Job summary
Are you passionate about providing high quality financial support, whilst promoting the Trust's Vision and Values to positively engage staff, service users and other stakeholders?
Would you like to join our One NHS Finance Level 1 accredited team on the next stage of our journey to achieving Level 2?
Over the past year, we've worked to fill challenging recruitment gaps, finding the right people to join our team. We have a fantastic mix of new faces and longer standing colleagues, putting us in a great position to start building on our achievements from last year and focusing on our goals to take our service to the next level.
We are keen to increasingly automate our processes, so we can focus on value-adding work that supports services. We want to innovate and seek out best practice from others, including through national One NHS Finance networks.
We tell the story behind the numbers to help our colleagues to manage financial risks and spot opportunities to do more for less. We're valued finance business partners and have tonnes to offer as we collaborate with our Care Group and Directorate teams, navigating a tough financial operating environment with our partners.
We are offering the position of Deputy Director of Finance, who will be part of the Senior Leadership Team and play a key role in the leadership and development of our service, developing close working relationships with a range of senior finance colleagues across TEWV and wider North East area.
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Director of Finance you will be joining a team with a strong record of financial delivery, responsible for all operational aspects of delivering a high quality, comprehensive finance provision which will support the organisation to achieve its key strategic business objectives.
The successful candidate will deputise for the Director of Finance, Information and Estates across financial performance, planning and reporting aspects of their responsibility.
This is a strategic role, which will include taking lead responsibility for coordinating financial planning activities across the Trust to ensure the delivery of key financial targets/regulatory requirements including in relation to NHSE reporting and the annual accounts and report; developing the financial performance framework for the Trust, supporting development of, and challenging the adequacy of, cost reduction plans; leading, coordinating and directing the Trust's finance teams to provide excellent financial information.
A major role responsibility is to ensure robust financial governance through the design and review of financial systems and controls which are required as an NHS Foundation Trust and in response to national financial challenges.
At all times, you will promote a positive image of people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and/or autism, communicating in a way which recognises difference, ensuring that people feel included and their individual communication needs are met.
About us
We're the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham & Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York & Selby.
From education and prevention to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. Here everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to everyone in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work with us towards better mental health.
We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We also offer a range of benefits including:
- 27 days' annual leave - rising to 33 days' with length of service. There is also the opportunity to purchase up to two weeks additional leave, with the cost being spread through the year.
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Free Parking
- Cycle to Work scheme
- NHS Discounts
- Monthly staff prize draw
- Access to Employee Wellbeing Support
We also have 5 staff networks, letting you to have your say to help drive forward important issues across the Trust. These networks meet regularly and are open to staff who identify as part of any of these groups:
- BAME
- LGBTQ+
- Armed Forces
- Neurodivergent
- Long Term Health Conditions
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will produce, quality assure and interpret a range of financial Board and Committee level reports for Board members and others. This will require the post holder to relay and explain highly complex and/or sensitive information which may be contentious in nature. This requires the highest level of interpersonal skills in what may be a highly emotive environment.
You will regularly liaise with NHSE, place-based and regional systems and Commissioners effectively communicating financial performance and annual financial planning updates, providing assurance to external stakeholders and escalating any financial issues for internal action and / or mitigation, including Commissioning portfolio financial risks.
You will provide sound professional advice and support to the Director of Finance, other Directors and Deputy Directors in ensuring the development and implementation of financial policy and strategy for the Trust and management of the in-year position, specifically including responsibility to develop cost improvement plans in collaboration with Care Groups and Corporate Directorates.
The post holder will be responsible for providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information relating to the financial plans which underpin the operation of the Trust. They will review and analyse this information to influence staff at all levels of the organisation, adapting language to overcome barriers to understanding.
As the key representative of the organisation the post holder will be required to demonstrate a political astuteness with the ability to balance the requirements of the organisation against those of our wider partners.
You will prepare strategic financial plans at Care Group / Directorate level ensuring that they are linked to activity and workforce plans and reconcile with the Trusts strategic financial plans and budgets. This will require analysis of highly complex multi stranded information resulting in decisions that may be sensitive or contentious in nature and where opinion may differ.
The successful candidate will lead on the management of the in-year financial position and all financial reporting including in year monitoring returns to NHS England , Trust Board and Committees, Executives Directors Group (and sub groups), Management Group and Financial Sustainability Board. Management of statutory annual accounts arrangements, the final reported position, and assurance of external submissions and audit working papers. The post holder will have an excellent working knowledge of the requirements relating to the production of statutory annual accounts and will be accountable for management of their production and subsequent audit, including lead auditor relationship management.
You will be accountable for the Trusts capital financial planning process and through the Head of Service ensure the provision of financial advice, support and monitoring of the Trusts Strategic Capital Investment Programme.
More information about the role and main responsibilities can be found in the attached Job Description.
Thanks for your interest in the position. If youd like to understand more, or discuss the role and job description further with our Director of Finance (Liz Romaniak) please contact Jayne Hodgson Jayne.Hodgson2@nhs.net to arrange an appointment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will produce, quality assure and interpret a range of financial Board and Committee level reports for Board members and others. This will require the post holder to relay and explain highly complex and/or sensitive information which may be contentious in nature. This requires the highest level of interpersonal skills in what may be a highly emotive environment.
You will regularly liaise with NHSE, place-based and regional systems and Commissioners effectively communicating financial performance and annual financial planning updates, providing assurance to external stakeholders and escalating any financial issues for internal action and / or mitigation, including Commissioning portfolio financial risks.
You will provide sound professional advice and support to the Director of Finance, other Directors and Deputy Directors in ensuring the development and implementation of financial policy and strategy for the Trust and management of the in-year position, specifically including responsibility to develop cost improvement plans in collaboration with Care Groups and Corporate Directorates.
The post holder will be responsible for providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information relating to the financial plans which underpin the operation of the Trust. They will review and analyse this information to influence staff at all levels of the organisation, adapting language to overcome barriers to understanding.
As the key representative of the organisation the post holder will be required to demonstrate a political astuteness with the ability to balance the requirements of the organisation against those of our wider partners.
You will prepare strategic financial plans at Care Group / Directorate level ensuring that they are linked to activity and workforce plans and reconcile with the Trusts strategic financial plans and budgets. This will require analysis of highly complex multi stranded information resulting in decisions that may be sensitive or contentious in nature and where opinion may differ.
The successful candidate will lead on the management of the in-year financial position and all financial reporting including in year monitoring returns to NHS England , Trust Board and Committees, Executives Directors Group (and sub groups), Management Group and Financial Sustainability Board. Management of statutory annual accounts arrangements, the final reported position, and assurance of external submissions and audit working papers. The post holder will have an excellent working knowledge of the requirements relating to the production of statutory annual accounts and will be accountable for management of their production and subsequent audit, including lead auditor relationship management.
You will be accountable for the Trusts capital financial planning process and through the Head of Service ensure the provision of financial advice, support and monitoring of the Trusts Strategic Capital Investment Programme.
More information about the role and main responsibilities can be found in the attached Job Description.
Thanks for your interest in the position. If youd like to understand more, or discuss the role and job description further with our Director of Finance (Liz Romaniak) please contact Jayne Hodgson Jayne.Hodgson2@nhs.net to arrange an appointment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB qualified accountant
- Post Graduate qualification or equivalent evidence of continued professional development
- CPD record complying with membership of relative accounting body.
Experience
Essential
- Significant Post-qualification experience including substantial experience working at a Deputy Director level in the NHS
- Demonstrable experience of producing reports for Committees/Board and attending to present reports.
- Experience of planning to formulate the delivery of financial services at both the operational and strategic levels.
- Proven experience of managing teams to deliver complex change programmes and supporting operational services to release financial efficiencies
- Experience of operating at System level to develop shared plans and deliver shared goals and outcomes
- Experience of leading financial planning, budget setting, financial accounting and annual accounts processes to deliver timely and accurate statutory financial statements
- Experience of implementing audit recommendations and liaising proactively with audit colleagues
- Experience of presenting complex issues to wide & non-financial audiences
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of NHS financial and management accounting policies
- Able to demonstrate an advance theoretical and practical knowledge of Accounting Standards and NHS finance
- Has advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of financial and accounting procedures, legislation and policies
- Advanced working knowledge of Excel
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills demonstrating the ability to present highly complex contentious information to wide audiences adapting language to overcome barriers to understanding.
- Highly developed analytical skills to solve complex financial and non financial problems.
- Ability to form judgements and make autonomous decisions guided by policies and procedures.
- Able to understand and interpret national financial policies and guidance and advise the Trust on their implementation.
- Can demonstrate successful business planning, objective setting and experience of performance management
- Has the ability to establish good working relations with internal and external stakeholders
- Has strong analytic, numeric and critical reasoning skills and capable of effective problem-solving
- Advanced influencing, negotiating, persuasion, communication and presentation skills to individuals and large groups of people from both financial and non-financial backgrounds
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB qualified accountant
- Post Graduate qualification or equivalent evidence of continued professional development
- CPD record complying with membership of relative accounting body.
Experience
Essential
- Significant Post-qualification experience including substantial experience working at a Deputy Director level in the NHS
- Demonstrable experience of producing reports for Committees/Board and attending to present reports.
- Experience of planning to formulate the delivery of financial services at both the operational and strategic levels.
- Proven experience of managing teams to deliver complex change programmes and supporting operational services to release financial efficiencies
- Experience of operating at System level to develop shared plans and deliver shared goals and outcomes
- Experience of leading financial planning, budget setting, financial accounting and annual accounts processes to deliver timely and accurate statutory financial statements
- Experience of implementing audit recommendations and liaising proactively with audit colleagues
- Experience of presenting complex issues to wide & non-financial audiences
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of NHS financial and management accounting policies
- Able to demonstrate an advance theoretical and practical knowledge of Accounting Standards and NHS finance
- Has advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of financial and accounting procedures, legislation and policies
- Advanced working knowledge of Excel
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills demonstrating the ability to present highly complex contentious information to wide audiences adapting language to overcome barriers to understanding.
- Highly developed analytical skills to solve complex financial and non financial problems.
- Ability to form judgements and make autonomous decisions guided by policies and procedures.
- Able to understand and interpret national financial policies and guidance and advise the Trust on their implementation.
- Can demonstrate successful business planning, objective setting and experience of performance management
- Has the ability to establish good working relations with internal and external stakeholders
- Has strong analytic, numeric and critical reasoning skills and capable of effective problem-solving
- Advanced influencing, negotiating, persuasion, communication and presentation skills to individuals and large groups of people from both financial and non-financial backgrounds
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).
