Job summary
Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Department: Finance
Band 9
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you ready for the next big step in your financial career?
#TeamMKUH are hiring for a Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO). Our Trust is growing rapidly, and we are looking for a candidate who has ideally had experience in a healthcare environment and has experience with finance and expansion.
As Deputy Chief Finance Officer, you will provide strategic financial leadership across the Trust, supporting the Chief Finance Officer in delivering robust financial governance and sustainability. The successful candidate will lead teams including Procurement, Financial Management, Financial Control & Capital, and Income & Commercial Contracting.
The DCFO will undertake all duties in line with the requirements of the role to support the CFO in the delivery of:
o Commissioner contract agreement and income reportingo Business and commercial advice across a range of service changeso Providing financial input into strategic decision makingo Developing and standardizing the use of costing reporting
Furthermore, this role offers exposure to executive decision-making, progression to Board-level positions, leadership development, involvement in major projects, and a supportive environment for ongoing professional growth.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role at this current time.
Main duties of the job
To provide strategic and operational leadership of the Trust's finance function, ensuring robust financial governance, effective resource allocation, and delivery of value-for-money services.
You will oversee financial controls, reporting, budgeting, and compliance to ensure efficient resource management and adherence to NHS regulations.
You will identify cost saving opportunities, and supporting service transformation to enhance financial efficiency while maintaining quality.
You will provide direct line management to the senior finance team, fostering a high-performance culture. Additionally, take responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective finance team structure and recruiting, retaining and developing talented individuals to operate within it.
You will be an advocate of continuous improvement, and you will drive the ongoing support & development of the finance team to ensure it is able to deliver in a best of class manner for the Trust.
Working closely with colleagues, you will ensure that the Trust is well represented within the ICS, has constructive relationships with commissioners and is influential nationally.
You will be responsible for ensuring statutory accounts and returns represent a true and fair view, meet required timescales and legal requirements.
Participation in the on-call rota is a requirement of the role
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic Finance Leadership
The post holder will:
Ensure financial direction, challenge, and guidance is embedded in all aspects of organisational performance and planning.
Deliver a proactive and enabling finance service that supports clinicians and operational leaders to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care.
Financial Planning
The post holder will:
Contribute to the strategic and operational planning process, ensuring the development of short and medium-term financial plans, based on best practice financial and business principals.
Financial Analysis
The post holder will:
Develop and implement effective and innovative ways of producing information for budget holders, educating those who commit resources to promote the most effective use of resources in line with the needs of the service
Lead on forecasting process and outcomes, including risk assessment and the development of appropriate mitigations
Driving Value, Efficiency and Productivity
The post holder will (working closely with the Head of Transformation):
Provide strategic oversight of value-based healthcare initiatives, ensuring alignment of financial resources to clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Lead on the development and implementation of efficiency frameworks, embedding financial insights into improvement programmes.
System Leadership
The post holder will:
Represent MKUHFT in Central East ICS finance forums to deliver System based transformation.
Lead on shared financial strategies and cross-organisational planning, supporting population health management and integrated models of care.
Inclusion, Leadership and Culture
The post holder will:
Embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in financial leadership, recruitment, progression, and staff engagement.
Ensure finance policies, development programmes, and staff networks reflect Trust EDI commitments and NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES).
NHS One Finance & Professional Development
The post holder will:
Champion the MKUH One Finance journey, to include re-Accreditation, embedding the principles of professionalism, leadership, and inclusivity.
Lead the implementation of the One NHS Finance Talent Management Strategy within MKUH.
Digital Finance and Intelligence
The post holder will:
Lead the modernisation of financial systems through automation and wider use of AI
Drive the use of Service Line Reporting (SLR) and Patient-Level Costing (PLICS) to support decision-making.
Corporate responsibilities
The post holder will:
Assist the Chief Finance Officer to provide strategic leadership and professional financial advice to the Trust to ensure its long-term financial success.
Deputise for the Chief Finance Officer when required and represent Finance at relevant Board Committees, system, internal and external meetings.
General
The post holder will:
Proactively support the Chief Finance Officer to develop strategy, deliver agreed initiatives and implement agreed plans.
Attend Trust Board & Committee meetings as required.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic Finance Leadership
The post holder will:
Ensure financial direction, challenge, and guidance is embedded in all aspects of organisational performance and planning.
Deliver a proactive and enabling finance service that supports clinicians and operational leaders to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care.
Financial Planning
The post holder will:
Contribute to the strategic and operational planning process, ensuring the development of short and medium-term financial plans, based on best practice financial and business principals.
Financial Analysis
The post holder will:
Develop and implement effective and innovative ways of producing information for budget holders, educating those who commit resources to promote the most effective use of resources in line with the needs of the service
Lead on forecasting process and outcomes, including risk assessment and the development of appropriate mitigations
Driving Value, Efficiency and Productivity
The post holder will (working closely with the Head of Transformation):
Provide strategic oversight of value-based healthcare initiatives, ensuring alignment of financial resources to clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Lead on the development and implementation of efficiency frameworks, embedding financial insights into improvement programmes.
System Leadership
The post holder will:
Represent MKUHFT in Central East ICS finance forums to deliver System based transformation.
Lead on shared financial strategies and cross-organisational planning, supporting population health management and integrated models of care.
Inclusion, Leadership and Culture
The post holder will:
Embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in financial leadership, recruitment, progression, and staff engagement.
Ensure finance policies, development programmes, and staff networks reflect Trust EDI commitments and NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES).
NHS One Finance & Professional Development
The post holder will:
Champion the MKUH One Finance journey, to include re-Accreditation, embedding the principles of professionalism, leadership, and inclusivity.
Lead the implementation of the One NHS Finance Talent Management Strategy within MKUH.
Digital Finance and Intelligence
The post holder will:
Lead the modernisation of financial systems through automation and wider use of AI
Drive the use of Service Line Reporting (SLR) and Patient-Level Costing (PLICS) to support decision-making.
Corporate responsibilities
The post holder will:
Assist the Chief Finance Officer to provide strategic leadership and professional financial advice to the Trust to ensure its long-term financial success.
Deputise for the Chief Finance Officer when required and represent Finance at relevant Board Committees, system, internal and external meetings.
General
The post holder will:
Proactively support the Chief Finance Officer to develop strategy, deliver agreed initiatives and implement agreed plans.
Attend Trust Board & Committee meetings as required.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Masters (or equivalent) level or equivalent experience and skills developed across a number of fields i.e. financial management, people management, financial information systems etc.
- Significant experience through working at a senior level in a Finance function in a complex organisation in a Healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Trust, NHS Commissioning, NHS England) or through Level 8 financial qualification.
- Professionally qualified accountant
- Evidence of recent and on-going continuous professional and personal development
- Significant knowledge of current financial legislation
Desirable
- Postgraduate management or other relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. Masters degree)
Experience
Essential
- Significant, substantial and extensive post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation in a healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Acute Trust, NHS Commissioner, NHS England)
- Demonstrable track record operating at/near board level, in a complex health care organisation, with clear evidence of system leadership remit, with the professional credibility and ability to influence Directors and senior managers and clinicians across the health system, and to retain the confidence of regulators and other external stakeholders
- Evidence of successful and sustained financial leadership in an environment of organisational change and improvement
- Sound understanding of NHS strategic change agenda and political environment
- Sound understanding of the commercial environment; and the national healthcare policy and strategic direction
- Current knowledge of all aspects of finance, corporate governance and controls assurance
- Proven experience of developing and reviewing large scale business cases and capacity plans
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills (both verbal and written) with experience of dealing directly with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Strong and effective leadership and people management skills. Demonstrable success in building, leading, motivating and developing teams as highly effective people manager
- Expert specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies
- Evidence of supporting complex operational and structural productivity programmes, including reorganisations, and of supporting organisations through ongoing change and development programmes
- Working across organisational boundaries in pursuit of shared objectives
- Experience of implementing strategy with evidence of monetary savings and innovative ways of working
Desirable
- Experience of developing complex capital and revenue business cases (greater than £30m+) in the NHS
Skills
Essential
- A strong understanding of the healthcare sector, whether gained through the NHS or independent sector
- Ability to interpret highly complex information (e.g. Annual/Multi Year Planning, Investments and Business cases) and take decisions regarding allocation of resources and risk
- Ability to develop and review complex and multi-year financial models, covering I&E, Balance Sheet, Cash and Capital
- Strong commercial and business acumen
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with in-depth knowledge of techniques for interpreting and presenting complex and sensitive financial and non-financial management information to a range of audiences
- Ability to engage, work with, and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to bring about change and service improvements
- Ability to lead, manage and mentor staff
- Ability to balance the need to think strategically and manage operationally
- Collaborative working style with peers, sharing knowledge and being proactive in understanding current issues
- Ability to challenge and effectively manage and deal with highly contentious situations and issues
- Able to prioritise and manage the ongoing work of services and/or projects
- Results orientated and delivers against deadlines
- Ability to articulate a strong and coherent vision in a way that inspires and motivates colleague
- Ability to think conceptually and simplify complexity to create clarity and provide direction and focus
Personal and people development
Essential
- Can lead, motivate and inspire others, both directly and indirectly.
- Is credible to internal and external stakeholders
Communication
Essential
- Proven ability to deliver presentations and training sessions to audiences within and outside the Trust
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels
- Communicates with authority both internally and externally
- Political awareness - ability to perceive impact of actions on the decisions and activity of others
- High level of emotional intelligence. self-awareness with the ability to keep calm in challenging situations. Able to perform confidently in pressured situations
- Confident, challenging and questioning and prepared to challenge traditional views using empathy, evidence and curiosity. Can constructively challenge and effectively manage conflict to reach a positive conclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Masters (or equivalent) level or equivalent experience and skills developed across a number of fields i.e. financial management, people management, financial information systems etc.
- Significant experience through working at a senior level in a Finance function in a complex organisation in a Healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Trust, NHS Commissioning, NHS England) or through Level 8 financial qualification.
- Professionally qualified accountant
- Evidence of recent and on-going continuous professional and personal development
- Significant knowledge of current financial legislation
Desirable
- Postgraduate management or other relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. Masters degree)
Experience
Essential
- Significant, substantial and extensive post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation in a healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Acute Trust, NHS Commissioner, NHS England)
- Demonstrable track record operating at/near board level, in a complex health care organisation, with clear evidence of system leadership remit, with the professional credibility and ability to influence Directors and senior managers and clinicians across the health system, and to retain the confidence of regulators and other external stakeholders
- Evidence of successful and sustained financial leadership in an environment of organisational change and improvement
- Sound understanding of NHS strategic change agenda and political environment
- Sound understanding of the commercial environment; and the national healthcare policy and strategic direction
- Current knowledge of all aspects of finance, corporate governance and controls assurance
- Proven experience of developing and reviewing large scale business cases and capacity plans
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills (both verbal and written) with experience of dealing directly with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Strong and effective leadership and people management skills. Demonstrable success in building, leading, motivating and developing teams as highly effective people manager
- Expert specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies
- Evidence of supporting complex operational and structural productivity programmes, including reorganisations, and of supporting organisations through ongoing change and development programmes
- Working across organisational boundaries in pursuit of shared objectives
- Experience of implementing strategy with evidence of monetary savings and innovative ways of working
Desirable
- Experience of developing complex capital and revenue business cases (greater than £30m+) in the NHS
Skills
Essential
- A strong understanding of the healthcare sector, whether gained through the NHS or independent sector
- Ability to interpret highly complex information (e.g. Annual/Multi Year Planning, Investments and Business cases) and take decisions regarding allocation of resources and risk
- Ability to develop and review complex and multi-year financial models, covering I&E, Balance Sheet, Cash and Capital
- Strong commercial and business acumen
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with in-depth knowledge of techniques for interpreting and presenting complex and sensitive financial and non-financial management information to a range of audiences
- Ability to engage, work with, and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to bring about change and service improvements
- Ability to lead, manage and mentor staff
- Ability to balance the need to think strategically and manage operationally
- Collaborative working style with peers, sharing knowledge and being proactive in understanding current issues
- Ability to challenge and effectively manage and deal with highly contentious situations and issues
- Able to prioritise and manage the ongoing work of services and/or projects
- Results orientated and delivers against deadlines
- Ability to articulate a strong and coherent vision in a way that inspires and motivates colleague
- Ability to think conceptually and simplify complexity to create clarity and provide direction and focus
Personal and people development
Essential
- Can lead, motivate and inspire others, both directly and indirectly.
- Is credible to internal and external stakeholders
Communication
Essential
- Proven ability to deliver presentations and training sessions to audiences within and outside the Trust
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels
- Communicates with authority both internally and externally
- Political awareness - ability to perceive impact of actions on the decisions and activity of others
- High level of emotional intelligence. self-awareness with the ability to keep calm in challenging situations. Able to perform confidently in pressured situations
- Confident, challenging and questioning and prepared to challenge traditional views using empathy, evidence and curiosity. Can constructively challenge and effectively manage conflict to reach a positive conclusion
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.
