Deputy Director of Finance

Are you seeking an exciting opportunity?

We are recruiting, and we are looking for a Deputy Director of Finance who:

• Is an exceptional leader
• Is excited to help continue our Trust improvement journey
• Is passionate about the delivery of excellent care to our service users
• Can help us develop high-quality financial services to enable the Trust to plan and manage resources effectively, therefore supporting the delivery of high-quality, sustainable care.

NSFT provides mental health services to a population of 1.6 million across Norfolk and Suffolk and some services to people with learning disabilities. We employ over 5000 colleagues and are recognised as improving in the quality of care that we provide to our community. The Trust was rated as requires improvement in February 2023 and significant improvements were seen across the trust. Sixty per cent of services inspected are now rated as 'good' and the trust no longer has a legal warning notice relating to concerns about the quality and safety of our care. This most recent CQC report also describes feedback from patients and service users that was largely positive.

Main duties of the job

The Trust achieved a break-even position last year and we have a plan to break even this financial year as part of the Norfolk and Waveney system break-even plan. In addition, the Trust has implemented an Efficiency, Value and Improvement programme to drive our internal transformation.

However, we are not at all complacent, and recognise that we still have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be as an organisation - consistently delivering excellent care for those who need us.

We have an opportunity to join our senior finance team and make a significant difference to our service users and our NSFT colleagues as we continue our improvement journey. You will be credible, inspirational, and authentic, and your values and behaviours will motivate colleagues on our quality, safety, and cultural improvement.

We will support you, develop you, and focus on ensuring you are given a platform to further develop your own career. We offer flexible working and can accommodate hybrid working options.

About us

Here at NSFT, we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly, and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work, and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming; you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns, and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops, and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top-ranking schooling, and affordable house prices too.

Job responsibilities

Please contact the Chief Finance Officer, Jason Hollidge (jason.hollige@nsft.nhs.uk) or Neil Blackburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer (neil.blackburn@nsft.nhs.uk), if you would welcome a conversation.

We recognise this process works both ways and it's important to choose an employer that aligns with your own values and can offer you the right support and development. Therefore, feel free to ask us questions about the role and the organisation, and we'd be happy to put you in touch with team members and stakeholders should you require a different perspective.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified with significant post-qualification experience
• Evidence to support other relevant training undertaken, e.g., management, leadership, etc.

Experience

• Extensive experience working in a senior financial position
• Experience of developing financial strategies, plans, and associated budgets
• Experience in managing projects involving substantial changes in working processes and procedures

Skills

• Excellent people skills with the ability to engage positively with all stakeholders

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.