Job summary
The Financial Services team is a central part of Imperial's Finance function, covering financial and capital accounting, governance, transactional services, financial systems and payroll. Our work supports almost every area of the Trust, from board committees and senior leaders to clinical teams and all staff through Payroll.
Following recent growth, we are creating a second Financial Controller role to work alongside the existing postholder. Together, the two FCs will broaden our leadership capacity and strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality financial services across the Trust.
About You
We are seeking a credible, forward-thinking senior finance leader who brings:
- CCAB (or equivalent) professional qualification
- Strong financial accounting, financial control and audit experience
- A track record of leading high-performing teams through change
- The ability to communicate technical issues clearly and build strong stakeholder relationships
- Experience of delivering service improvement and operating at scale
- Alignment to our values: Kind, Collaborative, Expert, Aspirational
NHS experience is welcome but not essential.
Main duties of the job
This new post will lead financial systems, transactional finance, treasury and payroll, with a clear focus on enhancing the services we provide to the organisation and putting staff development at the heart of how we do this. You will bring strong technical capability, but also the vision to shape services used by 16,000 colleagues, and to empower finance business partners to deliver their best work.
A major part of the role involves leading Imperial's contribution to the implementation of a new North West London ERP system and the development of a new shared financial services centre. You will play a key role through design, delivery and implementation, ensuring the programme drives meaningful operational and financial improvement.
You will need to lead confidently through change, collaborate effectively across organisations, and balance senior leadership with a hands-on approach when needed. There is also significant opportunity to further develop our successful Payroll hub, which is poised for future growth.
While the existing Financial Controller leads on reporting, audit, capital and financial planning, you will contribute actively to these areas. Success will rely on close collaboration and knowledge sharing across both FC roles and the wider management team.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Expert knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, financial reporting standards, and financial & other aspects of relevant legislation, gained through full membership of Professional Accountancy Qualifications (CCAB) or equivalent
- Further relevant specialist CPD in technical skills and NHS financial management (including the NHS financial regime)
Desirable
- Further training in formal project management approaches
- Further training in management and leadership
- Further training in IT systems, data or reporting
Experience
Essential
- Providing high quality accounting services and expert financial advice and support to senior financial staff
- Managing month and year end financial processes in a timely and accurate way
- Experience of leading and managing the annual external audit cycle including
- Working effectively and efficiently at senior level in a fast-changing and complex environment
- Leading and managing high-performing teams, and developing staff competences and behaviours, including managing difficult conversations
- Managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholder relationships, including external auditors, and negotiating outcomes to complex problems
- Experience of initiating and leading substantial change with an impact within the team and across the organisation
- Experience of developing policies and practices to guide financial management, and of delivering training to service users
- Experience of managing or working with transactional financial services including maintaining a suitable control environment
Desirable
- Experience of managing outsourced financial services
- Experience of providing financial support to business cases and capital projects
- Significant experience of managing complex technical accounting queries, including complex audit queries
Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential
- Expert user of relevant financial systems and advanced skills in Excel
- Able to solve complex, multi-dimensional issues, including complex accounting, financial and audit queries, requiring concentration for long periods of time and analysis of complex data and interpretation of accounting guidance
- Conveys financial concepts clearly and persuasively to non-financial managers
- Advises and persuades senior budget holders on financial issues
Desirable
- Advanced skills in relevant financial systems and tools (including advanced Excel, Power BI or similar)
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Expert knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, financial reporting standards, and financial & other aspects of relevant legislation, gained through full membership of Professional Accountancy Qualifications (CCAB) or equivalent
- Further relevant specialist CPD in technical skills and NHS financial management (including the NHS financial regime)
Desirable
- Further training in formal project management approaches
- Further training in management and leadership
- Further training in IT systems, data or reporting
Experience
Essential
- Providing high quality accounting services and expert financial advice and support to senior financial staff
- Managing month and year end financial processes in a timely and accurate way
- Experience of leading and managing the annual external audit cycle including
- Working effectively and efficiently at senior level in a fast-changing and complex environment
- Leading and managing high-performing teams, and developing staff competences and behaviours, including managing difficult conversations
- Managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholder relationships, including external auditors, and negotiating outcomes to complex problems
- Experience of initiating and leading substantial change with an impact within the team and across the organisation
- Experience of developing policies and practices to guide financial management, and of delivering training to service users
- Experience of managing or working with transactional financial services including maintaining a suitable control environment
Desirable
- Experience of managing outsourced financial services
- Experience of providing financial support to business cases and capital projects
- Significant experience of managing complex technical accounting queries, including complex audit queries
Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential
- Expert user of relevant financial systems and advanced skills in Excel
- Able to solve complex, multi-dimensional issues, including complex accounting, financial and audit queries, requiring concentration for long periods of time and analysis of complex data and interpretation of accounting guidance
- Conveys financial concepts clearly and persuasively to non-financial managers
- Advises and persuades senior budget holders on financial issues
Desirable
- Advanced skills in relevant financial systems and tools (including advanced Excel, Power BI or similar)
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).
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.
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).
