Head of Contract and System Finance - Band 8c

Job responsibilities

The role will lead and be accountable for the provision of high-quality contract finance support to the ICB. The post holder will manage and, where appropriate, lead on contract negotiations across a range of high value, complex contracts and be responsible for the development of detailed finance plans and contract monitoring. This role will lead on the development and implementation of innovative contracting processes, maximising opportunities for efficiency across all financial reporting, financial modelling and outcome-based measures for contracts.

The postholder will support and co-ordinate the work of the ICS Directors of Finance group, this will include developing financial models, plans, returns and reports. The role will require expert analytical, judgement and presentation skills, as well as the ability to make and influence key decisions at a senior level. A sound understanding of existing financial regimes within the different NHS and wider public sector organisations that are part of the ICS is essential.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
• Demonstrably involves patients and the public in their work.
• Consistently puts clinicians at the heart of decision making.
• Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
• Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects, and learns from the contribution of others.
• Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation.
• Actively develops themselves and others.
• Used to working in a busy environment.
• Adaptability, flexibility, and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals, and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.
• Professional calm and efficient manner
• Effective organizer, influencer, and networker
• Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.
• Completer/Finisher

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Accountant in one of the CCAB (or CIMA) accounting bodies with evidence of professional membership and significant, senior level, post qualification experience.
• Able to demonstrate commitment to continued professional and personal development.

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel routinely within the East of England and to travel outside the region, as required, for the role.

Experience

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent.
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
• Knowledge and experience of NHS Finances, governance, and funding flows.
• Knowledge NHS payment contracting and payment mechanisms (e.g. national tariff/blended payments)
• Knowledge and experience of NHS capacity planning and financial planning
• Must understand the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
• Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy.
• Have an appreciation of the relationship between NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, Arms Length Bodies, individual provider, and commissioning organisations and wider partners.
• Minimum 5 years experience at senior level in NHS Finance.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries
• Experience of presenting complex data to senior level committees
• Knowledge and experience of the NHS Planning round and experience of medium-term financial planning

Desirable

• Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
• Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be many courses of action.
• Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
• Excellent IT skills and ability to confidently map information flows and derive appropriate system requirements/solutions.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals
• Ability to manage multiple workloads and competing deadlines.
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.

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).