About this role
Job summary
The Head of Finance - Projects will be a key member of the Strategic Finance Team within the Financial Management Department. The Projects Finance Team, comprising four posts, operates within a matrix structure and supports a range of high-profile, Trust-wide initiatives. These include major programmes such as the Cambridge Cancer Research and Cambridge Children's Hospitals, alongside core strategic priorities within the Trust's wider strategy, including Neighbourhood Health. This role presents a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute directly to some of the most significant and transformative projects at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH).
The postholder will play a pivotal role in shaping strategic decision-making across the Trust and the wider health system. This will be achieved through the provision of highly complex financial analysis, business insight, and expert advice to the Trust Board, senior leaders, and clinical teams. The decisions supported by this role will have a lasting impact on the quality of care delivered to patients and the working environment for staff.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Finance - Projects will act as the lead financial specialist for specific large strategic capital projects including developing complex business cases, analysing complex business opportunities and identifying and reporting of associated financial efficiencies. While supporting the completion of the Full Business Case for the Cambridge Children's Hospital, this post will work across CUH and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHSFT (CPFT).
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 19th May 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on 29th May 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
oRecognised Professional Accountancy Qualification (i.e. Fully Qualified member of CCAB) or equivalent experience. oDegree or equivalent. oCompletion of evidenced on-going Continuing Professional Development (CPD), in accordance with guidelines produced by the relevant Professional Accountancy Body.
Desirable
oMasters Qualification oBetter Business Case Foundation and Practitioner levels
Experience Essential
oExtensive experience of Financial Management including substantial post qualification experience operating at a strategic level. oExperience of working at a strategic level, able to recognise direction and implications of policy. oExtensive experience of the financial elements of business planning, the preparation of business cases and the practical application of investment appraisal techniques. oExperience of costing methodologies and their applications.
Desirable
oExperience of working with external professional advisors oExperience of financial planning on an organisational basis. oExperience of tariff pricing structures.
Knowledge Essential
oAbility to negotiate effectively and maintain robust partnership relationships. oSpecialist, expert knowledge of specific NHS policies/procedure for example Payment by Results, Coding, Patient Choice, Foundation Trusts. oGood working knowledge of and proven interest in the NHS including understanding of key targets and the performance management framework oUp to date, in depth knowledge of Financial and Management Accounting procedures including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). oFamiliarity with relevant changes in clinical practice and the consequent impact on resource utilisation
Skills Essential
oExcellent written communication skills including the ability to summarise highly complex financial issues into concise financial reports and prepare complex, multi-faceted business cases oGood verbal communication and presentation skills including the ability to explain highly complex financial issues clearly and persuasively to non-financial staff and communicate sensitive or contentious information in order to influence decision making oAwareness of organisational politics in order to keep healthcare professionals on board with key changes and resource management. oFlexibility to work autonomously with the skills to make decisions independently and delegate effectively oProven ability to use own initiative, prioritise work to meet tight deadlines, delegate appropriately and apply problem solving skills effectively. oGood understanding of operational issues and how organisational pressures affect broader resource utilisation oStrong analytical skills including the ability to make sound judgements and decisions on highly complex issues to minimise financial risk in situations where there is multiplicity of targets/objectives, imperfect information and no obvious precedent. oAbility to make judgements on financial risks where expert opinions may conflict is required. oAbility to assess benefits realisation and advise on potential remedial solutions oConfidence to advise on certain courses of action/decisions which may have far-reaching and long-term strategic consequences for the Trust oComprehensive IT skills including the use of Financial Systems/General Ledgers. Experience with Microsoft Office products/other software packages including the ability to design highly complex spread sheets, reports and databases to manipulate and analyse technical data and convert it into an accessible, user-friendly format.
Additional Requirements Essential
oThe ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent. oAbility to demonstrate a supportive and facilitative management style. oAbility to work effectively with senior colleagues, including at Trust Board Level. oAbility to work in a fast paced environment, enabling quick decision making whilst balancing risk oDiscretion, integrity and reliability
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).
Employer details Employer name Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Employer's website https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)