Head of Contracting & Costing
Job Description
Job summary
This is a pivotal role within the Trust, minimising financial and reputational risk through the management of all contracts for commissioned healthcare services
To gain an expert knowledge of the Trusts PFI contracts and take a lead role in the management and monitoring of these, liaising with internal and external colleagues as appropriate. To work closely with the Trusts Estates department in achieving this.
To be the lead point of contact and provide an expert contracting service to the Trust.
To build and manage relationships at a system level across commissioning colleagues.
To oversee the costing function, ensuring that the Trust has a best-in-class Patient Level Costing System that is embraced by the organisation, which enables informed decision making to enhance service delivery, reduce unwarranted variation and improve use of resources.
To support the Finance Department, particularly with regards to professional leadership, policy development, and the provision of a modern and responsive contracting and costing functions for the Trust.
Main duties of the job
Following a promotion for our current post holder we are recruiting for a Head of Contracting & Costing working closely with clinical and corporate teams across the Trust and Lancashire & South Cumbria You'll be a key member of our Senior Finance Team. This is a hybrid role based at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital site with flexibility to work across Trust sites, supporting high-quality, integrated contracting and costing processes that drive improvements for our patients and communities.
You'll lead our contracting and costing function, uniting teams across directorates and aligning efforts for better outcomes. The focus is on refining processes, linking to annual planning, and shaping plans across the Trust and Lancashire & South Cumbria.
We are looking for someone who can embody our values, think "outside the box", and bring energy and innovation to help lift the organisation to be truly outstanding in every sense. We thrive to be an open and inclusive organisation and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds, communities, and industries.
If you're an experienced leader with a proven track record, we'd love to hear from you!
About us
We are an award winning, forward-thinking and FSD Level 3 organisation committed to excellence in all aspects of our work. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Finance, this role offers a unique chance to contribute to all aspects of Contracting and Costing across the Trust and Lancashire & South Cumbria. We aim to be the best in class, and we need someone with the passion and expertise to help us achieve that goal.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Job responsibilities
Who We're Looking For:
We are on the lookout for a passionate and driven Accountant to join our dynamic senior team.
We are looking for an individual with the drive to succeed; to make a difference and support service improvement with the skills to actively engage with stakeholders both internal and external.
This role requires a self-motivated, pro-active individual with a structured and methodical approach to problem solving and excellent analytical, technical, and interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritise and manage workload to meet deadlines.
The post holder will be a CCAB or CIMA member and be able to demonstrate professional credibility within their field.
1. Develop the strategic financial planning capability of the organisation through the implementation and support of a robust planning process that considers short, medium and longer-term priorities, together with identification and quantification of risks and uncertainties.2. To be responsible for interpreting and explaining complex changes in national policy, identifying and communicating the associated financial implications to the Trust and ensuring systems are in place to comply with national policy.3. To ensure statutory returns are completed in accordance with DH guidelines and within deadlines.4. To ensure financial reporting information is developed in order to enable analysis of performance providing an overall coordination of income, activity and cost, ensuring that the PLICS is embraced by the organisation.5. To ensure that appropriate contracting controls are in place to make sure that all income due to the Trust is obtained.6. Ensure that robust systems are in place for addressing and managing forecast outturn planning on revenue in order to achieve the statutory financial duties of the Trust7. To play a pivotal role in strategic planning and annual business plan exercises. This will include the Trust Integrated Business Plan, and complex Trust-wide multi-stranded business cases, which will require analysis, risk assessment, and evaluation of options.48. To provide expert advice and support to Clinical and Business Managers in relation to contracting matters ensuring that decisions are made within the constraints available to them. This includes dealing with information which is both sensitive and contentious and may be NHS and non-NHS related.9. To provide contracting and technical input and comments in relation to Business Cases for service development and improvement whilst they are being compiled ensuring that financial regulations have been adhered to and that all areas of new financial policy have been considered, for example Payment by Results.10. To develop and maintain an awareness of all key contracting issues and contribute to the achievement of the Trusts financial targets.11. Develop, implement and support cross divisional waste reduction programmes12. To support the reporting of income and service line management information to the Trust Board, Divisions and Clinical and Business Managers.13. To ensure contracts are communicated and negotiated in a transparent manner.14. To manage the delivery of an appropriate training programme for business managers on contracting.15. To support the Assistant Director of Finance in the negotiation, agreement and monitoring of provider to provider service level agreements and in so-doing ensure value for money and/or full cost recovery for the Trust.16. To implement agreed recommendations of auditors as required.17. To provide relevant and appropriate technical information to consultancy firms to enable conclusions to be drawn.18. Agree objectives, standards and targets for the contracting department.19. Create an environment of high motivation which recognises the objectives of the Finance Department and the Trust.20. Ensure the contracting staff are developed so as to provide a customer focussed service.21. Lead on finance training to both finance and non-finance staff across the organisation
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree (Honours) or equivalent qualification
- Qualified CCAB accountant with evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
- Master level qualification in relevant subject
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience, usually around 3 years
- Experience at a senior manager level, usually around 3 years
- Experience of managing and developing staff, including experience of conducting staff appraisals and identifying staff training needs.
Desirable
- Experience at a senior management level, usually around 5 years.
- Demonstrate the capability to maintain financial control whilst supporting a devolved style
Knowledge
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a sound working knowledge of contracting methodology
- Able to demonstrate a sound working knowledge of Civica SLAM
- Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills
- Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft office products
- Have a robust understanding, and the ability to apply financial management and financial accounting principle in practice
- Have the ability to analyse, interpret and convey complex financial information clearly and persuasively.
- Interpret multifaceted information in the broader context of finance and non-finance information
- Have a robust understanding of the NHS finance regime and Regulations
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate a sound working knowledge of PFI contracts and terminology
Personal Skills
Essential
- Have the ability to communicate complex financial information effectively, using verbal, written, or presentational skills, required to inform decision making.
- Proven negotiation skills with the ability to secure co-operation with internal and external stakeholders
- Have the ability to speak in a professional manner to all ...
