Job summary
Finance Officer - Specialised Commissioning and Health & Justice
- Band 6
- Hours: 37.5 Full Time (1.0 WTE)
- Fixed Term until 31st March 2027
- Hiring Manager - Mrs K Evans
- Base - Regatta Place, Liverpool (flexibility around virtual / home working will be considered).
We are inviting applications for the above post in the NHS England (NHSE) North West Regional Team.
This is an exciting opportunity to become a key member of the Specialised Commissioning Finance Team. As a Finance Officer in Specialised Commissioning, the post holder will work as part of a dynamic team in delivering an effective service providing financial expertise for acute and mental health contracts whilst supporting managers and staff across the North West Hub.
Main duties of the job
The successful individual should have experience of practical application of management accounting skills, Oracle utilisation, managing deadlines and be able to confidently work with colleagues outside of finance both internally and externally.
Experience in Specialised Commissioning finance is not essential.
You will also be required to support the delivery of day-to-day activities and projects, support a portfolio of initiatives in demonstrating value for money for the current spend and provide in depth analysis, interpretation, and production of multiple reports. Also, any additional ad hoc duties as required.
About us
Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.
Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
We lead the NHS in England by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money
Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.
If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and as such we are keen to explore how we operate in a virtual way that supports flexible working and a positive work-life balance. As part of your onboarding journey, we will look to establish your individual support package comprising of reasonable adjustments and additional IT equipment that can make your enrolment to NHSE as smooth as possible.
Key elements of the role include:
- Undertaking all areas of day-to-day management accounting tasks, including month end, year end processes, and completion of the Agreement of Balances (AoB) exercises.
- Support the monitoring of financial flows attributed to contracts to deliver a month end position.
- Undertake data analysis to determine reasons for variances, develop well informed forecasts and partake in contract meetings.
- Act as the Finance lead for several Specialised Commissioning Independent Sector contracts working closely with Supplier Managers, Pharmacists, Service Specialists to provide financial expertise and support.
- Working closely with key stakeholders such as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and providers where required, to support service developments that will improve outcome for patients.
- Support of the financial reporting and planning, practical application of management accounting skills, ability to work to deadlines accurately, planning and delivering with the support of the team.
- Responsibility for a high standard of work supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner.
- Work towards the implementation of population-based reporting
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and as such we are keen to explore how we operate in a virtual way that supports flexible working and a positive work-life balance. As part of your onboarding journey, we will look to establish your individual support package comprising of reasonable adjustments and additional IT equipment that can make your enrolment to NHSE as smooth as possible.
Key elements of the role include:
- Undertaking all areas of day-to-day management accounting tasks, including month end, year end processes, and completion of the Agreement of Balances (AoB) exercises.
- Support the monitoring of financial flows attributed to contracts to deliver a month end position.
- Undertake data analysis to determine reasons for variances, develop well informed forecasts and partake in contract meetings.
- Act as the Finance lead for several Specialised Commissioning Independent Sector contracts working closely with Supplier Managers, Pharmacists, Service Specialists to provide financial expertise and support.
- Working closely with key stakeholders such as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and providers where required, to support service developments that will improve outcome for patients.
- Support of the financial reporting and planning, practical application of management accounting skills, ability to work to deadlines accurately, planning and delivering with the support of the team.
- Responsibility for a high standard of work supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner.
- Work towards the implementation of population-based reporting
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
Desirable
- Undertaking training towards CCAB qualification
- Further training or significant experience in financial management.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience and understanding of evaluating and measuring the performance of health services.
- Comprehensive knowledge of management accounting and SBS Oracle usage.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office especially Microsoft Excel.
- Previous experience in similar role in public sector.
Desirable
- Experience of stakeholder communication and management.
- A good understanding of the health and social care environment and roles and responsibilities within it
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Good communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to translate often complex financial information into an easily understandable format.
- Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
Analytical skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis.
Physical skills
Essential
- Skills for manipulating complex information.
- Intermediate keyboard skills.
Planning skills
Essential
- Skills for supporting financial management planning.
Autonomy / Freedom to Act
Essential
- Ability to work without supervision.
- Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workloads to changing and often tight deadlines.
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do.
- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients.
- Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
- Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and seeks out innovation.
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Essential
- Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Other
Essential
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
Desirable
- Undertaking training towards CCAB qualification
- Further training or significant experience in financial management.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience and understanding of evaluating and measuring the performance of health services.
- Comprehensive knowledge of management accounting and SBS Oracle usage.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office especially Microsoft Excel.
- Previous experience in similar role in public sector.
Desirable
- Experience of stakeholder communication and management.
- A good understanding of the health and social care environment and roles and responsibilities within it
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Good communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to translate often complex financial information into an easily understandable format.
- Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
Analytical skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis.
Physical skills
Essential
- Skills for manipulating complex information.
- Intermediate keyboard skills.
Planning skills
Essential
- Skills for supporting financial management planning.
Autonomy / Freedom to Act
Essential
- Ability to work without supervision.
- Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workloads to changing and often tight deadlines.
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do.
- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients.
- Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
- Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and seeks out innovation.
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Essential
- Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Other
Essential
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
