Finance Business Partner Capital

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS discounts

35 days holiday (pro rata)

Generous pension scheme

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Finance Business Partner Capital to lead the financial strategy for the £100m+ capital programme within a £1bn+ Trust. You will provide expert financial leadership, shaping reporting, planning and forecasting for capital projects.

The role requires CCAB qualified accountant with post-qualification experience, strong analysis, and the ability to influence senior teams.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified accountant with post-qualification experience in senior finance roles.
• Experience designing and delivering financial reporting, planning and forecasting for capital programmes.
• Strong analytical abilities and proven ability to drive financial action and improvements.
• Experience working with capital accounting, leasing and related tax considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Capital budget with annual spend of c£100m.
• Develop and deliver financial reporting, planning and forecasting for Capital.
• Provide proactive management information and support corrective action for variances.
• Maintain robust financial controls and cost improvement plans for Capital.
• Represent Capital in negotiations and provide financial advice as needed.

Skills

Budgeting and forecasting

Financial reporting

Strategic financial planning

Leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder communication

Cost control

Education

CCAB qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, CIPFA, ACCA)

Tools

Oracle Finance

Excel

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Finance Business Partner Capital

Contract: Permanent

Main duties of the job

We currently have a new opportunity for a qualified Accountant to join our fast-paced and dynamic Finance Team which supports a £1bn+ Acute Foundation Trust with an annual Capital Programme of c.£100m.

This role is a key part of the senior finance team, providing overall leadership to the organisation, its Capital programme, and supporting the achievement of the finance team vision.

We are supportive, flexible and collaborative and are committed to your career development with us. We are looking to encourage a diversity of talent at UHS, so if you are working in the public or private sector, we would love to hear from you.

As our Finance Business Partner Capital, you will contribute to the delivery of our 5-year strategy by using your financial expertise to support a wide range of complex matters such as leading on the delivery and development of financial reporting, planning, forecasting and financial strategy for Capital.

You will take principal responsibility for strategic financial issues relating to the capital programme, providing financial support and specialist advice in matters relating to capital accounting, leasing and any other related tax and accounting issues and contributing to capital developments and the production of business cases.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Benefits and Perks

• Access a range of NHS discounts
• Entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata)
• Generous pension scheme

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• To be the financial leader and business partner for a Capital with an annual budget of c£100m.
• To lead on the delivery and development of financial reporting, planning, forecasting and financial strategy for Capital.
• To take responsibility for providing comprehensive and proactive financial management information and support Teams in driving corrective action against variances where required.
• To work with the Teams to establish and maintain a sound financial base with robust controls and effective cost improvement plans.
• To lead on the financial implications and scenario appraisals of national capital schemes including financial modelling within Business Cases.
• To lead on understanding of Capital schemes finances, advising on corrective action when significantly different
• To manage, on a day-to-day basis, the Capital Finance team supporting their ongoing wellbeing, professional training, and development.
• Represent the Capital Team and Trust in any negotiations where appropriate and provide financial advice, as necessary

Key Responsibilities Will Include

• As a key member of the Teams managing Capital Programmes, and with freedom to act on all financial matters relating to Capital, take responsibility for:
• Developing and maintaining Capital financial plans in line with the Trust Financial Plan and Capital Delivery Plans.
• Developing the financial strategy for Capital.

Providing advice and guidance on the financial implications of implementing changes or new guidance.

• Providing business and commercial advice when required.
• Preparation of the Capital year end forecast each month.
• Preparation and presentation of the monthly Capital Finance report.
• Compiling and communicating accurate and timely financial reports that analyse financial performance in a clear and concise manner.
• Ensuring that robust Capital Mitigation Plans are developed and monitored.
• Promote the use of benchmarking data in Capital to compare with other units and drive savings where appropriate.
• Ensuring that corrective action is identified and implemented where this is required to achieve financial balance within Capital. This may involve advising and constraining project leads of varying seniority and persuading them to take corporate decisions.
• Responsible for the financial risk management and financial governance within Capital including the escalation of any material risks to Head of Finance Strategic Projects & Capital and Assistant Director of Finance.
• Acting as a key member of the Teams managing Capital Programmes contribute to decisions affecting the operational and strategic objectives for Capital.
• Develop an understanding of Capital schemes programme of works advising on corrective action when significantly different to Plan, and acting as liaison between Project Managers, Project sponsors and Senior Trust staff.
• Lead the Capital Finance Team in providing financial management and support to project managers
• A leading role will be played with Teams managing capital programmes, ICB and NHS regional and national teams to develop the Trust’s strategic capital programme to support the NHS 10 year long term plan. This will involve reviewing bids and co-ordinating with Trust Teams to ensure that schemes are prioritised in line with Trust Strategic objectives.

This will include analysing highly complex financial information and will require sound judgement regarding allocation of finances and financial decisions and risks often where there is no precedent and where other leading opinions may conflict.

• Provide information and contribute as part of a Capital Team to meetings with the Trust’s Executive Directors. Advise on and contribute to Performance Management processes within Capital.
• As a senior member of the Finance team

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• CCAB qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, CIPFA, ACCA) with post qualification experience at a senior level
• Current / recent experience in a finance management role
• Knowledge of designing and working with spreadsheets
• Detailed understanding of budgetary control processes and budget setting / financial planning
• Understanding of financial information systems and the ability to extract relevant information
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to clearly communicate the results of such analysis
• Broad understanding of financial accounting and control issues
• Excellent communicator both verbally and in writing
• Experience of Financial project management/Financial appraisal and forecasting
• Attention to detail and use of forecasting and estimation skills
• Ability to understand and resolve highly complex problems and dilemmas and make judgements regarding the allocation of finances, often when there is no precedent

Desirable criteria

• Current / recent knowledge and understanding of the NHS financial environment
• Experience working in an NHS management accounts team
• Previous experience working with Oracle Finance systems
• Ability to make use of systems (e.g., Excel, Word) to prepare and present accurate, clear information and reports
• Record of improving processes and reporting in previous roles
• Able to be flexible on working hours & location depending on needs of the service