Job vacancy: Finance Manager, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester

Job summary

Main area: Financial Management - E00382
Grade: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 413-93505-FB-LS

Employer: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Financial Management - E00382
Town: Manchester
Salary: £46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/04/2025 23:59

Finance Manager

Band 7

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide support to the Assistant Director of Finance (ADoF), Head of Financial Management (HoFM) and Divisional Finance Manager/Reporting & Financial Planning Manager (DFM/RFPM) in providing an effective monitoring and reporting service to the trust in accordance with the agreed timetables, procedures and standards prescribed within the trust.

2. Act as lead accountant and contact point for a range of clinical and non-clinical divisions.

3. Provide support and input to projects within finance or across the Trust as assigned.

4. Produce annual budgets for division(s), calculating the annual budget from information provided by budget managers, the financial management and wider finance teams, and taking account of external factors.

5. Produce accurate forecasts of the year-end financial position on a monthly basis, in agreement with the division(s).

6. Responsible for producing the financial position for the division(s) in accordance with the agreed timetables, procedures and standards prescribed. This will include updating the Trust’s financial ledgers on a monthly basis and investigating any anomalies within the division(s) in order to resolve these in line with audit guidance.

7. To ensure that all relevant financial data, including all necessary income and expenditure accruals and budget adjustments, has been uploaded in line with the monthly reporting timetable and that all inappropriate transactions are recoded in order to reflect the true financial position.

8. Proactively review accruals for accuracy in conjunction with budget holders on a monthly basis and liaise with other organisations to ensure invoices are sent and received in a timely manner.

9. Investigate material variances within the division(s) and analyse expenditure/income trends to inform the production of divisional year-end financial position forecasts.

10. Produce detailed monthly budget statements, summaries and variance reports for the division(s). This will include a written commentary on the financial position to explain the underlying reasons for significant variances and incorporate recommendations for corrective action.

11. Support the HoFM/DFM/RPFM in co-ordinating and inputting to central processes as required within the Financial Management section, in particular in relation to the annual plan, NHSI returns and workforce information.

12. Deputise for the DFM/RPFM as appropriate, lead on specific areas, and be an integral part of the divisional management team(s) working with senior managers and other budget holders, including attendance at divisional board and other meetings when necessary.

13. Provide high quality professional financial management advice to budget holders and other staff including informal and formal training.

14. Provide advice to a range of clinical and non-clinical divisions in accordance with the agreed timetable, procedures and standards (e.g. SFIs and SOs) within the Trust and in accordance with financial and legal requirements to relevant bodies external to the Trust (e.g. Charity Commission).

15. Maintain an on-going working relationship with divisional managers in order to develop an understanding and knowledge base of the division(s) to aid the production and presentation of information to inform decision making.

16. Organise and attend regular budget meetings to advise on costing of service changes, budgetary queries, forecasting, savings plans and provide other general financial guidance.

17. Provide financial and operational input into the production of business cases including accurate costs and critical analysis to support service developments that consider all financial implications of a scheme, revenue and capital, the effect the scheme has upon activity and the impact on other services. This will entail liaison with service managers to ensure the cost of delivering the scheme and its activity targets are reflected within the Trust’s strategic plan.

18. To provide information for business and service delivery plans for budget holders within the Trust, and to provide analysis which would facilitate easier interpretation of financial data leading to resolution of problems.

19. Monitor and evaluate cost savings identified within the divisional action plans including input into Project Initiation Documents.

20. Be the link accountant between the Financial Management section and the Financial Services Manager in respect of the preparation of year-end accounts.

21. To develop an understanding of income, commissioning and activity. To work alongside the Income and Commissioning team where appropriate.

22. To produce, where appropriate, trading accounts relevant within the division to reflect the financial position of these trading functions.

23. Work co-operatively across the finance function to ensure that common standards of accounting practice are maintained within the Trust and to share information and best practice to achieve more effective use of resources or enhance productivity; this will be encouraged through rotation of areas of responsibility.

24. Contribute to and where appropriate lead on identified corporate financial projects, for example internal and external monitoring returns including the preparation of elements of the Annual Accounts process.

25. To utilise report writing software with the department, in order to create a tool for more detailed analysis to be carried out therefore enhancing the proactive nature of the finance function. This involves the design/development of complex crystal reports and the interrogation of such information through the use of data base pivot tables.

26. Develop an understanding of Service Line Reporting and Patent Level Information and Costing systems and provide information to support the refinement of cost apportionments.

27. Act corporately, upholding the professionalism, position and focus of the Finance Directorate, whilst also being an integral and trusted member of the divisional team(s).

28. To provide cover for other financial management team members’ absences, including supporting other divisions.

29. Responsible for prioritising own work and ensuring the achievement of work within prescribed timescales.

30. Exercise judgement and initiative within the scope of the role when problems arise by providing possible solutions for resolution to the DFM/RPFM, HoFM or ADoF. Alert the DFM/RPFM, HoFM or ADoF. to any areas of concern.

31. Responsible for the management, supervision, development and appraisal of the Assistant Divisional Finance Manager and ensuring that there is standardisation of tasks carried out by the Financial Management Assistant including month end working papers.

32. Responsible for own development and the creation of a personal development plan, proactively identifying development opportunities and maintaining an awareness of local and national agendas. Work with the DFM/RPFM to agree personal objectives.

33. Ability to demonstrates the Trust values and behaviours.

34. To be accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

CCAB/CIMA Qualified Accountant with the associated membership.
Demonstrate Continuing Professional Development
A comprehensive secondary education (5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English Language)

Desirable criteria

Degree
Willingness to develop through internal and external sources

Experience

Essential criteria

Have significant experience of management accounting, working as a middle manager within a complex finance department, and have strong understanding of financial management and financial accounting principles
Experience of managing, motivating and developing staff
Experience of computerised financial systems

Desirable criteria

Experience of working with a range of different stakeholders
Have experience in the preparation of the statutory annual accounts process
Experience in working in a multi – agency and disciplinary environment

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent analytical and reasoning skills.
Ability to prepare and present financial information to non financial people
Planning, monitoring and influencing skills
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to people at all levels within the organisation
Proficient in the use of computerised and manual financial systems, including spreadsheets and database packages, and have the ability to develop systems to maximum benefits to users
Possess a robust understanding of financial and activity systems and to be able to extract, interpret, manipulate and present information in a meaningful way
Ability to manage, motivate and develop staff
Ability to prioritise and deliver to agreed deadlines.
Ability to work with minimal day-to-day supervision.
Ability to be both a team leader and a team player
Ability to lead change and have a positive influence on others
Evidence of past achievements and ability to deliver
Ability to provide an effective and professional financial input into business cases

Knowledge

Essential criteria

An advanced understanding of financial management and financial accounting principles

Desirable criteria

Understanding of the NHS Cancer Plan and Trust performance targets and to be able to understand the impact that these have on the Trust.

Values

Essential criteria

Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Other

Essential criteria

Significant use of computer VDU screen/keyboard
Frequent requirement for concentration when inputting data, checking and reconciling information, making calculations and when answering queries from staff, managers and clinicians
Often required to switch tasks at short notice
Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration when analysing complex data and preparing reports
Workload and content can be unpredictable
Minor lifting and handling in an office environment (files, boxes etc)
Be able to manage time effectively, prioritise and deliver to agreed deadlines
Enthusiasm, determination, motivated and positive.
Confident approach, hardworking, committed and reliable.
Open, honest and fair.
Treat colleagues with dignity and respect.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.