Fixed Term (6 Months) / Secondment Opportunity Welcome
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dynamic finance leader to join our organisation as Associate Director of Finance – Financial Management and Planning on a 6-month fixed-term basis , with applications for secondment opportunities also welcomed .
Reporting directly to the Acting Chief Financial Officer, this senior leadership role is responsible for leading the Trust's financial management, planning and performance functions, ensuring the organisation delivers its financial objectives while supporting the provision of high-quality patient care.
The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, business partnering and efficiency delivery. You will oversee the annual planning process, provide expert financial advice to the Board and senior management teams, lead complex financial analyses and negotiations, and support major service developments and transformational programmes.
If you are looking for a rewarding leadership opportunity where you can make an immediate impact, we would be delighted to hear from you.
***Important Sponsorship Information for this post: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post***
Financial Planning and Performance
Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's annual financial planning process and long-term financial plans.
Prepare and coordinate the Trust's annual financial plan, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
Oversee the production of high-quality monthly financial reports, forecasts and performance analyses for the Board, Executive Team and relevant committees.
Financial Leadership and Business Partnering
Provide expert financial advice and support to the Board, Executive Directors, senior managers and budget holders.
Develop and maintain strong business partnering arrangements across all services and directorates.
Strategic Financial Advice
Lead the financial assessment of major service developments, transformation programmes and investment proposals.
Develop detailed option appraisals and business cases, providing robust analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools and people’s homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
We’re Kind
We’re Fair
We Listen
We Care
The Associate Director of Finance – Financial Management and Planning is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) . The post holder is responsible for leading the Trust's financial planning, financial management, performance reporting and efficiency agenda, ensuring the organisation has robust financial strategies, governance arrangements and decision-making processes in place to support the delivery of its strategic objectives.
The post holder will provide strategic leadership to the Financial Management and Planning Team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, customer-focused finance service to the Board, Executive Directors, senior managers, budget holders and external stakeholders. The role requires the ability to balance strategic leadership with effective operational management, managing multiple complex priorities while maintaining high standards of financial control and performance.
Main Responsibilities
Financial Planning and Performance
Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's annual financial planning process and long-term financial plans.
Prepare and coordinate the Trust's annual financial plan, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
Oversee the production of high-quality monthly financial reports, forecasts and performance analyses for the Board, Executive Team and relevant committees.
Monitor the Trust's financial position, identifying risks, opportunities and corrective actions to support financial sustainability.
Support the delivery of the Trust's efficiency and value-for-money programmes.
Financial Leadership and Business Partnering
Provide expert financial advice and support to the Board, Executive Directors, senior managers and budget holders.
Develop and maintain strong business partnering arrangements across all services and directorates.
Ensure the provision of a high-quality financial management service that supports effective operational and strategic decision-making.
Present complex financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences in a clear, engaging and accessible manner.
Strategic Financial Advice
Lead the financial assessment of major service developments, transformation programmes and investment proposals.
Develop detailed option appraisals and business cases, providing robust analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
Produce clear and concise financial analyses of strategic and operational issues for the Board and senior leadership teams.
Analyse and interpret complex financial and business information to support organisational priorities.
Income, Contracting and Financial Control
Lead complex financial negotiations with commissioners and other external organisations on behalf of the Trust.
Ensure all income due to the Trust is accurately identified, recorded and recovered.
Ensure all expenditure is appropriately managed, controlled and accounted for in accordance with financial regulations and accounting standards.
Maintain robust financial governance, control and assurance arrangements across the organisation.
Costing, Service Line Reporting and Financial Development
Provide strategic leadership for the ongoing development of Patient Level Information and Costing Systems (PLICS), service line reporting and pricing methodologies.
Lead the financial development and implementation of new funding and payment mechanisms, including those relating to mental health and community services.
Promote the use of financial intelligence and costing information to support productivity, efficiency and service improvement initiatives.
Leadership and People Management
Lead, manage, motivate and develop a team of Senior Finance Managers and finance professionals.
Ensure effective workforce planning, recruitment, development and succession planning within the team.
Undertake performance management, appraisal and personal development reviews in accordance with Trust policies.
Allocate and prioritise workload across the team to ensure delivery of departmental and organisational objectives.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and professional excellence.
Policy, Governance and Compliance
Analyse and interpret national NHS policies, guidance and regulatory requirements and advise on their financial implications.
Lead the development, review and implementation of financial policies and procedures across the Trust.
Ensure financial processes and controls support the achievement of the Trust's strategic objectives and statutory duties.
Work collaboratively with operational and corporate teams to implement and embed financial policies and best practice.
Corporate Responsibilities
Deputise for the Acting Chief Financial Officer as required.
Represent the Finance Directorate at internal and external meetings and forums.
Deliver financial and business management training to managers and staff across the Trust.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the seniority and responsibilities of the role as requested by the Acting Chief Financial Officer .
