Job summary
The Director of Strategic Finance is a key senior leadership role, responsible for delivering high-quality financial services in line with professional accounting standards and ethical practice. The post holder will operate with significant autonomy and is expected to maintain up-to-date professional competence through ongoing development.
Working collaboratively with the Director of Operational Finance, the role spans a broad and influential portfolio. As part of the Trust's senior leadership team, the Director provides strategic financial advice, supports organisational decision-making, and contributes to shaping the Trust's long-term direction.
A central focus is ensuring financial sustainability and supporting the achievement of corporate objectives. The post holder will lead, develop, and empower finance colleagues, fostering a culture of inclusion, professional growth, and talent development.
The role also contributes to wider strategic programmes and improvement initiatives, promoting effective use of resources while maintaining high standards.
We are seeking an individual with a strong track record of delivering results, managing complex portfolios, driving change, and motivating teams. Excellent relationship-building, communication, and engagement skills are essential for influencing across the Trust and the wider system. The Director will provide leadership to finance, performance, and procurement functions.
Main duties of the job
Jointly responsible with the director of operational finance for maintaining the integrity of the general ledger and assuring the chief financial officer of accurate, standards-compliant financial reporting.
Ensure robust governance for finance and procurement within the Trust's overall structure.
Lead on the Trust's finance enabling strategy and support the long-term financial model, including preparing the annual plan for NHS and translating it into budgets.
Provide financial expertise for monitoring transformation and efficiency programmes, and work with strategy colleagues to encourage clinical and operational staff involvement in financial improvement.
Lead external contract negotiations and procurement, ensuring value and compliance with current procurement law, and manage the Trust's relationship with its subsidiary.
Serve on the finance, investment and performance committee, deputise for the chief financial officer, and ensure high-performing, flexible finance, performance and procurement teams.
Participate in ICS work and support the trust director on-call rota.
About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing exceptional care together
Our fundamental values of compassion, openness and excellence underpin how we intend to work as a trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
- Development opportunities, including both professional and leadership development
- On-going support through every step of the way from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- A variety of other staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key facts about our trust:
- We see on average 4810 op appointments per day.
- We are the 4th busiest trauma & orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please do not apply online. If you share our values and ambition and are ready to lead our trust into the future, we invite you to apply by sending your CV an covering letter to sandeep.chohan@nhs.net
For further information/informal discussion with the Chief Finance Officer please contact Sarah Morgan Executive Assistant to Chief Financial officer via email sarah.morgan8@nhs.net
Please ensure your CV includes your full employment history.
Closing date for applications: 05th March 2026
Interview date: Thursday 26th March, in person at Royal Derby Hospital. Stakeholders carousels will be held on MS Teams earlier in the week.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a health and care visa or skilled worker visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipimpacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS employers
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please do not apply online. If you share our values and ambition and are ready to lead our trust into the future, we invite you to apply by sending your CV an covering letter to sandeep.chohan@nhs.net
For further information/informal discussion with the Chief Finance Officer please contact Sarah Morgan Executive Assistant to Chief Financial officer via email sarah.morgan8@nhs.net
Please ensure your CV includes your full employment history.
Closing date for applications: 05th March 2026
Interview date: Thursday 26th March, in person at Royal Derby Hospital. Stakeholders carousels will be held on MS Teams earlier in the week.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a health and care visa or skilled worker visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipimpacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS employers
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Relevant accountancy qualification and current registration with the associated professional body.
- Degree/ Masters level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Compassionate, accountable and inclusive leadership, invested in continuously developing and motivating the team and service.
- Experience of working in a large, complex organisation at senior leadership level, with strong persuasion and influencing skills.
- Experience of managing large revenue and capital budgets with knowledge and understanding of the influence of political context and frameworks on financial practice.
- Creates strategic vision, working with key stakeholders to provide a responsive service and deliver key performance measures.
- Continuous improvement mindset, identifying efficient practices and leading practical and behavioural change within the service and the Trust.
- Ability to support the delivery of financial and operational performance with a successful track record in achieving targets, both service and financial
Desirable
- Understanding of the requirements of an NHS organisation, national returns and data submissions and requirements of Commissioners/ICBs
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Experience of conflict resolution and negotiation at a senior level
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex concepts and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders
- Analytical thinker, assimilating complex information to underpin strategies, translating these clearly by using highly developed financial and business management skills
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Relevant accountancy qualification and current registration with the associated professional body.
- Degree/ Masters level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Compassionate, accountable and inclusive leadership, invested in continuously developing and motivating the team and service.
- Experience of working in a large, complex organisation at senior leadership level, with strong persuasion and influencing skills.
- Experience of managing large revenue and capital budgets with knowledge and understanding of the influence of political context and frameworks on financial practice.
- Creates strategic vision, working with key stakeholders to provide a responsive service and deliver key performance measures.
- Continuous improvement mindset, identifying efficient practices and leading practical and behavioural change within the service and the Trust.
- Ability to support the delivery of financial and operational performance with a successful track record in achieving targets, both service and financial
Desirable
- Understanding of the requirements of an NHS organisation, national returns and data submissions and requirements of Commissioners/ICBs
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Experience of conflict resolution and negotiation at a senior level
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex concepts and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders
- Analytical thinker, assimilating complex information to underpin strategies, translating these clearly by using highly developed financial and business management skills
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
