About this role
Job summary
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) is seeking an exceptional finance leader to join our senior leadership team as Associate Director of Finance - Financial Improvement. This pivotal role will lead the Group's financial improvement, productivity, efficiency and costing agenda across a complex NHS organisation with an annual turnover of approximately £1.1 billion.
Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Group Deputy Director of Strategic Finance and Executive colleagues, you will provide strategic leadership for the delivery of financial improvement programmes, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while supporting high-quality patient care. You will lead the Group's Cost Improvement Programme, drive productivity initiatives, oversee costing and service line management, and provide expert financial advice to senior leaders, Board Committees and external stakeholders.
The successful candidate will be a qualified CCAB accountant with significant senior-level NHS finance experience, a strong understanding of the NHS financial regime, and a proven track record of delivering financial transformation and change.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest level, help shape healthcare services across Lincolnshire, and play a key role in developing a high-performing, innovative and inclusive finance function
Main duties of the job
Lead the development and delivery of the Group's financial improvement, productivity and efficiency programmes, ensuring long-term financial sustainability across a £1.1bn NHS organisation.
Provide strategic leadership for the Group's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), supporting the identification, delivery and monitoring of savings and transformation opportunities.
Lead the costing function, including statutory costing requirements, National Cost Collection submissions and the development of service line management information to support decision-making.
Work closely with Executive Directors, Care Group leaders, clinicians and corporate teams to drive financial performance and support strategic objectives.
Present complex financial information and recommendations to senior committees, Board members and external stakeholders, providing expert advice on financial sustainability and improvement.
Build strong relationships with NHS England, the ICB, auditors and wider system partners, representing the Group on financial improvement and costing matters.
Provide leadership to finance teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional development and high performance.
Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, contributing to corporate leadership and key organisational decision-making
About us
Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.
Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.
This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.
The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).
Job description Job responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the development, implementation and delivery of the Group-wide financial improvement, productivity and efficiency agenda, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable and achieves its strategic objectives.
Provide strategic leadership for the Group's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), including the development, monitoring and delivery of financial recovery and efficiency plans.
Lead the Group's costing function, ensuring compliance with all mandatory costing requirements, including the National Cost Collection and associated regulatory submissions.
Develop and promote the use of costing, benchmarking and service line management information to support evidence-based decision making and improve operational and financial performance.
Support the Finance & Performance Committee and Board in providing assurance on financial performance, sustainability and delivery of improvement programmes.
Provide expert financial advice and challenge to Executive Directors, senior operational leaders and clinical teams to support strategic and operational decision making.
Actively identify opportunities for financial improvement and intervene to support the resolution of issues that could impact the organisation's financial position.
Lead and develop high-performing finance teams, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional excellence and staff development.
Provide leadership and line management for the Financial Improvement, Costing and Capital Finance teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and outcomes.
Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, representing the organisation at internal and external meetings and supporting wider corporate leadership responsibilities.
Key Relationships The post holder will work closely with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders across the organisation and wider NHS system, including:
Internal
Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Deputy Chief Finance Officer / Group Deputy Director of Finance Executive Leadership Team Board of Directors and Board Committees Care Group and Corporate Directors Clinical Leaders and Senior Operational Managers Senior Finance Leadership Team Finance, Costing and Capital Teams Internal Audit Services External
NHS England Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (DLN) ICB Cluster and system partners Peer Finance Directors and Deputy Directors across the NHS Internal and External Auditors National Costing and Regulatory Bodies Benchmarking and Professional Networks Wider NHS and healthcare partners across the local health economy Accountability The Associate Director of Finance Financial Improvement is a senior member of the Finance Leadership Team and is accountable for leading the Group's financial improvement, productivity, efficiency and costing agenda. The role provides strategic leadership across a complex NHS organisation and contributes directly to organisational sustainability, transformation and performance
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
CCAB-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent). Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) through further specialist training & experience. General business/management qualification at a masters level or equivalent experience Evidence of leadership development Experience of working at a senior management level in a finance department.
Desirable
Undertaking or willing to undertake further management courses. Educated to Masters Level or measurable experience of working at masters level
Knowledge Essential
Expert understanding of the NHS financial regime and policies Understanding of financial legislation and ability to ensure the organisation adheres to it. Knowledge of all appropriate legislation and its application within a large organisation Thorough knowledge of and understanding of governance issues.
Experience Essential
Experience of effective staff management Experience of developing IT solutions including advanced spread-sheets, computerised financial ledgers, budgeting and financial modelling systems and costing systems Experience of managing a senior finance team Experience of Financial improvement and change management. Experience of Financial Management including substantial post qualification experience operating at a strategic level. Experience of working and contributing effectively with Board members, clinicians and other senior staff both within and outside the NHS Experience on management accounting and Experience of SLA Contract negotiations costing techniques
Desirable
Experience of SLA Contract negotiations
Skills Essential
Advanced key board skills to produce and present high quality coherent reports Analytical skills and Business Thinking to interpret financial and non-financial information Able to demonstrate planning and organisational skills to take into account good judgement, decision making and strategic prospective Possess excellent communications skills with the ability to be clear and persuasive in speech and writing; and to handle difficult and sensitive situations
Specific Requirements Essential
Evidence of working across a range of organisations including external stakeholders to achieve significant change Leadership of complex organisations change management. Ability to analyse complex problems using data analysis to understand the root causes and develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them Able to demonstrate an innovative approach to management issues Leadership and coaching, change and learning orientation Able to demonstrate team building and inter relationship skills including influencing and communication Ability to have a high level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and flexibility in approach and attitude and ability to work under pressure.
Personal Qualities Essential
Ability to work in line with and role model Group values. Be able to demonstrate achievement orientation, self-confidence and initiative
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Lincoln County Hospital
Greetwell Road
Lincoln
LN25QY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)