Head of Finance - Financial Sustainability

As an organisation we recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Job overview

This role will lead the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programmes (CIP) and productivity agenda. The post holder will also work with the Head of Finance – Financial Services & Assurance, supporting the implementation of financial controls and policy across all areas of finance to ensure the Trust’s long term financial sustainability. The Head of Financial Sustainability reports to the Director of Operational Finance. The post holder will deputise for the Director of Operational Finance where relevant.

The post holder will drive and oversee the Trust’s financial efficiency requirement working with clinical and operational teams, underpinned by a multi-professional network of individuals drawn from across the organisation. The post holder will bring cohesion to the multiple projects that form the Trust’s CIPs and manage the complex stakeholder sets and interdependencies, planning, reporting and governance of the programme.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will challenge the current ways of working, drawing upon experience and outside world examples to shape the Trust’s financial sustainability agenda. Working with a network of senior finance leaders, the post holder will develop finance policies, controls and practices across Finance and the wider Trust that support and empower clinical gad delivery groups to deliver sustainable efficiency projects.

The post holder will also work with the organisations within BNSSG ICS and the Acute Provider Collaborative (APC) (between North Bristol NHS Trust and UH Bristol and Weston) to ensure there is increasing collaboration across the wider system and beyond.

Leading the designated Finance Manager – Service Improvement and team, the post holder will work in close partnership with the Divisional Directors, Clinical Chairs, Lead Clinicians, Deputy Divisional Directors, Divisional Finance Managers and other senior leaders across the finance teams and the wider Trust to ensure that each part of the programme is mutually reinforcing and delivering to target defined benefits and outputs.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Interviews will be held in early July 2024

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable successful record of financial leadership working with senior clinical and nonclinical leaders across the NHS.
• Demonstrable records of achievement of full performance management of staff at all levels. To include recruitment and selection, appraisals, professional development, mentoring and discipline.
• Extensive experience of NHS Finance in a large complex NHS Trust.
• n-depth knowledge of accounting, financial planning functions, financial reporting issues and the required application.
• A significant period of experience of working within an ever-changing financial environment working at a both technical and personal level across a range of accountancy functions.
• Experience of interpreting all relevant financial legislation, making recommendations, and implementing changes across a large complex financial organisation.
• A significant amount of senior management experience working at a financial operational level, including setting, writing, and implementing policies and procedures.
• Evidence of managing finance staff.

Desirable criteria

• A significant level of experience managing successful large complex financial and non-financial projects, including modelling, planning, service change and development.
• A significant period of project management experience.
• A significant level of experience in the initiation and management of change of services, process, policy, and systems.
• Experience in a similar role in a large complex NHS Trust.

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

Educated to degree level or equivalent work experience.

CCAB Qualified with a significant period of PQE experience at a senior level, including up to date CPD records.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston 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.

Important:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.