Chief Finance Officer

NHS; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An influential role in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead financial strategy and governance. The position requires a strategic leader with experience in financial performance and a commitment to enhancing community health through collaborative care services.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in financial leadership.
• Up-to-date knowledge of NHS finance policy and practice.
• Experience with budget planning and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing the Trust's financial strategy.
• Overseeing budgeting, planning, reporting, and risk management.
• Ensuring robust financial governance and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Strategy

Governance

Risk Management

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA)

Degree or equivalent experience

Master's level Postgraduate qualification in management or other relevant area

Job description

Job summary

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), rated "Good" by the CQC, provides a wide range of mental health, community & learning disability services across hospital and community settings, and has been accredited as a Teaching Partner of the University of Cambridge.

With a turnover of £275 million and a workforce of 4,900 staff serving nearly 1 million people, CPFT is a major regional employer and a key partner in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS).

We are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care, improving community wellbeing, and driving innovation through leading-edge research in mental and physical health--all underpinned by our PRIDE values.

We are seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our Executive Team where they will become a voting member of the CPFT Board. This is an influential role leading the Trust's financial strategy, governance, and risk oversight. As a key partner in the ICS, you will work closely with Board colleagues to shape CPFT's future.

We're looking for a strategic, inclusive leader with a strong track record in performance and governance, who brings compassion, collaboration and a drive for change. While prior board experience isn't essential, you should be confident operating at a strategic level and building effective partnerships.

To register your interest in this post and to receive an application pack please email [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

CFO Additional Information please view the link below

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGqx16THOw/d-kDyDLdzoFzshhWXmQFIw/view?utm_content=DAGqx16THOw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hacbb1a93c1

The role of CFO is responsible for developing and implementing the Trust's financial strategy, overseeing all aspects of financial management including budgeting, planning, reporting and risk oversight.

The CFO ensures robust financial governance through the establishment of sound policies and procedures, enabling effective decision-making and accountability. Working closely with Board colleagues and external partners--particularly within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS)--the CFO plays a vital role in supporting integrated care and long-term sustainability.

Additionally, the postholder is expected to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the finance function and the wider organisation.

About us

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting andempowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Details Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

£100,000 to £200,000 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

310-MCORP-7331280

Job locations

Elizabeth House

Fulbourn Hospital. Fulbourn

Cambridge

CB21 5EF

Job description Job responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities please refer to the attached job description and person specification

• A professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA) and significant senior-level experience in financial leadership, ideally within a complex public sector or healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, governance, and risk management.
• Proven experience with a strong track record of driving financial performance.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain robust financial governance frameworks.
• Experience working collaboratively at a strategic level, ideally within complex or multi-partner environments such as the NHS or public sector.
• Prior board-level experience is desirable but not essential.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to lead and develop financial strategy and risk management.
• Inspirational and action-oriented leadership style.
• Compassionate and inclusive, with the ability to motivate and empower teams.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills, with a commitment to collaborative working across organisational boundaries.
• Clear communicator with the ability to influence and lead within a dynamic and evolving healthcare system.

Job description Job responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities please refer to the attached job description and person specification

• A professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA) and significant senior-level experience in financial leadership, ideally within a complex public sector or healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, governance, and risk management.
• Proven experience with a strong track record of driving financial performance.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain robust financial governance frameworks.
• Experience working collaboratively at a strategic level, ideally within complex or multi-partner environments such as the NHS or public sector.
• Prior board-level experience is desirable but not essential.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to lead and develop financial strategy and risk management.
• Inspirational and action-oriented leadership style.
• Compassionate and inclusive, with the ability to motivate and empower teams.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills, with a commitment to collaborative working across organisational boundaries.
• Clear communicator with the ability to influence and lead within a dynamic and evolving healthcare system.

Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience
• A professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA)
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Master's level Postgraduate qualification in management or other relevant area

Experience Essential

• Evidence of significant experience of leading and influencing multi professional groups to deliver cross system change and or improvement
• Proven track record of successful and sustained financial management in a large, complex, multi-site organisation operating in a regulated environment
• Successful track record of working at or near board level/or equivalent.
• Experience of delivering performance goals and targets within large complex organisation

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Up to date knowledge of NHS finance policy and practice
• All aspects of financial management, strategic planning and performance management systems underpinning the activities of a complex multi-site organisation operating in a competitive environment
• Ability to prepare plans for financial aspects of service provision to develop long term financial strategy
• Understanding of the national and political context within which the NHS operates alongside the current and future challenges.
• An excellent understanding of the financial and regulatory environment of the wider health sector, both public and private

Desirable

• Demonstrates understanding of NHS regulatory regime, including role of CQC and NHS England/Improvement
• Demonstrates understanding of the NHS financial operating environment.

Other Essential

• Exceptional leadership and communication skills.
• Strong commercial and business acumen with ability to negotiate and lead major investment programmes.
• Results focused with ability to performance manage and hold others to account.
• Able to set financial strategy and implement policy that achieves safe, quality outcomes for service users

Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience
• A professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA)
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Master's level Postgraduate qualification in management or other relevant area

Experience Essential

• Evidence of significant experience of leading and influencing multi professional groups to deliver cross system change and or improvement
• Proven track record of successful and sustained financial management in a large, complex, multi-site organisation operating in a regulated environment
• Successful track record of working at or near board level/or equivalent.
• Experience of delivering performance goals and targets within large complex organisation

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Up to date knowledge of NHS finance policy and practice
• All aspects of financial management, strategic planning and performance management systems underpinning the activities of a complex multi-site organisation operating in a competitive environment
• Ability to prepare plans for financial aspects of service provision to develop long term financial strategy
• Understanding of the national and political context within which the NHS operates alongside the current and future challenges.
• An excellent understanding of the financial and regulatory environment of the wider health sector, both public and private

Desirable

• Demonstrates understanding of NHS regulatory regime, including role of CQC and NHS England/Improvement
• Demonstrates understanding of the NHS financial operating environment.

Other Essential

• Exceptional leadership and communication skills.
• Strong commercial and business acumen with ability to negotiate and lead major investment programmes.
• Results focused with ability to performance manage and hold others to account.
• Able to set financial strategy and implement policy that achieves safe, quality outcomes for service users

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Elizabeth House

Fulbourn Hospital. Fulbourn

Cambridge

CB21 5EF

Employer's website

https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Elizabeth House

Fulbourn Hospital. Fulbourn

Cambridge

CB21 5EF

Employer's website

https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)