East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Head of Financial Strategy and Business Development

The closing date is 20 February 2026

Job summary

Are you an experienced senior finance professional ready to shape the future of healthcare services in East Sussex? We are seeking an outstanding senior finance leader to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as our Head of Financial Strategy and Business Development. This is a pivotal role in driving our Trust's strategic, financial, and service planning agenda.

This is a high-impact leadership position working at the heart of our Finance Directorate. You will lead the development of robust business cases, own the Trust's medium-term financial plan, and oversee costing and service line reporting-ensuring our resources are aligned to deliver excellent patient care and long-term sustainability.

Why Join ESHT?

You'll be part of a forward-thinking and supportive Finance leadership team, playing a central role in shaping future clinical and financial sustainability for services across East Sussex. We offer flexible working, professional development opportunities, and the ability to make a tangible impact on patient care.

If you're an experienced senior finance professional looking for a strategic leadership role with real influence and you're passionate about driving financial and strategic excellence in healthcare, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

About the Role

As a senior member of the Finance Directorate, you will lead three critical areas:

Business Development

Provide expert technical advice, training, and governance on service development proposals.
Lead or coordinate major strategic business cases, working closely with the Strategy & Transformation Directorate.

Financial Strategy

Lead development of the Trust's Medium-Term Financial Plan.
Shape the financial components of major business cases and trust-wide strategic initiatives.
Lead the Trust's costing and service line reporting (SLR) function, supporting informed decision-making across the organisation.
Drive complex financial modelling and scenario planning

Business Planning

Lead the Trust's annual business planning cycle, designing the approach, templates, analysis and governance.

What We're Looking For

A CCAB-qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience.
Proven experience in senior NHS finance, complex financial planning, and business case development.

Expertise in developing complex or strategic business cases, financial planning, costing and service line reporting.

Strong analytical, communication and influencing skills -- able to translate highly complex financial information into compelling insights.
A collaborative leader with experience developing teams and driving organisation-wide change.

About us

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Date posted

10 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

374-LC2426

Job locations

Eastbourne District General Hospital/Conquest Hospital

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree level qualification or equivalent AI knowledge and experience
Chartered Accountant with significant post qualification experience
Professional (masters level) CCAB qualified accountant with 5 years postqualification experience
Management qualification or equivalent training
Evidence of continued professional development in relevant subject

Desirable

Better Business Case NHS qualification

Experience

Essential

Substantial amount of experience of finance at a senior management level within the NHS or similar large complex organisation
Significant experience preparing complex and/or strategic business cases
Experience of highly complex financial planning
Experience of costing and service line reporting

Desirable

NHS finance experience

Skills

Essential

Highly proficient in Excel and able to undertake modelling and complex data analysis
Report writing and excellent business writing/formatting skills
Explains complex situations in ways that are accessible to a range of stakeholders
Ability to design medium and long term strategies to ensure the engagement and involvement of essential stakeholders, and adapt own style and impact to encourage positive and effective partnerships
Ability to draw together a range of disparate and complex information in order to identify options and make decisions

Desirable

Bid writing to support tender responses
Use of logic models

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree level qualification or equivalent AI knowledge and experience
Chartered Accountant with significant post qualification experience
Professional (masters level) CCAB qualified accountant with 5 years postqualification experience
Management qualification or equivalent training
Evidence of continued professional development in relevant subject

Desirable

Better Business Case NHS qualification

Experience

Essential

Substantial amount of experience of finance at a senior management level within the NHS or similar large complex organisation
Significant experience preparing complex and/or strategic business cases
Experience of highly complex financial planning
Experience of costing and service line reporting

Desirable

NHS finance experience

Skills

Essential

Highly proficient in Excel and able to undertake modelling and complex data analysis
Report writing and excellent business writing/formatting skills
Explains complex situations in ways that are accessible to a range of stakeholders
Ability to design medium and long term strategies to ensure the engagement and involvement of essential stakeholders, and adapt own style and impact to encourage positive and effective partnerships
Ability to draw together a range of disparate and complex information in order to identify options and make decisions

Desirable

Bid writing to support tender responses
Use of logic models

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Eastbourne District General Hospital/Conquest Hospital

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Eastbourne District General Hospital/Conquest Hospital

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD

Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)