Executive Director of Finance (Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM) - Executive Director - NHS C[...]

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is seeking an Executive Director of Finance to lead financial strategy and transformation within one of the largest Integrated Care Boards in the UK. This role involves managing a substantial budget and workforce, driving recovery and ensuring sustainability while promoting equity and collaboration across the health system.

Benefits

Flexible and agile working arrangements

Pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Discounts from restaurants and high-street stores

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience at Board or system level.
• Strong track record in financial transformation and cost reduction.
• Deep knowledge of NHS finance systems and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ICB’s financial strategy and ensure sustainability.
• Drive financial recovery and transformation across the system.
• Oversee planning, performance, and governance.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Strategy

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent)

Job description

Main area Executive Director Grade Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday) Job ref 493-ICB-7230880

Employer NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board Employer type NHS Site No. 1 Lakeside (with travel across the region) Town Warrington Salary VSM Salary Closing 09/06/2025 09:00 Interview date 17/06/2025

Executive Director of Finance

Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM

An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of the changing shape of NHS commissioning in Cheshire and Merseyside. Our current organisational structure supports effective working both locally and across Cheshire and Merseyside as we develop as an Integrated Care System.

The population of Cheshire and Merseyside is diverse and growing and we are keen to see that diversity recognised within our own workforce. As an employer we seek to open opportunities for our staff to gain new skills, gain knowledge and develop careers in heath and care.

We welcome students, staff, people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, physical abilities, backgrounds, and philosophies and those who are accepting of others. Our goal is to support all of our workforce in their work, if you believe you can bring your skills and experiences and an open-minded approach into our fast paced and dynamic organisation, we are committed to providing a positive and supportive experience for all of our staff.

Job overview

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is seeking a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Finance to lead financial strategy and transformation at the heart of one of the largest and most complex Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the country.

With a system budget exceeding £7 billion, a workforce of over 80,000, and a population of 2.7 million across nine boroughs, this is a rare opportunity to shape the financial future of health and care at real scale. The ICB’s strong footprint and place-based structure provide a stable platform for strategic transformation—a distinct advantage as other systems face wider reconfigurations.

We are entering a period of critical financial recovery and reform. With a 2025/26 in-year savings requirement of £150m, we need a finance leader who can deliver cost improvement and transformation while maintaining our commitment to equity, sustainability, and system-wide collaboration.

If you are motivated by driving high-value, outcome-focused investment, and you want to make a profound and lasting impact across population health and public service integration, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As Executive Director of Finance, you will:

• Lead the ICB’s financial strategy, ensuring stewardship, sustainability, and delivery of statutory duties.
• Drive financial recovery and transformation across the system in alignment with our Joint Forward Plan and Annual Delivery Plan.
• Oversee planning, performance, estates, and contracting portfolios, and embed a strong governance and assurance culture.
• Act as a strategic leader in data and digital investment, ensuring financial intelligence drives decision-making.
• Work in partnership across NHS, local authorities, VCFSE, and provider collaboratives to co-design and implement population-based financial frameworks.
• Represent the ICB nationally and regionally, influencing the finance agenda and contributing to NHS system leadership.

You will report directly to the Chief Executive and be professionally accountable to the NHS England North West Regional Finance Director.

Working for our organisation

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB is responsible for planning, allocating, and assuring NHS services across nine boroughs: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.

We are proud to be a Marmot Community and an Anchor Institution, committed to tackling the wider determinants of health and improving the lives of the poorest fastest. Our current focus includes:

• Delivering system-wide recovery in urgent and emergency care
• Accelerating access to diagnostics and planned care
• Scaling digital transformation and population health analytics
• Embedding equity and prevention into financial strategy

Our Values and Culture

We are building a culture of compassion, inclusion, and mutual accountability across our system. Our leadership culture is rooted in the NHS Constitution, the Nolan Principles, and a strong commitment to public value.

We support flexible and hybrid working, value diverse leadership, and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups in NHS executive roles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

The Executive Director of Finance will lead the design and implementation of the ICB’s financialstrategy, ensuring it support health equity, long-term sustainability and the broader objectivesof the system. They will also lead on resource allocation, financial recovery, investmentprioritisation, audit and assurance.

In addition, the postholder will oversee the system’s planning and performance functions andestates strategy. They will support the digital and analytics agenda by embedding financialintelligence tools and leading on value-based investment.

The Executive Director will work in partnership with provider collaboratives, Place-basedpartnerships, local authorities, primary care and the VCFSE sector to develop integratedfinancial frameworks that support shared outcomes and population-based commissioning.

Full Job Description & Person Specification

Refer to the Job Description and Person Specification in Appendix A of the attached Candidate Pack for full responsibilities, criteria and key relationships. The post requires full CCAB qualification and significant experience of leading financial strategy and transformation at system scale.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with current registration

Experience and Knowledge

• Extensive senior leadership experience, including at Board or system level
• Strong track record in financial transformation, cost reduction and assurance
• Deep knowledge of NHS finance systems, governance and planning
• Experience working across NHS and local authority or VCFSE partnerships
• Knowledge of health economics or value-based investment approaches
• Exposure to digital, data and analytics-led transformation
• Familiarity with Marmot principles or Anchor Institution

Skills and Values

• Excellent communicator with the credibility to influence across complex partnerships
• Values-led leader with resilience, political awareness and a commitment to equity

**PLEASENOTE**

Joining our inclusive and innovative team comes with a range of benefits including flexible & agile working arrangements, pension scheme and generous annual leave allowance.

With our training schemes and support networks, you will be empowered to play a leading role in the future of healthcare, whatever your specialism or interest.

In return, we provide a supportive environment in which to learn and develop, with the opportunity to further your skills and career within an exciting and evolving environment, with our training schemes and support networks, you will be empowered to play a leading role in the future of healthcare, whatever your specialism or interest, and as a member of NHS staff you will receive various discounts from a host of restaurants and high-street stores.

In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated above in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

Additional information relating to the role can be found in the Job Description below. Please note that candidates will be shortlisted against the criteria outlined within the Person Specification (also below), therefore, to avoid disappointment please ensure you meet the requirements of the role before applying and that you are able to demonstrate these requirements throughout your application form.

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.