Head of Finance

NHS; Leyland Green; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Leyland Green is seeking a Head of Finance to ensure effective financial management and oversight. This role requires a qualified accountant with extensive experience in budgeting and forecasting within healthcare or charity sectors. The ideal candidate will lead the Finance Department and provide strategic financial advice to enhance organizational viability and compliance. The position offers opportunities to engage with senior leadership and influence key financial decisions.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of financial systems.
• Ability to create accurate financial spreadsheets.
• Demonstrable experience in charity, healthcare, or relevant environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective financial management to leadership teams.
• Prepare and monitor budgets against performance.
• Prepare financial forecasts and maintain accurate financial records.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Team leadership

Financial software proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Qualified Accountant: ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Sage Line50

Sage payroll

Job description

Overview

The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, playing a key role in delivering both the strategic plan and the day‑to‑day operations of the Hospice. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate full commitment to the vision and values of Willowbrook Hospice. The role will be crucial in ensuring we are able to deliver the best care, delivered with compassion for our community.

About Us

Willowbrook Hospice is a purpose‑built independent hospice opened in 1997. It is an adult hospice caring for patients with specialist palliative care needs, serving the community of St Helens and Knowsley. It was built with the support of local people. Willowbrook hospice is not just a building, it is a way of caring for people. The Hospice works to improve the lives of people who have a life‑limiting or terminal illness, helping them to live well before they die.

Willowbrook Hospice not only takes care of people’s physical needs but looks after their emotional, spiritual and social needs as well. It also supports carers, family members and close friends, both during a person’s illness and in bereavement.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide an effective and accurate financial management and accountancy service to the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, and Directors of the Trading Company.
• Prepare annual budgets and monitor performance on a monthly basis against plan by the preparation and issue of monthly budget statements. Make recommendations on costing assumptions to be included within all budgets (e.g., inflation rates).
• Support the strategic direction of the business by leading on the preparation of 5‑year financial forecasts to support strategic planning and to ensure the long‑term financial viability of the business.
• Prepare and maintain financial accounts in a timely fashion and ensure they are consistent with external financial reporting standards and requirements.
• Provide monthly financial information to the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, and Directors of the Trading Company.
• Prepare cash flow reports on a regular/quarterly basis and monitor cash requirements and advise the Board of Trustees, Directors of the Trading Company, and Executive Leadership Team on the liquidity position of the business.
• Provide advice on all financial matters, including issues arising in connection with charity legislation, to ensure that the business meets its legal financial obligations and complies with all external regulatory requirements.
• Liaise with HM Revenue & Customs and VAT consultants regarding records and payments and ensure compliance with all regulations.
• Ensure the provision of a monthly payroll service and deliver an accurate, reliable and quality payroll service to all staff.
• Act as liaison with all regulatory external bodies in connection with any financial or charity matters, i.e. auditors, accountants, bank, solicitors, Charity Commission, Companies House, insurance company, pension advisors and others.
• Annual completion of the Charity Commission self‑assessment, ensuring that we comply with best practice.
• Attend the meetings of the local networking groups as required.
• Review and monitor performance of the business investments and provide up‑to‑date reports to the Board of Trustees, enabling them to make appropriate investment decisions.
• Complete regular analysis of all income and expenditure, supporting budget holders as required to identify areas where cost savings and efficiencies can be made.
• Support in the preparation of business cases as necessary across the business.
• Support in the preparation of benchmarking information to assist in the determination of opportunities to improve the organisation’s financial position.
• Support the business’s efforts to maximise income from all sources by providing financial information and attending committees and other forums as required.
• Develop and maintain an asset register of all property across the business. Ensure capital accounting policies are agreed annually by the Finance Committee.
• Ensure appropriate financial procedures, financial governance and policies are in place across the business and ensure they are regularly reviewed and appropriate.
• Ensure good systems of financial control and checks are in place for all assets.
• Manage and support staff in the Finance Department, ensuring they have the right knowledge and skills to carry out their duties effectively.
• Ensure that all members of the leadership team (ELT and SLT) and the board have the necessary knowledge and support regarding financial matters, including the provision of training if necessary.
• Attend committees and key meetings to present relevant financial information at the request of the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company.
• Annual income and expenditure budgets are approved annually and monitored monthly.
• Management Accounts are aimed to be completed within 10 working days of month‑end and are available for the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company.
• Regulatory requirements are met as and when they fall due.
• Provide an accurate and reliable set of annual financial statements.
• Meet with statutory and external organisations in a timely and professional manner.
• Quarterly VAT returns, Annual Corporation Tax returns and other statutory returns are submitted in a timely manner.
• Comply with the standards of the Care Quality Commission for financial records and reporting.
• Complete all Charity Commission regulatory requirements.
• Ensure robust financial systems are in place for all assets and liabilities, incorporating monthly reviews of creditors and debtors.
• Ensure financial information requirements of the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company are met in a timely manner.
• Ensure the business has financial systems and processes in place that will comply with regulatory requirements for healthcare services.
• Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, participating in all relevant meetings and contributing where possible to the achievement of business objectives.
• Take rotational responsibility as Out of Hours Duty Manager, if required.
• Provide advice, support and information to the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company on financial matters enabling the business to meet its objectives.
• Liaise with the Head of Human Resources to advise, where necessary, on all salary and pension matters, keeping up to date with changing legislation.
• Communicate with the banks, HMRC, Department of Work and Pensions and all other relevant external bodies regarding all pension, tax and National Insurance issues.
• Co‑operate with all Senior Leadership team colleagues to ensure payroll data is accurate and kept up to date.
• Liaise with the Head of Fundraising in matters relating to fundraising income and expenditure and the fundraising and lottery database, ensuring that any information is an accurate reflection of income and expenditure.
• Liaise with the Trading Company Manager in matters relating to the trading company’s income and expenditure, ensuring that all information provided is accurate.
• Verify that insurance cover is appropriate and adequate for the various business functions and that it is kept up to date.
• Ensure compliance across the business with financial statutory regulations and internal financial policies.
• Ensure a robust information governance regime across all financial matters across the business.
• Undertake and manage the annual appraisal process for the Finance Team, identifying any training and development needs.
• Ensure that all members of the Finance Team attend mandatory and statutory training as required and that evaluations are undertaken to monitor effectiveness.
• Adhere to all relevant legislation and policies of the business.
• Perform any other reasonable duties as directed by the Executive Leadership Team, the Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company.

Person Specification – Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant: ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent

Experience

• Financial management, budgeting and forecasting
• Leading and managing a team
• Preparation & delivery of financial strategies
• Working in charity, healthcare or other relevant environment
• Preparing and monitoring performance against annual and longer‑term budgets
• Ability to create accurate financial spreadsheets
• Compile, present and interpret monthly accounts
• Ability to report on and manage cash flow
• Demonstrable and extensive knowledge of financial systems
• Proficiency with financial software
• Preparation of statutory returns: PAYE, VAT, Gift Aid, Companies House
• Knowledge of Charity SORPS
• Ability to provide financial advice to Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, Directors of the Trading Company
• Sage line50 & Sage payroll

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