Job summary
CFO Job Advert (April 2026)
We are proud of what we have achieved at East London NHS Foundation Trust - we now need a new Chief Finance Officer to further embed our strong financial position and excellent financial stewardship and to play a central role in the executive leadership of the Trust.
Reporting to the Trust's Chief Executive, Lorraine Sunduza, the Chief Finance Officer is a key board role at ELFT contributing on all strategic and operational matters. They are accountable for the overall financial performance of the Trust, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while delivering safe, high-quality patient care for the service users.
ELFT is a truly special organisation - We are proud to be a high-performing, clinically led and service user-driven Trust, providing mental health, community health and primary care services across East London, Bedfordshire and Luton.
With a strong culture of continuous improvement, we are firmly committed to delivering high-quality, equitable care for the communities we serve and providing an environment where our 8,000 staff can flourish.
Please refer to the candidate information pack for more information and send your CV and cover letter to Nicola Brooks to apply.
Main duties of the job
As Chief Finance Officer at ELFT, you will:
- Provide strong, visible and compassionate leadership of the Trust's finance function, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism and continuous improvement.
- Lead the development of the Trust's financial strategy, plans and forecasts.
- Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls, audit processes and regulatory compliance.
- Provide expert financial advice to the Board and senior leaders to inform strategic investment, risk management and service transformation.
- Oversee financial reporting, performance monitoring, budget management and value-for-money delivery.
- Provide Board-level leadership for Estates & Facilities ensuring safety, statutory compliance, lifecycle planning and long-term capital development.
- Provide strategic leadership for procurement, ensuring transparent, compliant and efficient processes.
- Play a central role in enabling neighbourhood health and community-based models of care, developing financial mechanisms that support left-shift and partnership working
- Provide clear, confident advice to the Chief Executive, Board and Committees, ensuring informed decision-making and early identification of financial risk.
About us
ELFT provides a wide range of community and inpatient services for children, young people, adults of working age, older adults and forensic services across two Integrated Care Systems and six-placed based systems, serving diverse populations across the City of London and the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire. For some specialised services we commission and provide across north central and east London and beyond.
We are proud to be a high- performing, clinically led and service user driven Trust with a strong culture of continuous improvement and a deep commitment to delivering high quality, equitable care. As the first NHS Marmot Trust, we are proud to act as an anchor institution - tackling the wider determinants of health and championing inclusion across Bedfordshire, Luton and East London.
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Chief Finance Officer at ELFT, you will:
- Provide strong, visible and compassionate leadership of the Trust's finance function, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism and continuous improvement.
- Lead the development of the Trusts financial strategy, plans and forecasts.
- Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls, audit processes and regulatory compliance.
- Provide expert financial advice to the Board and senior leaders to inform strategic investment, risk management and service transformation.
- Oversee financial reporting, performance monitoring, budget management and valueformoney delivery.
- Provide Boardlevel leadership for Estates & Facilities ensuring safety, statutory compliance, lifecycle planning and longterm capital development.
- Provide strategic leadership for procurement, ensuring transparent, compliant and efficient processes.
- Play a central role in enabling neighbourhood health and community-based models of care, developing financial mechanisms that support left-shift and partnership working
- Provide clear, confident advice to the Chief Executive, Board and Committees, ensuring informed decision-making and early identification of financial risk.
- Lead, develop and inspire senior finance colleagues, fostering potential and creating a modern, outward-facing and enabling finance function
- Place equality, diversity and inclusion at the centre of leadership practice, embedding equity of access, experience and outcomes across all decision-making activity.
The successful candidate will be an experienced, compassionate, and dynamic leader with a demonstrable track record of delivering meaningful impact within large, complex organisations. They will bring extensive expertise in financial leadership, governance, and performance management, alongside board-level experience and outstanding communication skills. A strong understanding of NHS finance policy and wider Integrated Care System (ICS) working is essential, as is knowledge of estates, capital planning, and sustainability.
They will possess the ability to translate strategic vision into effective operational delivery, inspiring and leading change across the organisation. Above all, they will demonstrate a deep and authentic commitment to NHS values and to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Chief Finance Officer at ELFT, you will:
- Provide strong, visible and compassionate leadership of the Trust's finance function, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism and continuous improvement.
- Lead the development of the Trusts financial strategy, plans and forecasts.
- Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls, audit processes and regulatory compliance.
- Provide expert financial advice to the Board and senior leaders to inform strategic investment, risk management and service transformation.
- Oversee financial reporting, performance monitoring, budget management and valueformoney delivery.
- Provide Boardlevel leadership for Estates & Facilities ensuring safety, statutory compliance, lifecycle planning and longterm capital development.
- Provide strategic leadership for procurement, ensuring transparent, compliant and efficient processes.
- Play a central role in enabling neighbourhood health and community-based models of care, developing financial mechanisms that support left-shift and partnership working
- Provide clear, confident advice to the Chief Executive, Board and Committees, ensuring informed decision-making and early identification of financial risk.
- Lead, develop and inspire senior finance colleagues, fostering potential and creating a modern, outward-facing and enabling finance function
- Place equality, diversity and inclusion at the centre of leadership practice, embedding equity of access, experience and outcomes across all decision-making activity.
The successful candidate will be an experienced, compassionate, and dynamic leader with a demonstrable track record of delivering meaningful impact within large, complex organisations. They will bring extensive expertise in financial leadership, governance, and performance management, alongside board-level experience and outstanding communication skills. A strong understanding of NHS finance policy and wider Integrated Care System (ICS) working is essential, as is knowledge of estates, capital planning, and sustainability.
They will possess the ability to translate strategic vision into effective operational delivery, inspiring and leading change across the organisation. Above all, they will demonstrate a deep and authentic commitment to NHS values and to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience
- Recognised accountancy qualification
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Master's degree in management or relevant field
Experience
Essential
- Senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation
- Proven track record in financial leadership, governance and performance management
- Experience working at or near Board level
- Successful delivery of organisational change and performance goals
Desirable
- NHS Experience
- Experience in estates or capital planning
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Deep understanding of financial strategy, governance, risk, audit and investment appraisal
- Understanding of NHS finance policy and ICS system working
- Strong understanding of estates compliance, capital planning and sustainability
- Excellent communication, influencing and leadership skills
- Ability to translate strategy into operational delivery
- Ability to manage competing priorities and lead change
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience
- Recognised accountancy qualification
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Master's degree in management or relevant field
Experience
Essential
- Senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation
- Proven track record in financial leadership, governance and performance management
- Experience working at or near Board level
- Successful delivery of organisational change and performance goals
Desirable
- NHS Experience
- Experience in estates or capital planning
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Deep understanding of financial strategy, governance, risk, audit and investment appraisal
- Understanding of NHS finance policy and ICS system working
- Strong understanding of estates compliance, capital planning and sustainability
- Excellent communication, influencing and leadership skills
- Ability to translate strategy into operational delivery
- Ability to manage competing priorities and lead change
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).
