About this role
Job summary
The Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull (BBCS) ICB Cluster is seeking a Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community to join our Finance Directorate. Reporting to the Senior Finance Lead Acute & Community, you will provide expert financial leadership across a portfolio of Acute and Community services, supporting financial sustainability, service transformation and high-quality decision-making.
Working closely with commissioning, contracting, operational and clinical colleagues, you will lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting, providing insightful analysis to identify risks, opportunities and drive value for money. You will build strong relationships with providers and stakeholders, supporting contract management and the delivery of strategic objectives.
We're looking for a qualified finance professional with significant NHS financial management experience, excellent analytical skills and the ability to influence senior stakeholders. In return, you'll join a supportive, forward-thinking team offering flexible hybrid working, professional development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference to the health of our communities.
Main duties of the job
As Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community, you will lead the day-to-day financial management of a portfolio of Acute and Community contracts and budgets, providing expert financial advice, analysis and challenge to support strategic and operational decision-making across the Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull ICB Cluster.
Working closely with commissioning, contracting, operational and clinical colleagues, you will be responsible for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and complex financial modelling. You will monitor financial performance, identify financial risks and opportunities, support contract negotiations and provide robust financial insight to inform commissioning decisions, service transformation and delivery of financial sustainability.
You will build and maintain effective relationships with NHS providers, Local Authorities and system partners, acting as a trusted finance adviser and supporting contract management, financial governance and performance monitoring. You will ensure compliance with statutory financial duties, NHS guidance and Standing Financial Instructions, while contributing to the development of financial strategies, business cases and continuous improvement of financial systems, reporting and controls.
You will also provide leadership, support and development to colleagues within the Finance Directorate, promoting collaborative working, high professional standards and delivery of the Cluster's strategic priorities.
About us
Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) brings together the NHS, local councils and voluntary sector partners to support 2.7 million people. Our vision is to make the area the healthiest place to live and work by improving life chances and reducing inequalities.
As an employee, you will demonstrate our system values, champion inclusion and help address health inequalities so everyone can thrive. In return, the ICB offers a supportive, ambitious and inclusive workplace, with opportunities to develop and work with partners to deliver meaningful change.
The ICB is committed to a workforce that reflects the population of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone who meets the role criteria, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
The ICB is a registered Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and will shortlist suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Employees formally notified that they are at risk of redundancy within the organisation will receive priority consideration for this vacancy if they meet the roles essential requirements. This supports redeployment and helps minimise compulsory redundancies.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.
The postholder will be accountable for:
Ensuring the delivery of financial information and advice to support effective management control and decision making, enabling the organisation to plan, monitor, report and use its financial resources in an effective and efficient manner, and which facilitates the achievement of the ICBs business objectives and statutory duties.Maintaining highly complex financial models to aid proactive financial planning for the ICBs and support on the production of Acute and Community Services related financial returns to external organisations.Developing, implementing and maintaining the ICBs financial management policies, systems and processes, and to lead in driving through continuous improvement in internal controls, financial planning, analysis and reporting.Closely working with Acute, Community and ambulance services commissioners and relevant Clinical Executives and Clinical Leads to develop in year financial strategies necessary to meet the ICBs and Directorates financial requirements.Providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, including presenting information about projects and dependencies to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in formal settings.Being the finance lead on designated Acute and Community Service contract budgets, as directed by the Associate Director of Finance/Head of Finance. Developing and monitoring budgets and financial plans for the Acute and Community Services commissioned by the ICBs in the portfolio, designing and implementing systems to ensure the ICBs meet all statutory financial duties. Providing specialist technical and professional advice to the ICB, being the financial representative on Acute and Community Service groups and sub committeesDeputising for the Head of Finance Acute & Community as necessary.Engaging with key stakeholders and Acute and Community providers regarding contract discussions and negotiation and in-year monitoring, ensuring that in-year payments are made in line with national tariff rules and contractual / activity requirements.Supporting on the completion of Freedom of Information requests that require financial input relating to ICB Acute and Community Service contracts or Better Care Fund agreements in accordance with the legislation.Supporting the completion of the ICBs Statutory Annual Accounts ensuring records and working papers are accurate and produced to the timescales required.Building and maintaining structures and reports extracted from the financial ledger and supporting systems to ensure effective provision of financial information to budget managers within Acute and Community Service departments and summarised financial information are available to various groups, committees and boards of the ICBs.Being the main contact between the Acute and Community providers, Local Authorities and the ICB for any payment or claim related issues.Ensuring Acute and Community budget holders and other relevant staff have the necessary skills to effectively undertake their financial responsibility. This will be by providing training sessions to staff groups or individually to ensure an understanding of financial statements, other supporting reports and relevant financial systems and processes.Supporting the Head of Finance on the financial negotiation of ICBs contracts with Acute and Community providers, ensuring contract values are within available resources based upon current guidance and legislation, and in accordance with activity proposals recommended by commissioning staff.Ensuring financial records are accurate, complete and conform to necessary standards using professional judgement and estimations.Being responsible for the day-to-day management of direct reports, allocating and checking the workload and performance of team members, and assisting with recruitment and disciplinary issues.Providing expert financial advice and professional support to Business cases and service redesign projects encompassing both financial and non-financial data, analysis and sophisticated modelling techniques.Liaising with senior managers within the Acute and Community Commissioning managers and BI Analysts to formulate accurate forecast modelling and horizon scanning that allow for robust financial information to be used in the production of monthly Financial Management reports for the portfolio of contracts.Supporting the Head of Finance on the monitoring of Acute and Community activity-based contracts performance including ERF, attending CQRMs and providing support and relevant challenge to any contractual obligations / performance issues set out in the healthcare contract to ensure they are providing an efficient quality service and are delivering against agreed performance targets.Supporting the Head of Finance and senior finance leads on the development and monitoring of QIPP plans for the ICBs advising on the economic outlook impacting on resource assumptions and benefit realisation.Being the finance lead on various projects and to have formal membership of project groups where appropriate.Ensuring financial transactions are in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs). The post holder is also responsible for informing the Chief Finance Officer of any breach of SFIs and reporting incidences of fraud.Working within departmental and ICB-wide policies and procedures, accounting principles, NHS guidelines and regulations, use professional knowledge and judgement to decide appropriate actions and responses which will also include highly sensitive or contentious issues.Actively contributing to the local HFMA network and be an ambassador for future One NHS Finance accreditations.Develop and present reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes, and providing progress reports for senior staff or groups of staff as directed from time to time.Ensuring Mandate schedules and IPFs are completed, approved and uploaded accurately and timely in accordance with governance processes.Constantly striving for value for money and greater efficiency in the use of Acute and Community budgets and to ensure that they operate in recurrent financial balance year on year.Providing cross cover to the Financial Management function as necessary.Leading on local place-based activity and capacity modelling in partnership with the local health economy providers as part of the BCF financial plan.Providing operational finance & contracting leadership to support the ICBs in their role managing and reviewing the financial aspects of other Healthcare contracts such as Private providers as directed by the Head of Finance.Carrying out contract negotiations (financial element) with all providers of healthcare services for the ICBs for the portfolio of contracts in conjunction with the Head of Finance.Leading on the detailed financial arrangements for ICBs partnership arrangements, in particular with the Local Authorities in relation to the Better Care Fund for the local place, supporting into the wider governance and ensuring completion of relevant BCF planning and in-year returns and payments.Report on the financial performance of placed based responsibilities to the relevant commissioning board and project groups.Liaising with colleagues across other ICBs in support of the management of contracts (whether the ICB is the contract lead) within the portfolio and provide an assessment of financial risks to the ICB.Supporting the Head of Finance Acute & Community with the assembly of annual financial contract offers to designated Trusts and IS providers, ensuring that the financial interests of other ICBs are maintained and communicated.Working closely with Planning & Strategic Investment team to identify and articulate the recurrent and underlying financial position, distinguishing between nonrecurrent, structural and in year pressures.Working with commissioning leads and contracting to identify and implement mitigating actions in year to ensure costs are managed within ICB budgets and ensure cost improvement plans are developed to support financial sustainability of the cluster.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development Member of relevant professional body
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Essential
Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act
Mobility Essential
Ability to travel across sites as required
Experience Essential
Significant experience in NHS Financial Management. Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy Experience of researching best practice (globally, private and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation) Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual providers and the commissioning organisations Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills with the willingness to embrace technological advancements. Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate useful financial information from large volumes of data in accordance with strict timetables. Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices
Desirable
Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
Skills and Abilities Essential
Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor/ Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales Used to working in a busy environment Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions Professional calm and efficient manner Effective organizer, influencer and networker Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals Completer/Finisher
Autonomy Essential
Able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations, with the aim of improving deliverables Ability to make decisions autonomously when required, working to tight and often changing timescales
Personal Qualities Essential
Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
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 Black Country Integrated Care Board
Address Black Country Integrated Care Board
Wolverhampton Civic Centre
St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)