Deputy Finance Business Partner

Job overview

We’re a humble Trust but we are proud of our strengths: our clinical performance and sound operations - rooted in patient safety, robust governance and continuous quality improvement; our highly engaged staff, whose passion for patient care creates a palpable, warm and welcoming spirit; and, the innovative way we work with our partners. We are good - the CQC recognised this in May 2023 and our staff tell us this every time we ask them. But we want to be outstanding. Not for ourselves, but for the communities we serve.

We have clear ambitions for our finance function to be the very best it can be. The Deputy Finance Business Partner role will contribute to guiding and shaping that journey at both divisional and trust levels.  We are looking for an individual who can use their initiative to deal with a constantly changing and challenging dynamic division.

Main duties of the job

This exciting opportunity will allow the successful candidate to work in an engaging and forward-thinking organisation and be responsible for key objectives such as:

• Ensuring comprehensive and timely monthly reporting of Directorates' financial position.
• Supporting the setting of the Directorate revenue budgets
• Assisting in the training of budget holders and managers in budgetary management and control.
• Assisting in the training and development of individuals within Financial Management.
• Deputising for the Finance Business Partner when required

As this is a progression role you may be studying towards and have ambitions to be a fully CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant or have a transferrable level of experience. To gain the Band 7 you will be expected to be a fully qualified accountant. A good understanding of NHS Finance and a desire to work in the NHS are key.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To support the Finance Business Partners (FBPs) in being the financial and business strategy experts for a given Division.
• To oversee and manage the production of relevant Finance Department deliverables, such as monthly budget and Service Line Management (SLM) performance reports and annual processes, including budget setting and Income and Cost Improvement (ICIP) establishment.
• To be a key member of Divisional Management Teams and be responsible for leading the Divisions in the development of it’s financial strategy.
• To hold services to account for their financial practices and positions and will challenge departments core practices to ensure the successful financial management of departments.
• To provide day-to-day leadership of the Divisional Finance Teams and work with the FBPs to manage all staff and deliverables within their respective divisional teams in the Finance Department.
• To assist in the production of business cases that support the Divisional and organisational strategic direction.
• Alongside departmental management colleagues, to develop innovative ideas for savings schemes, testing the feasibility of schemes, ensuring robust project management of feasible schemes and initiating remedial action if required.
• Through close links to the Business Support Team, ensure that departmental teams are aware of the implications of changes in commissioning practice and that mitigating action is put in place as required.
• To be responsible for ensuring that all of the services provided by the departments are demonstrably cost effective and efficient.
• To Deputise for the Finance Business Partner as appropriate.