About this role
Job summary
First Community is seeking an experienced, qualified, and forward-thinking Senior Finance Business Partner to join its Finance team to provide high-quality financial business partnering support across Clinical and Corporate Divisions.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance, the postholder will play a critical role in ensuring that financial management is closely aligned with operational objectives, service delivery plans, and the wider organisational strategy.
The role requires a strong combination of technical financial expertise, commercial awareness, strategic thinking, and leadership capability to support c£33m budget portfolio.
Applicants must hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification such as CCAB or CIMA and have sufficient experience in financial management and business partnering.
They must possess strong analytical and commercial skills and demonstrate a proven ability to provide customer-focused financial support.
The ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate financial information clearly and effectively to both finance and non-finance colleagues is essential.
The role requires someone who can build strong relationships, influence decisions, and support managers in achieving their financial objectives while maintaining a strong focus on governance and value for money.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Managing and leading the Financial Management Team.Leading the monthly and quarterly management accounts preparation and consolidated finance pack for committees.Finance business partnering, working closely operational and non-operational managers in delivering the organisations financial strategy and meeting their financial targets.Preparing financial models and plans for new business initiatives and projects.Providing sound financial management advice in procurement or tendering for new services and initiatives.Maintaining robust financial controls, processes and procedures.Supporting the successful preparation and implementation of the annual budget and financial plans.Providing technical finance support and guidance on business as usual and project activities.Coordinating and delivering finance training to non-finance colleagues.Driving continuous improvements in business processes and controls, alongside developing team capabilities.
About us
Do you want to be part of an organisation recognised as one of the top community providers to work for in the country, delivering high quality NHS care? (2025 Staff Survey results)
First Community is a staff owned social enterprise rated Good by CQC, which delivers NHS community services across east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We are looking for individuals who share our values First-rate care, First-rate people, First-rate value.
First Community is a great place to work, everyone has a voice and is supported to develop their career to its full potential. We offer all our staff: NHS terms and conditions, high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment, NHS pension, flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.
Please talk to us before applying or at interview about the flexibility you need. We may not be able to meet your needs exactly, but we do promise to fully consider your request and meet your needs where possible. Flexible working options may vary depending on the role.
At First Community we welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. All applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.
Sustainability is integral to First Community achieving the NHS Net Zero target.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that there are effective monitoring and reporting processes in place for controlling the companys income and expenditure. Information needs to be presented in a format appropriate to the intended audience, e.g. service managers, the Executive Team and the Board.
The post holder will also provide wider business support to the Executive Team and Service Managers in the costing and pricing of existing and new services, and in the preparation of tenders for new healthcare contracts.
The post holder will ensure that effective procurement processes are in place across the company to achieve the optimum balance of economy and efficiency in the goods and services received by FCHC.
The post holder will be required to ensure that effective contract monitoring processes are in place for healthcare contracts held by the company, ensuring that we meet our contractual obligations and achieve our financial targets.
The post holder will also support corporate business development through the identification of publicly advertised business opportunities and the co-ordination of responses to these and other formal tender processes.
Critical to the position are strong interpersonal skills, and effective communication both verbal and written. The ability to lead a small team to achieve department and business finance demands is fundamental as is understanding protocol when interacting with management together with maintaining a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality.
The ability to plan and prioritise workloads to meet deadlines is fundamental so too is effective time management of workflow to meet deadlines. The ability to work without Management direction, use initiative and possess a positive attitude towards teamwork.
Please see document 'Job Decription and Person Specification' for more detail.
Person Specification
Knowledge Essential
Expert knowledge of management accounting disciplines and budgetary control principles Strong knowledge of conducting or contributing to efficiency reviews Experience of setting up and managing programmes or projects Evidence of post qualification and continuing professional development Costing and Procurement experience Strong working knowledge of other Microsoft Office/Products with intermediate keyboard skills
Desirable
NHS Finance and NHS Benchmarking
Experience Essential
Significant post qualification analytical financial management experience. Strong ability to provide advice and support from all accounting disciplines. Successful experience of managing teams including leading financial management teams. Experience of producing financial monitoring reports for Senior Management/Directors for large and complex organisations. Previously involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes in Public and Private Sectors. Experience of directly managing and developing a team. Exposure to commercial operations in public or private sector. Experience of benchmarking or equivalent and strong data analytics skills. Contract monitoring experience. Proven record of improving business processes, productivity, efficiency and adding value.
Qualifications Essential
CCAB Qualified or CIMA accountant and an active member of an accounting professional body. Expert knowledge gained through specialist training or experience. Evidence of maintaining and developing technical accounting expertise and of staying up to date with current accounting rules since qualification.
Other Requirements Essential
Manages team within the constraints of the strategic plan. Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary. Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust Used to working in a busy environment Flexible and adaptable team player with the ability to cope with uncertainty and change Commitment to continuing professional development
Skills Essential
Strong computerised accounting and reporting skills including cloud-based accounting systems. Advanced Excel skills. Ability to present financial information in a clear and concise manner. Strong verbal and inter-personal skills to facilitate constructive discussion with service managers. Strong leadership qualities and influencing skills. Ability to work as part of a team, making positive contributions while recognising the position of others. Strong organisation and planning skills with the ability to formulate and adjust plans to reflect changing circumstances. Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning. Effective time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines. Skills for delivering results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility. Skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders.
Desirable
Project management. Ability to negotiate with external parties and reach mutually acceptable positions.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name First Community Health and Care
Address Consort House
5-7 Queensway
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 1YB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)