About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in shaping contract financial management across NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB. You will be at the heart of how we manage significant provider contracts, strengthen financial oversight and develop payment approaches that deliver better value and outcomes for our population. We are looking for someone who brings strong financial and contract management insight, commercial thinking, sound judgement and the confidence to work collaboratively with senior colleagues and NHS providers. You will join a supportive and ambitious team at an important point in the development of our strategic commissioning and contracting arrangements, with real scope to influence how we work in the future.
Main duties of the job
You will lead the financial planning, monitoring, forecasting and reporting of a complex portfolio of NHS and other provider contracts, providing clear assurance on expenditure, activity, performance, risks and delivery against agreed financial envelopes. You will ensure the NHS Payment Scheme and national contracting guidance are applied consistently; lead financial input to contract negotiations, reconciliations and dispute resolution; and develop robust costing models and payment mechanisms, including fixed, blended, risk-share and outcomes-based arrangements.
Working closely with Contracting, Insight and Analytics, Strategic Commissioning and provider colleagues, you will turn complex financial and activity data into practical advice for senior decision-makers. You will also lead and develop the contract finance team, strengthen controls and reporting, and promote collaborative, evidence-based contract management.
About us
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is the strategic commissioner of NHS services for a population of 1.7 million people. We plan and arrange services to meet our populations diverse health needs, focusing on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and making the best use of available resources. Our area reaches over 1,500 square miles and includes the cities of Hull and York and large rural areas across East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Our role is to make sure health services work well and are of high quality. We also work to join up health and care services, improve the health and wellbeing of local people and reduce health inequalities across our area.
The ICB adopts a Purposeful Presence model as the default way of working. Subject to any reasonable adjustments that may be required, this means:
- Individual work is undertaken remotely and digitally in almost all Circumstances.
- Collaborative work is predominantly delivered through digital platforms.
- In-person working is reserved for situations where outcomes cannot be achieved effectively through digital means.
Contractual bases are determined by post category. This post is designated as: Agile Post
This means the appointed postholder may choose either Health House, Willerby or home as their contractual base (please note that the Purposeful Presence principles still apply if Health House is chosen)
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role is pivotal in ensuring the financial integrity and sustainability of provider contracts, supporting the ICBs transition to a value-based, outcomes-driven commissioning model as set out in the Model ICB Blueprint. It ensures financial planning, reporting, contract monitoring, and costing are robust, transparent, and grounded in detailed analytical insight aligned to population health needs and strategic goals.
The Head of Contract Financial Management leads the financial oversight, monitoring, and assurance of the ICBs provider contracts, working in close partnership with Contracting colleagues, Insight and Analytics teams, and Strategic Commissioning. The role ensures contracts are financially robust, support the transition to fixed sum payments, blended and outcomes-based contracts, and are fully aligned with national policy, the commissioning cycle, and population health priorities.
The postholder drives the application of national payment guidance, develops advanced contract costing and financial models, and collaborates with Analytics and Contracting teams to ensure contract values and payment mechanisms reflect activity, need, and value for money. This is integral to supporting the ICBs function as an intelligent healthcare payer, able to commission effectively through evidence-based and analytically driven decision-making.
The postholder works autonomously, leading the team, through the guidance of national policies and financial frameworks. The postholder will apply interpretation of these to service delivery to ensure the ICB has a strong and effective contracting service that supports strategic commissioning negotiations and enactment of contracts.
Key Relationships
To deliver these key responsibilities the post holder will need to developed effective relationship with the following business unit teams, stakeholders and organisations:
Assistant Director of Finance - Contract Financial Management
Director of Finance
Strategic Commissioning Teams
Contracting and Performance teams
Insight and Analytics teams
Provider Contract and Finance Leads
NHS England Payment and Finance Teams
Clinical Leadership and Programme Leads
Budget Holders and ICB Senior Leadership
Internal and External Auditors
Specialist advisors (legal, procurement, actuarial)
Core Functions
Main duties
Lead the planning, monitoring and reporting of all NHS provider contracts, including expenditure and ensuring robust alignment with fixed sums, blended payments, outcomes-based models, and local population health needs.
Produce high-quality, detailed financial reports, including planning, forecasts, variance analysis, and contract performance reports that support contract decision-making and governance.
Ensure consistent, correct application of NHS Payment Scheme rules, national tariff guidance, and financial policies within all contracts.
Work proactively and collaboratively with Contracting, Insight and Analytics, and Strategic Commissioning teams to ensure contract values are based on accurate activity modelling, demand forecasting, and costed population need.
Develop, test, and oversee innovative payment mechanisms (e.g., risk-sharing, gainshare, outcome-based contracts), including full costing models and financial risk arrangements.
Champion the use of advanced analytical approaches and costing methodologies to inform contract negotiations, renewals, and performance management.
Take the lead finance role in negotiating and managing NHS contracts with colleagues, working with the Contracting and Procurement Team for the ICB
The role will require contract negotiation and persuasive skills and the ability to develop relationships with other NHS provider organisations.
Lead the financial input into contract governance, compliance, and assurance processes, ensuring robust stewardship, audit readiness, and accountability.
Lead, manage, and develop a team of contract finance staff, fostering high performance, analytical rigour, and collaborative working across functions.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant demonstrable experience managing large, complex healthcare contracts, including fixed sum and outcomes-based models.
- Substantial hands-on experience of contract monitoring and financial performance management across complex, high-value contracts
- Proven ability to take ownership of a complex contract portfolio and operate effectively and independently from the outset
- Demonstrable experience of identifying, analysing and resolving complex contractual, financial and performance issues including managing associated risks.
- Extensive experience in financial reporting, forecasting, variance analysis, and advanced costing.
- Proven experience in collaborative working with Contracting colleagues to negotiate, design, and manage payment mechanisms.
- Significant experience working with Analytics or Business Intelligence teams to interpret data, demand forecasts, and population health insights for financial planning.
- Experience leading financial negotiations and resolving disputes.
- Proven leadership and team management experience
Desirable
- Experience designing or managing innovative payment models such as risk-sharing, gainshare, or outcome-based incentives.
- Experience working across integrated commissioning environments (e.g., NHS and Local Authority).
Skills and competencies
Essential
- Highly advanced financial modelling, costing, and analytical skills, including use of Excel and contract finance systems.
- Ability to interpret complex activity, cost, and demand data to inform contract financial models.
- Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to challenge assumptions and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with both finance and non-finance audiences, including Contracting, Analytics, and Provider colleagues.
- Skilled in negotiation and influencing at senior levels to achieve shared goals.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional working with Contracting and Analytics teams to deliver integrated commissioning outcomes.
Desirable
- Workshop facilitation, change management, or service improvement capabilities.
- Experience developing training or coaching materials to build costing and analytical capability within teams.
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Level relevant degree, or significant recent, relevant senior professional experience
- Recent expert knowledge of NHS contracting, financial management, national payment mechanisms, and outcomes-based models.
- Strong understanding of costing methodologies, should-cost modelling, and advanced payment design.
- Detailed knowledge of the commissioning cycle, population health principles, and health inequalities.
Desirable
- Professionally Qualified Accountant and current member of professional body (CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAEW)
- Training in Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of value-based healthcare models and integrated care principles.
Employer details
Employer name
Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (857)
Address
Humber and North Yorkshire ICB
Health House
Grange Park Lane
Willerby
HU10 6DT
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://humberandnorthyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)