Chief Finance Officer

Job overview

CFO Job Advert (April 2026)

ELFT is a vibrant, values-led community united by a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, equitable care for all. As the first NHS Marmot Trust, we are proud to act as an anchor institution, tackling the wider determinants of health and championing inclusion across Bedfordshire, East London and Luton.

We are seeking a Chief Finance Officer who will be at the heart of our mission to make a difference for our diverse communities. The Chief Finance Officer is a key board role at ELFT contributing on all strategic and operational matters. They are accountable for the overall financial performance of the Trust, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while delivering safe, high-quality patient care for the service users.

As CFO, this role is about far more than financial leadership. It requires someone who can work in a truly unitary way with colleagues, making a meaningful impact and bringing a solutionfocused approach to complex challenges within this exciting and ambitious Trust. The successful candidate will be an experienced, compassionate, and dynamic leader with a demonstrable track record of delivering meaningful impact within large, complex organisations. They will bring extensive expertise in financial leadership, governance, and performance management, alongside board-level experience and outstanding communication skills.

Please refer to the candidate information pack for more information

Main duties of the job

• Provide leadership within a framework of prudent and effective controls, ensuring that key risks are identified, understood and well managed to support successful organisational outcomes.
• Contribute actively to the development of the Trust’s strategic aims and long‑term aspirations, informed by the views and experiences of the Council of Governors, service users, carers, staff, partners and local communities.
• Provide executive leadership for the Trust’s business development and commercial strategy, ensuring the organisation is well‑positioned to identify, pursue and secure opportunities that strengthen sustainability and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.
• Provide strategic leadership for the Trust’s contracting and commissioning arrangements.
• Model and champion the Trust’s values, promoting openness, inclusion, compassion and behaviours that create a psychologically safe and respectful working environment for all.
• Foster a culture that empowers innovation, learning and continuous improvement, ensuring staff feel supported and able to shape better ways of working at every level of the organisation.
• Lead and sustain collaborative partnerships across North East London and Central East ICSs, ensuring system‑level financial, cultural and strategic alignment in the interests of the populations served.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• A strong understanding of NHS finance policy and wider Integrated Care System (ICS) working is essential, as is knowledge of estates, capital planning, and sustainability. They will possess the ability to translate strategic vision into effective operational delivery, inspiring and leading change across the organisation. Above all, they will demonstrate a deep and authentic commitment to NHS values and to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Provide expert financial input into major business cases, strategic plans and other business-critical documents.
• Ensure strong financial stewardship through value for money, robust financial control and adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance.
• Oversee the Internal Audit service to ensure compliance with NHS Internal Audit Standards, and lead the Trust’s relationship with Internal Audit, Counter Fraud and External Auditors, ensuring timely action on all recommendations.
• Ensure appropriate systems and controls are in place for the receipt, management and expenditure of charitable funds, in line with donor intent, Charity Commission requirements and audit standards.
• Ensure the Finance function provides sufficient capacity and expertise to support financial planning, contracting and the monitoring of Service Level Agreements to secure appropriate income for the Trust.
• Maintain strong liquidity and cash management through effective working capital processes, maximising cash surpluses and minimising reliance on credit facilities.
• Ensure all financial elements of the Governance Assurance Framework are fully monitored and acted upon.