Deputy Chief Finance Officer

NHS; Bicester; Hybrid; GBP 88,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is inviting applications for the role of Deputy Chief Finance Officer. This pivotal position demands a qualified finance professional with extensive senior-level NHS experience to drive financial leadership, governance, and transformation across the Trust. A robust commitment to compassion and a vision for innovative healthcare delivery are essential. The role includes flexible and hybrid working arrangements, along with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

27-33 days annual leave

NHS Pension Scheme

Professional development opportunities

NHS Discounts

Occupational Health support

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level NHS finance experience.
• Strong track record in strategic financial leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree with significant finance expertise.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert leadership across the Trust.
• Lead the development of financial strategies.
• Oversee financial planning and performance management.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Education

Qualified CCAB or equivalent

Masters degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Go back South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Chief Finance Officer

The closing date is 11 July 2025

Deputy Chief Finance OfficerSouth Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustBand 8d (Banding Negotiable Depending on Experience and Scope)Location: Flexible within the Trust's geography | Hybrid working available

Are you an ambitious, forward-thinking finance leader ready to shape the future of healthcare delivery? South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is seeking a dynamic and experiencedDeputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO)to join our high-performing Finance Directorate.

This is a pivotal leadership role within one of the most innovative and high-performing ambulance services in the country. As DCFO, you will work closely with the Chief Finance Officer and Executive Team to deliver strategic financial leadership, ensure robust financial governance, and drive transformation across the Trust and wider system.

We are seeking a qualified finance professional with:

• Significant senior-level NHS finance experience, ideally at or near Board level.
• A strong track record of strategic financial leadership, transformation, and performance improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and relationships across clinical, operational, and system partners.
• A commitment to compassionate leadership and the values of the NHS and SCAS: Teamwork, Innovation, Professionalism, and Caring.

Main duties of the job

As Deputy Chief Finance Officer, you will:

• Provide expert financial leadership across the Trust, deputising for the Chief Finance Officer at Board level and with external stakeholders.
• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's financial strategy, annual accounts, and medium-term financial plans.
• Oversee financial planning, procurement, contracting, and performance management functions.
• Drive financial sustainability through strategic transformation, cost improvement programmes, and system-wide collaboration.
• Act as a key partner in shaping the Trust's commercial and commissioning strategies.
• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement

Why Join SCAS?

SCAS is a progressive, inclusive, and values-driven organisation. We are proud of our culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As DCFO, you will play a key role in shaping the future of urgent and emergency care across our region and beyond.

We offer:

• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Opportunities for professional development and system leadership
• Exposure to board level strategic decision making and impact across large scale projects
• A role with real impact across the NHS and local communities

Banding is negotiable depending on individual experience and scope of responsibilities.

About us

Benefits we offer:

• Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
• Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years' service and 33 days after 10 years' service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
• Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
• Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
• NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
• Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).

Corporate Induction

It's really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).

All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire), Bicester (Oxfordshire) or Whiteley (Hampshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.

*Please note - depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.

Job responsibilities

As a Senior Member of the Finance Leadership team, the Deputy will maintain visibility and effective business partnering with key clinical leaders, enabling and promoting the Trusts collaborative working arrangements to provide innovative and exceptional standards of patient care and experience.

The post holder will be responsible to the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for the leadership and management of the Finance department, while working collaboratively with operational and corporate colleagues to ensure that the trust's objectives are met.

I&E professionals are supporting us with this recruitment process, please contact them if you are interested in the role.

Applications should not be submitted via NHS Jobs or TRAC.

For confidential discussions please contact:

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Qualified CCAB or equivalent, plus demonstrable significant specialist expertise in all aspects of finance
• Masters degree or equivalent demonstrable experience of working in a senior level role

Skills and Aptitudes

• Proficient IT skills and ability to use Microsoft Office packages (i.e., Outlook/ Word/ Excel/ PowerPoint)
• Ability to lead and influence managers and stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to analyse and interpret complex information, financial data and statistics to assess issues, identify trends, anticipate issues and generate solutions or forecasts
• Able to plan and prioritise work in the context of a fast-paced and changing environment to meet deadlines
• Able to manage change, including systems change
• Able to build and work effectively in multi- disciplinary teams at all levels

Knowledge and Experience

• Worked at a senior level of management
• Leading and managing teams
• Delivering robust financial management and control systems and processes
• Developing a continuous improvement mindset and driving efficiency
• Leading change and/or project management
• Producing management information and analysis for operational management and development of policy and strategy
• Dealing with Internal and External Auditors
• Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality within the workplace (particularly within the NHS)
• Knowledge and understanding of Equality Act (2010)
• Knowledge and understanding of Freedom of Information Act (2000)
• Knowledge and understanding of Data Protection Act (1998)
• Experience of business continuity planning
• Developing and managing governance arrangements for oversight of change and project delivery
• Extensive knowledge and experience of central government and NHS financial management and accounting arrangements
• VAT and tax matters in the public sector

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.

Employer name

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

£88,168 to £101,677 a yearpro rata per annum