(**) Deputy Finance Manager -Reporting

NHS; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Finance Business Partner to act as Deputy to the Finance Manager, providing proactive financial support to the division or corporate directorates. You will produce monthly budget statements, advise on budget setting, and ensure robust financial controls across income, expenditure and cost improvement targets.

The role involves working with budget holders and site management to deliver timely financial information and training, while

Qualifications

• Demonstrable work experience in a finance role.
• Expert user of financial systems, particularly E-Financial and Excel.
• Understanding of current NHS structures and policies.
• Experience of writing comprehensive reports.
• Experience in managing staff.
• Experience prioritising workload of junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Set budgets for sites/departments and obtain sign-off before year start.
• Produce monthly financial position statements within timetables.
• Prepare detailed variance analyses and year-end forecasts.
• Provide financial advice and training on budget management.
• Support annual budget setting and ensure rigorous financial controls.
• Explain financial information to non-financial managers to aid decisions.
• Assist Finance Manager and deputise as required.

Skills

Finance experience

Financial systems (E-Financial)

Excel proficiency

NHS knowledge

Reporting skills

Staff management

Education

Degree level education

CCAB or CIMA qualification

Studying towards CCAB

Tools

E-Financial

Excel

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Main area Finance Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Working pattern Mon- Fri (9-5), however there needs flexibility during the busy times) Job ref 390-NR-COR-SO-5792

Site Britannia House, Town Southend-on-Sea Salary £39,959 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 19/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 18/11/2026

Job overview

The aim of the role is to act as Deputy to the Finance Manager for the Division or Corporate Directorate assigned to support, providing proactive financial support to the relevant Divisional or Directorate Management teams, advising on all aspects of financial management.

The post holder will liaise with the Budget Holders, including directors of services, Department Heads of Service, and management on a regular basis. You will support the Finance Manager in the provision of a complete, professional financial service to the Division or Corporate Directorates, delivering a customer focused service to the Budget Holders of the highest possible standard whilst maintaining adherence to the Trust monthly reporting and annual planning timetables.

You will be responsible for producing monthly budget statements and giving financial advice, guidance and training on budgetary management and budget setting to Budget Holders.

The post holder will support the Finance Manager in the setting of the annual Division or Corporate Directorate Budgets and will be responsible for ensuring that rigorous financial control is implemented and controlled across the assigned areas for income, expenditure, staff establishment and cost improvement programme targets.

Main duties of the job

• Work with Site/Department Management to set their budget for each financial year so that it can be agreed and signed off before the start of each year
• Production of Site/Department monthly financial position within monthly timetables.
• Compilation of detailed variance analysis to explain variances from budgets.
• Support the production of robust and detailed year end forecasts in accordance with Trust standards and timetables.
• Assisting Site/Department with financial recovery plans
• Provide the Site/Department with relevant and timely financial information and interpreting the information to allow the individual management teams to make informed decisions.
• Work in collaboration with managers in the assigned Site/Department to continually improve the effectiveness of performance monitoring systems.
• Ensure advice is consistent with similar areas of the Trust ensuring shared learning and development of a one Trust approach.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provision of Trusted Financial Reporting
  • Work with Site/Department Management to set their budget for each financial year so that it can be agreed and signed off before the start of each year
  • Production of Site/Department monthly financial position within monthly timetables.
  • Compilation of detailed variance analysis to explain variances from budgets.
  • Support the production of robust and detailed year end forecasts in accordance with Trust standards and timetables.
  • Assisting Site/Department with financial recovery plans
  • Provide the Site/Department with relevant and timely financial information and interpreting the information to allow the individual management teams to make informed decisions.
  • Work in collaboration with managers in the assigned Site/Department to continually improve the effectiveness of performance monitoring systems.
  • Ensure advice is consistent with similar areas of the Trust ensuring shared learning and development of a one Trust approach.
  • Improve Value
  • Support the Site/Department Management to develop efficiency schemes in accordance with overall trust and national requirements, identifying opportunities and provide financial, support, advice and direction.
  • Assess, monitor and review the delivery of efficiencies and associated financial benefits, working with Site/Department Management to address any issues.
  • Advise on the financial content being developed for PIDs for schemes that will be taken forward.
  • Work with the Income team to advise on the impact of management decisions on income as well as forecast expenditure, helping to ensure that income for clinical services in the Site/Department is correctly recovered
• Business Cases
  • To support the Group/Site/Department Management in the development and production of business cases.
  • Ensure the financial elements reflect the case and meet the required quality standard
  • Ensure the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques to facilitate decision making and ensure that developments withstand robust financial scrutiny.
  • Undertake analytical assessment of options and appraise these using different financial tools such as sensitivity analysis to understand potential risks and weaknesses of proposals
  • Work alongside operational colleagues to ensure understanding of the financial consequences of different options.
• 1. Communication
  • To work closely with senior managers across the Trust to provide a comprehensive range of expert financial advice, training and support to enable the delivery of corporate services efficiently and economically, as well as ensuring the achievement of all financial targets.
  • To act corporately and cohesively as part of the overall Trust Finance Function, contributing to its continuous development and improvement.
  • To always act as a role model, representing the vision and values of the Trust.
  • Attend meetings and take the lead in presenting and explaining financial information to a diverse range of service managers (both Finance and non-Finance). Given that some of it may be contentious and attract some degree of challenge from the recipients, a knowledgeable and persuasive manner is essential.
  • To provide expert theoretical and practical knowledge, interpreting a wide range of complex information requiring analysis and comparison, and providing clear explanations and guidance to a wide group of clinicians and managers.
  • To communicate complex financial information to non-financial managers in a manner that is clear and effective, to facilitate effective decision making.
  • To provide full support to the Finance Manager and deputise as appropriate.
• 2. Analytical and Planning
  • To ensure that the financial records within the general ledger accurately reflect the activities of the care group.
  • To prepare and maintain accurate financial forecasts, to support decision making and financial planning for the Division or Corporate Directorate, through joint working and liaison with directorate management and clinical/corporate leaders. This will include reporting forecasts of the anticipated yearend financial position.
  • To review and monitor the accuracy of staffing establishments and exercise effective establishment control through the authorisation of vacancy controls. This will include assisting managers in implementing, operating and reviewing effective systems to control temporary staff expenditure within the available resources.
  • To manage budget history schedules ensuring they track all budget virements.
  • To manage the achievement of cost improvement programmes throughout the year, ensuring that budget adjustments are actioned in a timely manner so reporting for areas such as cost improvement plans reconcile to the general ledger.
  • To respond to complex financial issues and queries from directorate staff, Senior Clinical/Corporate staff and finance colleagues.
  • To interrogate and utilise a wide range of software systems, including the financial general ledger, Business objects, and advanced Microsoft applications to enhance the financial information and analysis provided to directorate.
  • To ensure Management Accountants provide appropriate working papers to support all financial entries and assumptions used which are available for audit scrutiny
• 3. Clinical Duties – N/A (incidental patient contact)
• 4. Policy and Service Development
  • Ensure awareness of, and compliance with, financial governance, including Trust Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and relevant policies and procedures.
• 5. Financial and Physical Resources
  • To provide expert technical advice as appropriate, in relation to accounting policies.
  • To produce comprehensive procedure notes to support all aspects of the work performed by the Finance Business Partner team and ensure comprehensive procedure notes exist to support all aspects of the work performed.
  • To assist internal and external auditors and the local counter fraud service in the performance of their duties, providing them with prompt information and explanations as necessary and to assist with ensuring any actions needed are taken to strengthen financial controls.
  • To comply with budgetary control best practice and Trust Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.
  • To ensure that efficient and effective financial systems are designed, developed and maintained, to enable accurate and timely reporting of financial information, within agreed deadlines.
  • To facilitate timely responses to financial queries made under the Freedom of Information Act To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Finance Manager or Senior Finance Business Partner.
• 6. Staff Management
  • To assist with the effective management and training of junior finance staff when required. Ensure feedback is development is constructive and supportive of the Management Accountant allocated to your areas. Ensure collaboration with their line manager with the hub contributing to their personnel development and annual appraisal.
• 7. Information Resources
  • Work in collaboration with other Finance Managers and Financial Management teams to continuously identify and improve the effectiveness of accounting systems and financial reporting.
  • Work with their Senior Finance Business Partner and Finance Director, as well as the Director of Financial Management to ensure consistency in service and delivery of financial information to services
  • When necessary deputise for the Finance Manager
  • Contribute to ad hoc financial projects and undertake any other work commensurate with the role and grade of the post.
• 8. Effort, Skills and Working
  • Physical Skills
    • Jobholders are required to have standard keyboard skills with high degree of accuracy.
  • Physical Effort
    • The jobholder will be expected to spend long periods of time sitting at a desk inputting at a keyboard, reading data on screens, or attending meetings. The role may also require travelling between sites on a frequent basis, as required.
  • Mental Effort
    • The jobholder will frequently be required to concentrate for prolonged period of time on complex documents, calculations and analysis of detailed financial data.
    • Be active and participate in meetings.
  • Emotional Effort
    • The jobholder is occasionally likely to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances in relation to the direct management of staff.
  • Working Conditions
    • This role will require working across all of the hospital sites as required and will be expected to be on site most days.
    • This job profile is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder.
    • The post holder will be expected to perform any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by management, within scope of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Studying towards a CCAB qualification
• Educated to degree level
• Full CCAB or CIMA qualification. Equivalent experience will be taken into account where extensive experience can be demonstrated

Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrable work experience in a finance role
• Expert user of financial systems, particularly, E-Financial and Excel
• Understanding of current NHS structures and Policies
• Experience of writing comprehensive reports
• Experience at managing staff
• Experience in prioritising workload of junior team member

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Name Josen Mathew Job title Finance Business Partner Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01702435555 Additional information

Alternate contact in the absence of Josen

Jane WILCOCKSON [e-mail]