Finance Business Partner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Holiday allowance (pro rata)

Generous pension scheme

NHS discounts

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Finance Business Partner to lead financial planning for Division A, covering cardiac, critical care, trauma and orthopaedics, neurosciences, spinal and surgery, with a £350m budget.

The postholder will chair the divisional management accounting team, provide proactive financial information and support strategy, while maintaining strong financial controls and engaging with service negotiations.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualification with senior post-qualification experience.
• NHS finance experience is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, forecasting, reporting and strategy for the Division.
• Act as financial leader and business partner for a clinical division with an annual budget of c£350m.
• Provide comprehensive, proactive financial management information and drive corrective action against variances.
• Work with the Divisional Management Team to maintain a sound financial base, robust controls and effective cost improvement plans.
• Lead on financial implications and scenario appraisals of service changes, including financial modelling in business cases.
• Lead understanding of divisional activity and income, advising on corrective action when activity differs from plan.
• Liaise between income management, corporate teams and external partnerships.
• Manage the divisional management accounting team day to day, including their wellbeing and development.
• Represent the Division and Trust in service negotiations where appropriate and provide financial advice.
• Work as part of the divisional finance team, communicating clearly, concisely and professionally.

Skills

CCAB qualification

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial planning & analysis

Advanced analytical skills

Communication of results

Excel proficiency

Education

CCAB qualification

Tools

Oracle Finance

Excel

Job description

Finance Business Partner post in the Finance team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, leading finance for Division A, which covers cardiac, critical care, trauma and orthopaedics, neurosciences, spinal and surgery. The postholder leads the division's financial planning, forecasting, reporting and strategy, and sits on its leadership team. The role carries responsibility for a clinical budget of about £350m and for managing the divisional management accounting team day to day. Fit depends on a CCAB qualification and senior post-qualification experience; NHS finance experience is not essential.

What the job involves

• Lead financial planning, forecasting, reporting and financial strategy for the Division
• Act as financial leader and business partner for a clinical division with an annual budget of c£350m
• Provide comprehensive, proactive financial management information and drive corrective action against variances
• Work with the Divisional Management Team to maintain a sound financial base, robust controls and effective cost improvement plans
• Lead on financial implications and scenario appraisals of service changes, including financial modelling in business cases
• Lead understanding of divisional activity and income, advising on corrective action when activity differs from plan
• Liaise between income management, corporate teams and external partnerships
• Manage the divisional management accounting team day to day, including their wellbeing and development
• Represent the Division and Trust in service negotiations where appropriate and provide financial advice
• Work as part of the divisional finance team, communicating clearly, concisely and professionally

Qualifications

• CCAB qualification (CIMA, ACA, CIPFA or ACCA) with senior post-qualification experience

Experience

• Current or recent experience in a finance management role
• Experience of financial project management, financial appraisal and forecasting
• Knowledge of designing and working with spreadsheets

Skills & knowledge

• Detailed understanding of budgetary control, budget setting and financial planning
• Understanding of financial information systems and the ability to extract relevant information
• Advanced analytical skills, with the ability to communicate results clearly
• Broad understanding of financial accounting and control issues
• Attention to detail with forecasting and estimation skills
• Ability to resolve highly complex problems and make judgements on allocating finances, often without precedent

Other

• Excellent verbal and written communication

Nice to have

• Current or recent knowledge of the NHS financial environment
• Experience working in an NHS management accounts team
• Previous experience with Oracle Finance systems
• Ability to use Excel and Word to prepare and present accurate, clear information and reports
• Record of improving processes and reporting in previous roles

What’s offered

• Support for flexible working, with requests considered against service needs
• Minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata)
• Generous pension scheme
• Access to a range of NHS discounts
• Learning and development opportunities