About this role
Job summary
The Grove Medical Centre is seeking an experienced Finance and Business Manager to join our senior management structure.
This is a new, varied role with responsibility for financial management, payroll, contracts and specified business-compliance functions. The successful candidate will work alongside our Practice Manager and report directly to the GP partnership.
The Practice Manager will lead day-to-day operations, staffing, human resources and service delivery. The Finance and Business Manager will provide specialist financial and commercial oversight, ensure key processes are controlled and documented, and help the partnership make well-informed business decisions.
An early priority will be to support a structured handover of finance, payroll, contracts, insurance, licences and compliance responsibilities and strengthening continuity.
Main duties of the job
Prepare budgets, cashflow forecasts, management reports and financial analysis for the partnership.
Monitor NHS, PCN and non-NHS income, expenditure, claims, reimbursements and clawbacks.
Lead payroll administration and monthly checking with Iris Payroll Processing, working with the Practice Manager as operational input and backup.
Oversee banking, payments, reconciliations, financial controls and appropriate authorisation arrangements.
Liaise with the practice accountant regarding VAT, PAYE, year-end accounts, projections, pensions and partnership changes.
Manage contracts, insurance, licences and liaison with legal, banking and external advisers.
Coordinate major contractual and compliance returns, including relevant NHS, CQC, DSPT and ICO requirements.
Monitor the financial performance of the practice dispensary.
Support PCN financial interfaces and the practice's responsibilities as employer and account holder.
Identify financial risks, efficiencies, funding opportunities and business-development options.
Supervise the finance support staff to ensure routine bookkeeping is appropriately delegated and checked.
About us
The Grove Medical Centre is an established dispensing GP practice in Sherborne, Dorset, caring for approximately 13,000 patients.
We are committed to high-quality, personal and accessible patient care. Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative, management and dispensary staff.
We are introducing a clearer management structure in which the Practice Manager and Finance and Business Manager have distinct but complementary responsibilities. Both roles are directly accountable to the partnership and work closely together to support a resilient, well-run and financially sustainable practice.
Job description Job responsibilities
Main purpose of the role:
To provide reliable financial management, payroll oversight, contract administration, business compliance and commercial support to The Grove Medical Centre.
To ensure that the partnership receives timely, accurate and understandable financial information and that key financial, contractual and compliance processes are controlled, documented and resilient.
To work with the partners and Practice Manager to safeguard the practice's financial stability, fulfil contractual obligations and identify appropriate opportunities for service and business development.
Key relationships:
GP partners, Practice Manager, finance staff, management team, practice accountant, bank, payroll provider, legal advisers, insurers, PCN colleagues, NHS Dorset, NHS England, HMRC, CQC, ICO, contractors, suppliers and service providers.
1. Financial management and reporting
Develop and maintain annual budgets, cashflow forecasts and regular management reports for the partnership.
Monitor income, expenditure, reserves, liabilities and emerging financial risks.
Provide clear variance analysis and practical recommendations to partners and managers.
Maintain oversight of purchase and sales ledgers, invoicing, receipts, debt recovery, cash and cheque handling, with routine bookkeeping delegated appropriately.
Liaise regularly with the practice accountant regarding quarterly reviews, year-end accounts, projections, partnership changes, NHS pension contributions and certificates, VAT and taxation matters.
Support the partnership in understanding the financial implications of contractual, staffing and service changes.
2. Payroll and variable payments:
Lead the monthly payroll process, including collation and checking of authorised changes, overtime, absence, new starters, leavers and deductions.
Calculate or verify payments for internal locums, bank staff and other non-payrolled workers.
Liaise with the payroll provider and HMRC regarding PAYE and payroll queries.
Provide a clear monthly payroll summary and audit trail for independent review before submission.
Work with the Practice Manager, who will supply authorised operational information and remain trained as backup.
Ensure payroll information is confidential, accurate, securely stored and accessible for authorised cover.
3. Banking, payments and financial controls:
Maintain appropriate banking arrangements and liaison with the bank concerning accounts, mandates, mortgages and loans.
Set up supplier payments and maintain clear approval and release controls.
Ensure bulk payments, payroll and significant transactions receive the agreed independent review or partner authorisation.
Reconcile bank accounts and oversee payment schedules, direct debits and standing orders.
Maintain documented financial procedures, separation of duties and continuity arrangements.
Monitor delegated budgets and agreed expenditure limits held by the Practice Manager and other managers.
4. NHS, PCN and other income:
Manage and monitor NHS income, including GMS, QOF, DES, LES, PCN and other funding streams, together with clawbacks and repayment of advances.
Ensure manual and automated claims are complete, accurate, timely and reconciled, while retaining oversight of work delegated to other staff.
Obtain reimbursements for eligible costs such as CQC fees, business rates, water, funded staff and licences.
Manage invoicing and income for non-NHS services such as schools, travel health, research and other contracts.
Oversee the Grove's PCN income, expenditure, payroll recharges and account responsibilities.
Support temporary PCN banking arrangements only while these remain formally held by the practice, with clear governance and plans for transition where appropriate.
5. VAT, statutory finance and external liaison:
Prepare and coordinate quarterly and annual VAT returns with the accountant.
Liaise with HMRC on VAT, PAYE and partnership changes.
Maintain appropriate records for audit, taxation, pension and statutory purposes.
Coordinate the financial information required for year-end accounts and partnership reporting.
Ensure deadlines, evidence and responsibilities are tracked and not dependent on one individual.
6. Contracts, legal liaison, insurance and licences:
Maintain a central register of contracts, licences, renewals, notice periods, responsibilities and costs.
Liaise with legal advisers regarding incoming and outgoing partners, partnership documents, premises ownership, banking and loan changes.
Manage practice insurance and indemnity arrangements, including employers, premises, public liability, locum or maternity and complaint-related cover.
Review PCN contractual documents relevant to the practice, including network agreements, accounts and new contractual elements.
Oversee licences and registrations including IT, performing rights, travel health, ICO, CQC, waste, business rates and other applicable requirements.
Work with the Practice Manager on operational supplier contracts, with the Finance and Business Manager leading contractual, legal and financial scrutiny.
7. Contract returns and business compliance:
Coordinate monthly and annual claims, returns and supporting evidence, including long-term absence reimbursement and premises or improvement funding.
Lead or coordinate major annual returns such as E-Dec, DSPT and complaints returns, working with the Practice Manager and relevant leads.
Liaise with NHS Dorset and other commissioners regarding contracts, payments and services provided to the practice.
Maintain oversight of CQC, ICO and policy compliance where this relates to contractual, legal, financial or corporate requirements.
Support the partnership and Practice Manager in maintaining business continuity plans and risk registers.
Ensure compliance tasks have named owners, deadlines, evidence and escalation arrangements.
8. Premises, utilities and corporate risk:
Manage utilities and other significant premises contracts.
Lead liaison with NHS estates teams regarding notional rent, CMR1 forms, premises grants and associated compliance.
Support legal and financial compliance for the building, car park, health and safety and changes of use.
Provide financial control and business-case support for premises projects.
Work with the Practice Manager, who retains day-to-day operational responsibility for premises and facilities.
9. Dispensary financial performance:
Monitor dispensary income, purchasing, supplier invoices, credits, margins and overall financial performance.
Work with the dispensary lead partner, Practice Manager and dispensary management team to identify variances and improvement opportunities.
Support procurement decisions, supplier review and financial evaluation of service changes.
Provide regular, clear dispensary finance reports to the partnership.
10. Workforce planning and finance support:
Work with the Practice Manager on workforce budgets, establishment, affordability and the financial consequences of recruitment or service changes.
Provide financial modelling for proposed roles, pay changes, overtime, locum use and restructuring.
Line-manage and develop the Finance Assistant and ensure routine bookkeeping is appropriately delegated and checked.
Support managers to understand budgets and financial responsibilities without transferring core operational management away from the Practice Manager.
11. Business planning and development:
Monitor changes in the GMS contract, NHS policy, funding, regulation, technology and other external factors that may affect the practice.
Identify appropriate income opportunities, efficiencies and financial risks.
Prepare financial appraisals and business cases for proposed services, projects and investments.
Write and facilitate bids, grant applications and contract negotiations where appropriate.
Contribute financial and commercial expertise to partnership and management meetings.
Final strategic, investment and clinical decisions remain with the partnership.
12. Working methods, continuity and flexibility:
Attend relevant management and partnership meetings, with attendance proportionate to the agenda and responsibilities of the role.
Provide concise reports, recommendations and action updates.
Work flexibly with the Practice Manager to resolve gaps, urgent issues and temporary absences while preserving clear core accountabilities.
Maintain shared records and documented procedures so that key functions can continue during absence or turnover.
Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority and purpose of the role following discussion with the partnership.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Substantial experience in finance, accounting, payroll or business management. Experience of budgets, management reporting, cashflow, reconciliations and financial controls. Ability to analyse complex information and explain it clearly to colleagues without a finance background. Experience of working with accountants, banks, payroll providers or other professional advisers. Experience of contract administration, compliance tracking or corporate governance. Strong spreadsheet and financial-system skills. High standards of integrity, confidentiality, accuracy and professional judgement. Ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, document processes and work independently. Excellent written and verbal communication and the confidence to challenge constructively. A relevant qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience.
Desirable
ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT or another relevant professional qualification. Experience in NHS primary care, another healthcare setting or a complex partnership business. Knowledge of GMS, QOF, DES, LES, PCN finance or NHS claims. Experience of payroll, VAT, PAYE, pension processes or partnership accounting. Experience of CQC, DSPT, ICO, insurance, licensing or estates compliance. Experience of dispensing practice or pharmacy finance. Experience of business cases, funding bids, service development or organisational change.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name The Grove Medical Centre
Address Wootton Grove
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 4DL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.thegrovemedcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)