, including financial consultants, lawyers and taxation advisers, as required within scope of role.

Support management of financial services, ensuring the achievement of targets and the achievement and maintenance of the highest standards of financial governance and reporting

Support management, development and implementation of the Trusts financial systems, ensuring they are robust and fit for purpose. To ensure that finance department teams operate in a manner and to levels and standards consistent with leading practice.

Support management of delivery of technical financial reporting (capital and revenue) and compliance with all relevant international financial reporting and audit standards and NHS reporting requirements.

Undertake surveys/audits regularly to improve financial and accounting services.

Support the co-ordination and follow-up of external and internal audit recommendations, reporting by exception to Audit Committee as required.

Support management of the systems for the efficient maintenance, utilisation, safe custody and protection of ownership of the Trusts fixed assets including real estate.

Support management of and report on working capital, including the cash flows relating to creditor payments, payroll billing and investments including forecasting of such, to ensure best practice in respect of cash management.

Support management of debts, in line with agreed processes, due to ensure that all are recovered in a timely fashion and the prompt write-off of any that are irrecoverable.

Develop, lead and support individuals and the teams to ensure that they are highly skilled, effective, engaged and highly motivated.

Provide line management and supervision to Financial Services teams across the Groupwide service supporting all colleagues to deliver our Group and respective Trust ambitions and achieve their potential.

Line manage and be responsible for ensuring an effective system of performance management, including appraisal and personal development and well-being support, for all direct reports and their staff, including succession and workforce planning

Develop a supportive culture ensuring staff and managers achieve their potential whilst being able to engage and contribute to the ambitions of the Group.

General

Be a highly visible leader, good communicator and have the confidence and ability to contribute to discussions with stakeholders on all financial matters within areas of prime responsibility or support.

Accountable to the Head of Group Financial Services for all activities within scope of the role.

Be responsible for managing and monitoring the departmental budget on behalf of the Head of Group Financial Services.

Conduct analysis of complex and multifaceted related data to be able to ascertain the respective Trusts and Groupwide financial position, undertake option appraisals to reach informed judgements.

Convey and receive highly complex, sensitive and possibly contentious information.

Intense concentration will be required on a wide variety of complex issues throughout the day.

Present highly complex information at meetings which will require the individual to have excellent communication skills and an intense level of concentration for a sustained period to ensure that there is active engagement in the subject matter at hand.

Ensure compliance with statutory and other financial duties and responsibilities including driving value for money.

Represent the Group internally, on behalf of the Head of Group Financial Services, to maintain effective relationships with other stakeholders, so that the aims, objectives and performance of each Trust are understood and well perceived.

Assure the provision of complex and/or sensitive information where there are barriers to acceptance, internally and externally to the Group.

Undertake projects or tasks outside stated responsibilities on behalf of the Head of Group Financial Services, as required.

Expected to work as part of a cohesive team and, when necessary, to support or take lead responsibility for corporate issues outside of their immediate sphere of responsibility.

Provide day-to-day line management of the Financial Services teams across the Group on behalf of the Head of Group Financial Services.

There is a requirement to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group and ICS

Education

Essential

• Educated to Masters level education or equivalent level or equivalent experience working at a senior level in a complex organisation in a healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Trust, NHS Commissioning, NHS England and Improvement)
• Professionally qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Significant post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation in a healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Trust, NHS Commissioner, NHS England and Improvement)
• Expert relevant experience in financial accountancy including management of financial services, treasury management and capital
• Ability to implement policy relating to finance which impacts on the whole organisation
• Ability to interpret health service policy on finance and apply to the development and change management of services in the Trust
• A record of achievement in managing and improving NHS financial services departments
• Ability to apply judgement to develop solutions to complex problems where there are conflicting priorities and there is no precedent
• Specialist knowledge of NHS technical finance and attendance at structured training events, covering the preparation of accounts, financial plans and the preparation of business cases in particular relating to capital investment
• A proven track record of strong leadership of financial services across an organisation
• Specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies
• Working across organisational boundaries in pursuit of shared objectives

Skills

Essential

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to present information clearly to a range of audiences including the public
• Able to influence and persuade others and inspire and motivate staff
• Diplomacy, assertiveness and tact in presenting complex, sensitive or contentious information
• Ability to adopt an adaptive leadership style in a politically sensitive and complex environment. Ability to perceive impact of actions on the decisions and activity of others.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to analyse complex information and recommend an appropriate course of action
• Ability to solve complex, multi-dimensional issues
• Project management skills
• The ability to multi-task, re-assessing priorities, to ensure projects are managed and completed to timescales
• Experience and expertise in supporting complex multi-stranded change programmes
• Experience in supporting implementation of significant Trust wide finance systems
• Ability to work autonomously, liaise and coordinate the Management Team on a day-to-day basis and to take appropriate action as necessary
• Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role
• Able to interpret national and local guidance and to develop local policies to reflect these standards.
• Advanced Keyboard skills
• Able to concentrate for long periods i.e. checking documents and analysing statistics, managing conflicting priorities
• Able to multi-task and maintain performance under pressure
• Able to think creatively and develop innovative ideas for service improvement.
• Able to critically analyse and synthesise information.
• Able to undertake report writing, statistical analysis and audit.
• Be adaptable and able to remain calm when dealing with staff in stressful or conflict situations.
• Confident, challenging and questioning and prepared to challenge traditional views using empathy, evidence and curiosity. Can constructively challenge and effectively manage conflict to reach a positive conclusion
• Strong and effective leadership and people management skills Demonstrable success in building, leading, motivating and developing teams in financial services as highly effective people manager
• A facilitative and inclusive approach to management.

Desirable

• Experience in supporting implementation of significant Trust wide finance systems

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).