Head of Financial Governance and Strategic Investments

Job overview

The post holder will operate as a senior Trust-level finance leader, providing authoritative oversight, assurance and expert professional advice across financial governance, investment oversight, technical financial assurance and value optimisation. The role is accountable for setting, assuring and continuously developing Trust-wide financial governance, assurance and control frameworks, and for ensuring material investment decisions and technical financial opportunities are aligned to the Trust’s strategic priorities, stewardship responsibilities and financial sustainability objectives. The role provides independent assurance and advice to the Chief Finance Officer, Director of Finance, Executive Directors, Audit Committee and Trust Board on complex, sensitive and high-risk financial matters. It requires significant autonomy, expert judgement and the ability to influence senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders where issues are contentious, financially significant or carry organisational risk. It also leads senior teams responsible for governance, assurance, systems, investment support and technical value optimisation, ensuring the Finance Directorate supports robust decision-making and maximises value for patient services.

Main duties of the job

• Provide senior Trust-wide leadership for financial governance, controls, assurance and risk management.
• Lead the Finance relationship with internal audit, external audit and counter fraud, and oversee key assurance requirements.
• Lead and coordinate the Trust’s Annual Report and Accounts, providing senior oversight of complex technical accounting matters.
• Lead financial oversight of significant business cases, investments and benefits realisation.
• Identify and oversee opportunities to improve financial value through accounting, VAT/tax, capital and revenue treatment, and balance sheet management.
• Provide senior leadership for finance systems, digital enablement, data, controls and business continuity.
• Lead and develop teams across financial governance, assurance, systems, investment and technical finance, providing expert advice to senior leaders and Trust committees

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Financial Governance, Controls and Assurance

• Lead the development, maintenance and embedding of Trust-wide financial governance, assurance and control frameworks, including Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation and related policies.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders, Audit Committee and Trust Board on financial governance, assurance, risk and controls.
• Prepare and present committee papers and advise on complex governance matters, balancing compliance, operational requirements, audit expectations and financial risk.

2. Audit, Counter Fraud and External Scrutiny

• Act as senior finance lead for internal audit, external audit and counter fraud, providing strategic oversight and escalation of key issues.
• Provide assurance on the effectiveness of audit and counter fraud arrangements.
• Oversee the Value for Money assessment, Management Representation Letter and finance input to external assurance processes.
• Ensure recommendations are tracked, followed up and embedded appropriately.

3. Annual Report, Accounts and Technical Assurance

• Lead the production, coordination and quality assurance of the Trust’s Annual Report and Accounts, including governance, narrative reporting, financial disclosures and compliance with national requirements.
• Work with senior finance colleagues to ensure clear accountability for accounts production, technical accounting and audit evidence.
• Ensure significant accounting judgements are appropriately evidenced, reviewed and approved.
• Provide senior review and challenge on complex technical accounting matters.

4. Investment Oversight, Business Cases and Benefits Realisation

• Lead Finance’s approach to investment oversight, business case governance and benefits realisation across significant capital, revenue, transformation and strategic investments.
• Provide senior financial challenge on affordability, options, risk, opportunity cost and benefits.
• Challenge assumptions, financial models and benefits claims, exercising professional judgement on complex or sensitive proposals.
• Oversee consistent investment reporting, risk escalation and post-implementation review.
• Ensure service teams retain ownership of delivery while receiving appropriate financial guidance and assurance.

5. Financial Value Optimisation

• Lead the identification and delivery of financial value opportunities across accounting treatment, VAT and tax, capital and revenue classification, balance sheet management, financing and financial structuring.
• Maintain a quantified pipeline of opportunities, assessing compliance, risk, deliverability and financial benefit.
• Assess the impact of changes in accounting standards, NHS guidance and VAT or tax requirements.
• Develop internal capability where this can safely reduce reliance on external advice.

6. Finance Systems, Data and Digital Enablement

• Provide senior leadership for finance systems and digital enablement, ensuring systems, data and reporting support effective governance, control, auditability, resilience and decision-making.
• Oversee systems governance, supplier relationships, business continuity, authorisation and system controls.
• Ensure access, controls and continuity arrangements are proportionate to financial risk.
• Support increased use of Power BI, automation, AI-enabled analysis and digital processes where these improve insight, efficiency, control or service quality.

7. Risk Management, Business Continuity and Corporate Leadership

• Lead financial risk management across Finance, including oversight of the Finance risk register and appropriate escalation.
• Lead Finance business continuity and resilience arrangements.
• Contribute as a senior Finance leader to directorate strategy, workforce sustainability, succession planning and improvement programmes.

8. Leadership and People Management

• Lead and manage teams across governance, assurance, systems, investment, technical finance and value optimisation, including objectives, appraisal, performance, workforce planning and development.
• Promote strong governance, accountability, professional judgement, continuous improvement and collaborative working.
• Provide professional leadership beyond the immediate team, influencing senior colleagues and strengthening financial controls and decision-making.
• Represent Finance and the Trust on complex and sensitive financial governance, assurance, systems and investment matters.
• Act as a senior role model for inclusive, professional and accountable leadership, supporting resilience, succession planning and capability development.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.