Assistant Director of Finance (XN11)

The post-holder is responsible for the financial management for several Clinical Service Units (CSU), leading the delivery of CSU financial plans and their translation into agreed budgets across the organisation, inclusive of the required waste reduction targets. In addition the post holder leads on improving the development of SLR / SLM with appropriate clinical engagement. They will lead on the production of accurate and timely monthly financial information for reports to the CSU triumvirate. They will be required to interpret complex and changing national policy and advise on the financial impact and expected duties coming out of the policy for the Trust and CSU. In addition, the post-holder will lead on the provision of finance advice and support: Ensure the most efficient and effective way of providing support and to provide the best possible service for customers and stakeholders both internal and external; Develop and maintain the level of expert knowledge and skills the subject area requires; Provide central coordination of some key requirements, working with and across CSUs; Carry out necessary diagnostic and development work, identifying the impact on the Trust and then developing and implement the longer-term arrangements and policies, and; Provide appropriate financial input and assurance into Trust-wide groups The Assistant Director of Finance is responsible for: Supporting and working closely with Directors and CSUs, implementing and developing policy and assessing organisational risk; Leadership and management of their finance team, ensuring the provision of high quality, accurate and timely financial advice, business intelligence and information; Undertaking the role of the senior finance lead responsible for communicating with external stakeholders, this to include involvement in contract negotiations, contract monitoring and service commissioning; Provide the development and provision of financial skills training and resources for the CSU and non-finance managers across the organisation; Have the corporate responsibility for overseeing the delivery of activity information provision to the CSU, and; Have a key supporting role in the development of the following strategies i.e. Waste Reduction, Operational planning, Financial planning & information. NHS Commissioner Contracts; Managing the Trusts contract income position The post-holder must deputise for the Deputy Director of Finance as appropriate and undertake all duties in line with the requirements of the role to support the Director of Finance in the delivery of financial governance and assurance, business and commercial advice across a range of capital and revenue service changes and corporate responsibilities as a senior member of the Trust. The post-holder is accountable to the Deputy Director of Finance, both managerially and professionally. Whilst advice and guidance many be sought from more senior or specialist finance colleagues, the post holder is required to work autonomously using and interpreting organisational and broad occupational policies. The post-holder will also be required to interpret national policy which may be developing and unclear and therefore develop the required organisational policies and responses. Net expenditure budgets for individual CSUs can be in excess of £100m. The post-holder would be expected to oversee a number of CSUs at any one time. The nature of the work will require close working with other finance colleagues and significant interaction with non-finance colleagues within and external to the Trust. It will involve supporting and reporting to levels including Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The success of the team will be underpinned by the development and maintenance of strong and effective partnership relationships. The post holder is required to maintain their knowledge of current national and international accounting standards and NHS accounting and financial reporting requirements. The post holder will: Support and advise CSUs on strategic and operational issues To contribute to the strategic financial planning activities of the Trust and, in particular, provide financial input to major capital developments including the corporate appraisal of differential options. To lead, from a corporate perspective, the business planning activities of the Trust and contribute to the negotiations with the commissioners so that plans and service level agreements meet the objectives of the Trust. To corporately assist the annual budget setting process and ensure that budgets set are reflective of agreed commissioner contracts and account for key issues such as cost pressures, developments and WRP delivery plans To ensure that financial and budgetary information is available to all levels of the organisation in a timely and accurate manner. To provide support and advice to all those with budgetary responsibility and ensure that all budget managers receive appropriate training and development to facilitate the best possible standards of patient care within available resources. Training and support should also be extended to non-budget holders such as Non-executive Directors. To work with the Deputy Director of Finance and direct reports to develop and review financial systems, procedures and controls to ensure that the budgetary, accounting, income and expenditure systems operate efficiently to the highest professional standards To co-ordinate the monitoring of financial performance against plan and advise the Deputy Director of Finance on major variances and year end projections. To support clinical and non-clinical areas in the preparation of business cases, paying particular attention to the financial and economic appraisal of such cases and the linking of these cases to the overall financial strategy of the Trust. To manage the team on a daily basis and provide leadership, direction and motivation through objective setting, regular performance reviews, training and development. To independently interpret NHS guidance and ensure that Trust financial goals and standards are set to achieve the required guidance outputs. To provide corporate assurance on all financial governance issues. To contribute to the completion of all statutory returns and required monitoring information e.g. Annual Accounts, Regulator returns and Reference Cost submissions. To support the development, production and submission of any financial planning models for NHSE or ICB. To scan the horizon for potential commercial opportunities and risks and plan and develop strategies and mitigations appropriately in advising the Director of Finance and the Trust Board. To oversee the provision of robust activity information across the organisation to support: - Executive and Trust Board decision making; - CSU decision making, and; - Individual departmental decision making To deputise as required for the Deputy Director of Finance at key meetings including both internally and to external stakeholders. Take account of conflicting demands and complex facts, to analyse, interpret and evaluate a range of options for service developments. The post-holder will be accountable for recruiting, managing and development a team of staff who will provide a professional service to the CSU / Trust. This will involve managing professional and personal development needs Qualifications and Experience Full Professional Accountancy qualification (CCAB or CIMA qualified) Post graduate qualification to Masters level or equivalent experience. Extensive financial management experience gained within a Finance Department at a senior management level which has included experience of: A range of accounting areas and use of financial systems Working autonomously and undertaking leadership responsibilities Inspiring confidence and developing highly effective working relationships with finance, clinical and other non-finance colleagues, providing high quality advice Leading successful projects or work-streams and achieving change, working in a business partnership with others Constructively challenging information and assumptions Presenting highly complex financial and non-financial information, including the delivery of formal presentations and leading financial discussions at meetings Leading and managing finance teams with demonstrable success Experience of designing finance skills training resources and delivering finance training. Experience of leading high impact transformation cross cutting change projects within a complex environment Experience of briefing and presenting to Board level, Executives and other senior officers Experience of delivering complex and contentious WRP Leading successful programmes or work-streams and achieving change, working in a business partnership with others Knowledge and skills required Expert knowledge of accounting concepts, conventions, policies and procedures and the requirements of the NHS financial regime and the legislative framework within which it operates. Awareness and understanding of current NHS priorities and an advanced practical and theoretical knowledge of NHS legislation and development agendas. Extensive knowledge and understanding of strategic and operational factors impacting on the financial performance of CSUs. Extensive experience in providing impartial detailed financial advice and information to multi-disciplinary clinical and other management teams, obtaining engagement and ensuring key financial concepts and issues are clearly understood Experience of supervising and leading staff, with knowledge including the techniques, required to lead, develop and maximise performance of staff.

...

For more information about this vacancy press the 'Apply For Job' button.