Job Description

Role specific duties Accountability Jointly responsible with the Deputy Chief Finance Officer - Performance for ensuring the integrityof the general ledger, giving assurance to the Chief Finance Officer that the financial informationsupplied is accurate and in accordance with professional accounting standards. Ensuring that thegovernance arrangements for finance are robust and sit clearly within the Trust overall governancearrangements. Lead the development of Financial Services ensuring delivery of statutory financial duties includingthe submission of the annual consolidated accounts and take responsibility for ensuring that arobust control environment is in place and that corporate governance procedures are complied with. Overseeing the financial accounting framework, ensuring that the financial accounting teamprovides a full accounting service to the Trust, its charity and subsidiaries.



This will require up to daterelevant knowledge of accounting standards and NHS accounting practice including IFRS, CharitySORP, UK FRS102 PFI, VAT legislation and Managed Equipment Services (MES) accounting. Provide leadership with regards to the Trusts processes that are in place to prepare and monitorthe Cash, Financing, Capital and Working Capital Management elements of the organisations annualand longer-term plan. Management of Capital Reporting including reporting on the associated major capital projectsthrough the Trust infrastructure of meetings. Leading the delivery of high standard of financial services to the Trust in terms of invoicepayments, cashiering and treasury management.



Providing overall leadership of the Financial Services and Capital teams so they are responsive andflexible to the Trusts needs with resilient staffing structures and cost-effective services. Ensuringthey are a high performing team by encouraging autonomy, innovation, and best practice ineverything they do. Direct accountability to the Chief Financial Officer for the successful delivery of the Trusts strategicand operational financial objectives through the effective management and operation of internal financial controls, policies and processes. Ensuring the Trusts financial position is reported accurately internally and externally, includingmeaningful analysis, evaluation and advice, suitable for non-financial stakeholders, to support robustdecision making.



Lead the preparation and submission of the Trusts Annual Accounts through to completion andsign off by External Audit and the Trust Board. Acting as an ambassador for the Trust, ensuring that the needs and views of the Trust are fairlyrepresented in external (including national) forums. Ensuring the Trust receives high quality financial services, including ensuring the maintenance ofrobust financial controls and systems, rigorous working capital, cash flow management and effectivefinancial reports of historic and prospective financial performance information. Responsible for ensuring the Trust obtains best value for money from its financial systems andservices and provides professional support to all financial services and control departments.



Ensuring the Trust has sound financial management processes in place such that the Trusts assetsare safeguarded and it is able to achieve its income and expenditure targets, thereby supporting theChief Financial Officer in the delivery of the Trusts annual objectives. Developing and leading the Trusts Finance Department Improvement Plan and its delivery acrossthe department; actively seeking examples of best practice and alternative ways of working in orderto drive change including taking advantage of further opportunities to digitise, automate and explorethe application of AI to enhance processes. Acting as the strategic and operational lead in the Trust wide, commissioning and contractingprocesses. Overseeing the Group accounting structures, ensuring strong relationships with the wholly ownedsubsidiaries, ensuring robust financial monitoring and strong financial challenge.



Ensure all planningand reporting timetables include the group members. The postholder will support the exploration and development of commercial opportunities andprojects across the organisation, to drive diversification of our income streams outside core NHSfunding approaches. Deputising for the Chief Financial Officer, as required. Undertake projects or tasks outside stated responsibilities on behalf of the Chief Finance Officer,as required.



Communication and relationship The postholder will be visible and influential at director level within the Trust, with a strongcustomer focus and competent at achieving a balance of support and challenge. Provision of expert financial leadership, guidance, quality assurance, triangulation of data andproject management in support of Trust-wide day-to-day operations as well as planning andstrategy. Managing the key risks and issues in delivering the plans and ensuring appropriate actions aretaken to respond to issues as they arise, monitoring and establishing accountability for the progressand completion of plans within agreed timescales. Planning and organisational Responsible for the co-ordination and management of processes to ensure the translation of Truststrategies and annual objectives (including continuing improvements in safety, effectiveness, patientexperience and efficiency) into strategic, robust and deliverable financial plans and annual budgets.



Lead the annual budget setting (capital, cash and revenue) process, planning, organising and coordinating the work of the Finance department and staff across all areas of the Trust; ensureconsistency with the overall financial strategy of the Trust and wider ICS. The postholder will continually develop, refine and strengthen the Trusts approach to financialcontrol and financial services, developing financial systems to meet the changing needs of the Trust. Managing the Trusts working capital to maximum effect, including management of debtors,creditors and payments due from overseas visitors and private patient. Working with the Chief Finance Officer, take the lead in building a Financial Strategy for the Trust, linking in with other key strategies across the organisation.



The strategy to be agreed and reviewed by the Finance and Performance Committee and Trust Board. Responsibility for policy/service development The postholder will ensure the development and implementation of effective financial policies andprocedures that minimise financial risk and maximise use of resources by empowering effectivebudgetary planning and management. The postholder will ensure the preparation of statutory year-end accounts, estimates, and reportsas necessary for the Trust to carry out its statutory duties. The postholder will contribute effectively to the statutory responsibilities of an NHS Trust as setout in the Health and Social Care Act to ensure compliance with the financial management andgovernance of an NHS trust.



Management responsibility The postholder will provide leadership to the finance teams, ensuring performance is appropriatelymanaged, and all staff have personal development plans, in order to ensure an efficient, effectiveand engaged workforce. Provide professional advice, training and support where appropriate to allstaff. Promote and develop a culture of continuous improvement across the Finance team. Build ateam of high performers through inspiring leadership, coaching and embedding the directoratesstandards and values.



Provide strong, visible, and professional financial leadership across the Trust, fostering a culturewhich values continuing improvement in areas. Promote a culture and value set where staff feel empowered and accountable for serviceimprovement at a local level. Ensure the provision and ongoing development of training courses for all non-finance managers inthe Trust enabling them to carry out their duties as budget holders to raise financial awareness andappraisal to allow them to take responsibility and ownership of the finances in the organisation aswell as adherence to standing financial instructions. Participate actively in external finance manager training and accreditation schemes.