Senior Finance Manager - Managed Services and Commercial Finance

Job overview

This is an exciting new role which will provide senior financial and commercial leadership for complex business cases and major managed service arrangements, acting as the finance lead across the full commercial lifecycle. The postholder will lead the financial workstream from initial scoping and option appraisal through procurement strategy, tender evaluation, business case approval, contract mobilisation and benefits realisation.

Main duties of the job

Working autonomously with senior stakeholders, the postholder will provide robust financial governance, value for money assessment, affordability analysis, business case development, financial modelling, contract due diligence and commercial challenge to support sound investment decisions and secure sustainable financial outcomes for the Trust.

The role will work closely with Finance Business Partners, Procurement, Clinical Services, Operational Leads, Legal Advisors and external suppliers to ensure that procurement and transformation cases are financially robust, commercially deliverable and compliant with NHS financial governance, HM Treasury guidance and public-sector procurement requirements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

- Act as the lead finance representative for major managed service procurements, complex commercial arrangements, investment programmes and transformation cases, providing financial leadership from initial scoping and option appraisal through approval, procurement, mobilisation and benefits realisation.

- Advise Executive Directors, Programme Boards, Committees and senior managers on affordability, value for money, whole-life cost, financial risk, commercial implications and alignment with the Trust’s financial strategy, capital and revenue constraints and long-term plans.

- Lead the financial development of Strategic Outline Cases, Outline Business Cases and Full Business Cases, ensuring assumptions, options, benefits, risks and recommendations are robust, clearly presented and compliant with NHS and HM Treasury guidance.

- Design, develop and maintain complex financial models covering whole-life costs, total cost of ownership, investment appraisal, capital and revenue consequences, risk transfer, sensitivity analysis, scenarios, affordability and benefits.

- Assess supplier pricing, payment mechanisms, indexation, performance deductions, gainshare arrangements, lifecycle costs, management fees, consumables, facilities management and other commercial terms.

- Develop financial evaluation and scoring methodologies; lead the assessment, clarification and moderation of tender submissions; and provide evidence-based recommendations on preferred bidders.

- Undertake financial due diligence on suppliers and proposed contracts, assessing financial standing, commercial resilience, contractual schedules, pricing adjustments, risk transfer and financial commitments, with clear escalation of material risks.

- Interpret and apply relevant accounting standards, national reporting manuals, procurement rules and business case guidance, advising on capital and revenue treatment, VAT, CDEL, depreciation, asset ownership, lifecycle funding and service concession considerations.

- Support contract approval and mobilisation by establishing financial controls, budgets, reporting, invoice validation, contract monitoring, governance and escalation arrangements.

- Confirm financial baselines, savings and productivity assumptions, benefits profiles and ownership; develop proportionate tracking arrangements; and support post-implementation review and benefits realisation.

- Plan and coordinate the financial workstream across multiple stakeholders, producing timely forecasts, scenario analysis, mitigation plans and high-quality information for decision-makers.

- Build effective working relationships with Finance Business Partners, capital finance, procurement, business intelligence, legal advisers, clinical and operational teams, senior leaders and external suppliers.

- Present complex and sensitive financial information clearly to financial and non-financial audiences, using strong negotiation, challenge and influencing skills where there are competing priorities or barriers to acceptance.

- Provide senior leadership within Finance, offering expert guidance, supervising, coaching and mentoring colleagues, improving team capability, documenting effective procedures and supporting recruitment, training and implementation of policies.

- Promote robust financial governance and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, taking appropriate action where issues arise and developing systems and processes that strengthen procurement assurance, contract management and benefits tracking.

- Maintain current specialist knowledge of NHS finance, accounting, commercial practice and relevant national and regional guidance; contribute to finance training for budget holders and non-finance staff; and evidence continuing professional development.

- Work autonomously in a demanding and changing environment, prioritising competing deadlines, solving complex problems and maintaining resilience, sound judgement and high professional standards.