Job Description

To provide a comprehensive and high quality finance business partnering service to directorates.
To promote innovation and improvement by providing expertise and analysis to inform good financial decision making and optimal use of resources.
The Trust is one of the largest acute healthcare providers in the country. Our services include Emergency and Acute Assessment units, General Medical and Surgical Services, Cancer Care, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Ear Nose and Throat, Neurosciences and Renal services. We offer a full range of general hospital services to around 450,000 people in Plymouth, North and East Cornwall and South and West Devon. These include emergency and major trauma services, maternity services, paediatrics and a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical sub-specialties.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for an ambitious, high calibre finance professional to join a respected and forward thinking Finance team at a pivotal time for the Trust.
This is a genuinely influential role at the heart of decision making across Finance and Operations. You will help shape the Trust's future by providing insight that informs clinical and operational strategy, supports sustainable service delivery, and enables investment in patient focused care. Your work will span demand and capacity planning, service line viability, benchmarking performance, delivering transformational savings, and developing major capital and revenue business cases.
We are seeking someone who thrives on complexity, brings curiosity and commercial insight, and can translate sophisticated financial analysis into clear, compelling advice for senior leaders and clinical colleagues. You will be a professionally qualified accountant with strong analytical skills, excellent communication, and the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.
This role offers a genuine opportunity to grow. We are committed to developing future finance leaders and welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate strong potential. Where appropriate, candidates may be supported in a development role at the band below, with a clear pathway into the substantive post.
For an informal discussion, please contact Steve Cavendish, Associate Director of Finance (Steven.Cavendish@nhs.net)
About us
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a dynamic and challenging environment, which provides acute healthcare for people in Plymouth, South West Devon and South East Cornwall, and has more than 6,500 staff working in its services.
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online or need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Details
Date posted
12 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
55,690 to 62,682 a year Per Annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
Reference number
216-AM-CO7756824
Job locations
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road
Plymouth
PL6 5YE
Job description
Job responsibilities
Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS Tariff guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, for individual Services to:
o Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and Divisional Management teams;
o Encourage and influence Directorate Management Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;
o Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the Service Line/Directorate financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;
o Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Directorate Managers and Budget Holders.
o Assist and advise Directorate Management Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the Trusts Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the Directorate for that purpose
o Oversee the accuracy and integrity of Service Line/Directorate financial information relating to Patient Level reporting and reference costs in particular;
o Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with Directorate to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions
o Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with Directorates to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with Directorates and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.
o Benchmark the Service Lines/Directorates against other similar hospitals using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as GIRFT and the Model Hospital) - identify areas for improvement and advise Directorate Management Teams and work closely with Directorate Management teams to effect such changes.
o Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.
o Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.
For further details please see attached JD&PS. Job description
Job responsibilities
Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS Tariff guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, for individual Services to:
o Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and Divisional Management teams;
o Encourage and influence Directorate Management Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;
o Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the Service Line/Directorate financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;
o Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Directorate Managers and Budget Holders.
o Assist and advise Directorate Management Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the Trusts Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the Directorate for that purpose
o Oversee the accuracy and integrity of Service Line/Directorate financial information relating to Patient Level reporting and reference costs in particular;
o Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with Directorate to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions
o Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with Directorates to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with Directorates and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.
o Benchmark the Service Lines/Directorates against other similar hospitals using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as GIRFT and the Model Hospital) - identify areas for improvement and advise Directorate Management Teams and work closely with Directorate Management teams to effect such changes.
o Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.
o Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.
For further details please see attached JD&PS.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Ability to demonstrate highly developed theoretical and practical proven knowledge at an advanced level and demonstrable experience and expertise in financial management, accounting procedures, relevant legislation and NHS finance policies.
• Ability to demonstrate recent Continuing Professional Development including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating to NHS Finance as well as national accounting standards.
• Awareness of the current NHS "Agenda", national directives and all Governance aspects.

Desirable

• NHS Management Accounting demonstrable experience

Qualifications
Essential

• Fully qualified Professional Accountant or studying towards qualification
• "A" levels and 5 x GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent, including Mathematics and English Language at GCSE level (A-C/ 4-9).
• Commitment to continuing professional development in line with relevant Institute requirements.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent

Aptitude & Abilities
Essential

• Excellent level of numeracy
• Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data

Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Ability to demonstrate highly developed theoretical and practical proven knowledge at an advanced level and demonstrable experience and expertise in financial management, accounting procedures, relevant legislation and NHS finance policies.
• Ability to demonstrate recent Continuing Professional Development including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating to NHS Finance as well as national accounting standards.
• Awareness of the current NHS "Agenda", national directives and all Governance aspects.

Desirable

• NHS Management Accounting demonstrable experience

Qualifications
Essential

• Fully qualified Professional Accountant or studying towards qualification
• "A" levels and 5 x GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent, including Mathematics and English Language at GCSE level (A-C/ 4-9).
• Commitment to continuing professional development in line with relevant Institute requirements.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent

Aptitude & Abilities
Essential

• Excellent level of numeracy
• Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data

Skills Required