NHSJobs.com

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure that the shared organisational vision and strategic ambitions, values and culture of the Trust are actively promoted and that the post-holder provides clear leadership and is a role model for their delivery. 

Responsible for the delivery of effective departmental functions i.e. Financial Management, Management Accounts, Costing, Financial Accounts, Procurement, Capital and Contracting. 

Lead on regular risk assessments on the financial health of the Trust to inform strategic decisions by the Board of Directors and the Performance and Finance Committee. 

Provide the Trust with expert knowledge of accounting procedures, legislation and the financial impact of NHS policy and external guidance, Interpret, assess and advise the Executive Director of Finance of the implication of changes in complex financial guidance and policy as it pertains to the Trust and the wider health economy.

Lead on ensuring compliance with all necessary accounting standards, thereby ensuring that all audit requirements are achieved. 

Ensure the Trust’s finance and procurement staff, systems and processes provide an efficient and effective support infrastructure to the Trust and operate with integrity and professionalism.

Overall responsibility for IT systems used by the finance and procurement team, i.e., integrated finance system, e-procurement, the fixed asset register and the costing system. 

Develop and maintain the Non Finance Staff Training strategy to continually promote improved financial awareness and competency across the organisation. 

To ensure a sound system of internal financial control is in operation which fully meets Trust and audit requirements and ensure that processes exist to maintain compliance with the financial policies.

Financial Planning and Reporting

Work with the Executive Director of Finance and other colleagues to produce the Trust's strategic financial plans and formulate the medium to long-term financial strategy with other key stakeholders across the local health economy. 

Maintain and update the long-term financial model (LTFM) to assess future cash and investment requirements. 

Influence Network and Corporate Leaders to translate the Service Development Strategy into a deliverable long term financial plan.

Generate innovative solutions to complex financial challenges facing the Trust both short and long term.

Lead the annual financial planning process for the Trust, working closely with the Executive Directors, Network and Corporate directors to ensure the achievement of financial targets and corporate objectives.  

 Responsible for the budget setting process, production of the annual accounts and any other regulatory and statutory financial returns in a timely, professional and high quality manner.

Develop financial forecasting and projections for both revenue and capital which incorporate detailed input from service areas. 

Provide high quality, relevant, accurate and timely financial information, and reports to all stakeholders including but not limited to the Board of Directors, Performance and Finance Committee and GM ICB, and ensure the timetable is optimised. 

 To oversee and review the monthly financial position making recommendations to the Executive Director of Finance, the Executive Team and the Trust Board including year-end projections considering early identification of key issues and development of corrective action plans.

Financial accountability and budget holder responsibilities for the Finance and Procurement budgets, including value improvement plans which contribute to the Trust’s overall financial performance. 

Professional Leadership and Accountability 

Oversee the development of an organisational Finance Staff Development Strategy ensuring that we listen to staff and encourage active engagement and involvement in all that we do

Articulate and lead the embedding of One NHS Finance into the Trust and sharing all our great work externally.

Develop both short- and long-term objectives with the Executive Director of Finance and other senior managers for the Finance and Procurement departments in line with the Trust’s priorities.

Ensure that departmental objectives are effectively delegated and translated into deliverable action plans. 

Provide professional leadership and day to day management of the finance and procurement departments so that high quality, reliable and professional expertise supports the delivery of patient care and the business activities of the Trust. 

Lead in the motivation and development of staff in finance and procurement through effective appraisal and personal development planning. 

Continuously seek to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the department through the development and use of KPIs and other means. 

Set up systems of financial control while maintaining a strong business awareness and customer focus – responsible for the management and ongoing review of systems and priorities within the departments. 

Maintain the finance department risk register and ensure that the Board Assurance Framework covers all appropriate financial issues and gaps in assurance.

Contracting & Costing  

Work closely with the Executive Director of Finance to forge strong and creative partnerships with commissioners, and other relevant organisations, to ensure that joint approaches to service change, planning and delivery are developed and agreed. 

Maintain and foster a strong culture of partnership working throughout the health economy even though other organisations may have opposing views and be resistant to accepting the Trust's proposals.

Have the corporate responsibility for the design, development and maintenance of contract and financial information systems across the organisation to ensure timely complete and accurate receipt of income. 

Ensure that the long-term financial plan is underpinned by robust, and (where possible) long term commissioning contracts. 

Lead on the continued development and monitoring of a Contracting Strategy on behalf of the Trust, that is underpinned by a sound system if internal control and engages with clinicians and appropriate managers throughout the process.

To drive the development and roll out of effective costing data (service line reporting and patient level costing) to enable clinical leadership team to assess their performance, drive efficiencies and inform future decision making and service redesign. 

Procurement

Develop, implement and monitor progress against a Trust-wide Procurement Strategy, having overall management responsibility for the procurement function.  

Develop and deliver plans to generate efficiency savings through procurement initiatives in line with the Procurement Strategy targets. 

Other Duties 

Represent finance and procurement at key management and operational committees and forums, both internal and external to the Trust. 

Responsible for the development of financial policies and processes to be implemented and operated across the Trust in relation to budget setting and management, income generation, cash management, income collection and credit control

The Deputy Director of Finance has the discretion to use their initiative and act independently, and to interpret overall health service policy and financial standards in order to establish clear operational goals, policies and standards for use by others within the finance and procurement departments, and the Trust as a whole. The post holder will also need to ensure that relevant staff across the organisation are aware of and abide by these policies.

This job description is not exhaustive but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.