Head of Financial Management

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide a high quality professional financial management advice and support service, acting as lead accountant and contact point for a range of clinical and non-clinical divisions. To ensure that these divisions/directorates achieve financial balance and that financial pressures are highlighted at an early stage and appropriate action identified. Continue to develop financial reporting and planning to reflect the needs of the divisions/directorates and improve accountability.

2. Provide specialist strategic, financial and business skills input into the planning of any service development including strategic change within the division/directorate as appropriate, ensure that divisional/directorate objectives are affordable within available resources consistent with organisational financial strategy.

3. Act as deputy for the Assistant Director of Finance (ADoF) and be accountable for specific team wide areas of responsibility, ensuring the ADoF is kept informed of divisional and team issues.

4. Lead on and provide input to projects within finance or across the Trust as assigned.

5. Co-ordinate the production of Trust/divisional monthly financial management information in line with agreed timetables and to feed into the trust reporting framework with reports taken to internal committees as well as reported externally. Internal committees to include divisional board, capital and workforce planning group, drugs management committee, research committee, charitable funds committee, management board and trust board of directors.

6. Co-ordinate the budget setting process for division(s)/directorates by establishing and maintaining systems and procedures and ensuring the production of working papers to enable the formulation of the Trust budget book. Contribute to the financial planning process to enable the formation to the Trusts annual plan.

7. Interpret financial information and communicate variances from budget and any areas of potential risk to senior managers and offer guidance and advise to enable action plans to be formulated which maximise the financial resources available.

8. Proactively assist colleagues in managing budgets and continually act to promote financial control and stewardship to safeguard the use of funds and promote value for money and ensure the appropriate use of funds within the division/directorate.

9. In conjunction with the division(s) and the Programme Management Office, proactively identify, monitor and evaluate schemes to ensure achievement of Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) targets, and contribute to CIP working groups by being the nominated finance representative.

10. Accurately forecast the year end financial position of the division/directorates on a monthly basis to enable the year-end position for the trust/charity to be provided to the board.

11. Act corporately, upholding the professionalism, position and focus of the Finance Directorate, whilst also being an integral and trusted member of the divisional team(s).

12. As a member of divisional board(s), develop a close working relationship with other members of the board and divisional senior management team. Present financial information to clinicians, managers and other staff to improve financial awareness and efficiency.

13. As a senior member of the division(s), contribute to the effective operation of the division(s), leading on projects where appropriate.

14. Provide the division with information on the links between the achievement of performance targets and the financial performance of the division. This will include advising the divisional board on Local Delivery Plans; cost and price implications of service changes and advising of financial implications of changes to local tariff and payment by results.

15. Link with the Income, Costing and Contracting team in the production of profitability reporting through divisional/directorate agreement of cost and income allocation and understanding of service contribution to the running of the trust.

16. Link with the Financial Services Manager to ensure the accurate reporting of the trust balance sheet and cash flow statement, to also ensure the trust maximises its cash balance on a daily basis.

17. Contribute to and where appropriate lead on identified corporate financial projects, for example the preparation of elements of the Annual Accounts process.

18. Work co-operatively across the finance function to ensure that common standards of accounting practice are maintained within the Trust and to share information and best practice to achieve more effective use of resources or enhance productivity. Attend and contribute to the weekly section meeting chaired by the ADoF.

19. Authorised signatory for cheques and bank payment transfers ensuring requests meet the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders of the Trust.

20. Exercise independent judgement and initiative when problems arise and take appropriate action to resolve areas of concern.

21. Responsible for prioritising own work and that of specific sub-teams(s) within the divisional financial management team (the post requires no direct supervision), and where appropriate that of the wider divisional financial management team. To line manage specific sub-teams(s) within the divisional financial management team including appraisals; training and development; sickness absence; disciplinary matters; recruitment and selection decisions; personal and career development and workload allocations, and to supervise where appropriate the wider divisional financial management team.

22. Lead on the provision of financial training to managers, clinicians and all budget holders within the division/directorates and the Trust.

23. Lead on the development and implementation of policies, procedures and protocols for the provision of financial management information to ensure the trust complies with statutory and internal requirements, in conjunction with the ADoF.

24. To provide cover for other financial management team members absences, including supporting other divisions.

25. Work with the ADoF to agree Personal Objectives, and a Personal Development Plan and keep up to date professionally through mandatory continuing professional development.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, but reflects the main responsibilities of the post holder. Other duties may be required from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the post. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB/CIMA Qualified Accountant
• Demonstrate Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

• Degree

Experience

Essential

• Have extensive post qualification experience in a senior role, working as a senior manager within a complex finance department, have an advanced understanding of financial management and financial accounting principles
• Experience in working in a multi - agency and disciplinary environment
• Extensive experience of management accounting
• Experience of managing, motivating and developing staff, including professionally qualified staff
• Experience of computerised financial systems
• Experience of NHS finance and the NHS financial regime

Desirable

• Experience of working at a NHS Foundation Trust
• Have experience in the preparation of the statutory annual accounts process

Skills

Essential

• Excellent analytical and reasoning skills
• Ability to prepare and present financial information to non financial people
• Planning, monitoring and influencing skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to people at all levels within the organisation
• Proficient in the use of computerised and manual financial systems, including spreadsheets and database packages, and have the ability to develop systems to maximum benefits to users
• Possess a robust understanding of financial and activity systems and to be able to extract, interpret, manipulate and present information in a meaningful way
• Ability to manage, motivate and develop staff, including professionally qualified staff
• Ability to work without supervision and to deliver to deadlines
• Ability to be both a team leader and a team player
• Ability to lead change and have a positive influence on others
• Evidence of past achievements and ability to deliver
• Ability to lead and proactively contribute to business cases, providing an effective and professional financial input

Knowledge

Essential

• In depth knowledge of the NHS financial regime and the impact on Trust income
• Knowledge of the FT financial regime including an understanding of the compliance framework

Desirable

• Understanding of the NHS Cancer Plan and Trust performance targets and to be able to understand the impact that these have on the Trust

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).