Assistant Director of Operational Finance

Job overview

Assistant Director of Operational Finance (Band 8d)

Join us in shaping the future of the NHS

Would you like to join a team that is working to deliver sustainable improvements that benefit patients, staff and the wider health and care system?

We are seeking three experienced finance leaders to join our newly established Finance and Planning Directorate, working in North East and Yorkshire region.

You will be joining a new Oversight and Productivity team that has four Assistant Director of Operational Finance roles. Each will be aligned to one of the four Integrated Care Systems within the region.

NHS England regions are moving into a new role with enhanced focus on strategy, performance, improvement and oversight.

This role is an opportunity to work at the heart of the NHS supporting senior leaders across the region to achieve financial sustainability and transformation. This is critical to delivery of national NHS priorities, patient care, and wider health and care reform.

The role will require high-profile working with NHS providers and Integrated Care Boards within the region, and with national teams. It offers a breadth of experience rarely found within a single post at this level, working on a wide range of strategic and operational financial issues. This provides opportunity to influence local systems, support major transformation programmes, and contribute to regional and national priorities.

Main duties of the job

Working across a complex and diverse portfolio, you will build strong relationships with senior leaders across NHS England and local systems. You will be responsible for financial oversight and improvement activity, providing expert financial advice, and helping organisations navigate some of the most challenging issues facing healthcare today.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence financial strategy and operational delivery across multiple organisations, working with senior leaders in varied disciplines to deliver sustainable improvements that benefit patients, staff and the wider health and care system.

You will join a supportive, experienced and high-performing regional finance team in tackling some of the most significant financial, operational and strategic challenges facing the NHS. The role provides exceptional exposure to system leadership, financial recovery, capital planning and business cases, regulatory oversight, productivity, transformation and improvement.

The breadth of experience offered by this role provides excellent preparation for finance professionals seeking to progress towards Deputy Director of Finance, Director of Finance and other senior NHS finance leadership positions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsibilities of the role

The postholder will be a senior member of the Regional Finance leadership team, and will:

• Develop relationships with NHS providers and systems, providing support, challenge and oversight to help them deliver sustainable financial and operational performance.
• Deliver expert financial advice to local and regional leaders, supporting decision-making across a broad range of complex and high-profile issues.
• Be responsible for financial planning, performance management and reporting across revenue, capital and cash, ensuring compliance with national policy and financial frameworks.
• Support organisations to develop and deliver robust financial recovery plans, productivity programmes and cost improvement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with senior operational, clinical and finance colleagues to develop solutions that improve delivery, value for money and outcomes
• Deliver NHS England's financial assurance and regulatory responsibilities, providing appropriate oversight, challenge and intervention where required.
• Identify, manage and mitigate financial risks, ensuring timely escalation and intervention where required.
• Act as a key link between national, regional and local teams, ensuring consistent implementation of financial policy, guidance and priorities.
• Represent NHS England at senior meetings, board-level discussions and external stakeholder forums.
• Be responsible for significant regional and national programmes that support service transformation, financial sustainability and improved value for money.
• Support the development, review and delivery of major capital programmes and business cases.
• Work across NHS England to identify and share learning, best practice and effective approaches

Full details are provided in the Job Description

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.