Head of Group Finance

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is seeking a Head of Group Finance to lead financial performance across groups and shape the annual planning process. The role requires strategic leadership, expert budgeting and strong governance across the Trust's financial information systems.

You will collaborate with clinical groups and drive efficiency, assurance, and value-for-money in line with NHS standards, ensuring delivery against financial targets and quality of care

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification and CPD evidence.
• Post-qualification experience as a senior finance professional.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and service line reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to group management teams during annual financial planning, identifying and quantifying development needs and cost pressures.
• Advise on financial risks and long/short-term consequences for decision making.
• Ensure reporting of financial performance to Trust Committees/Board as part of the Integrated Finance Report.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Microsoft Office

Financial analysis

Education

Professional Accountancy Qualification (CCAB/CIMA qualified or equivalent)

Tools

Financial systems

Budgeting software

Job description

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Head of Group Finance

The closing date is 22 September 2026

Manage the financial performance of Groups against agreed financial targets, using the most appropriate means available. Produce action plans to manage financial performance/risks and ensure that these are followed through.

The Head of Group Finance will be an integrated vital member of the clinical groups Board and will participate fully in the agenda for both financial and non-financial performance and arising issues.

Main duties of the job

Provide leadership and guidance to group management teams during the annual financial planning process including identifying and quantifying ofService Developments, Cost Pressures, Waste Reduction Programme, Cash Releasing Efficiency Savings and Capital Bids to support the annualobjectives.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk).

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Provide support and advice to Groups during the production of business cases. This will include the application of recognised investmentappraisal techniques to improve decision making. The Head of Group Finance should advise on financial risks and be able to articulate both long and short-term consequences to enable decision making.
• The Head of Group Finance should ensure that the Associate Director of Financial Management is aware of financial consequences of businesscases being approved or in the planning pipeline.
• Work with the Groups to ensure that benchmarking data provided from the Performance and Information Department is understood at anoperational level and utilise this information together with value for money audits, to ensure best practice and optimal utilisation of resources.
• The Head of Group Finance will be supporting the Clinical Group and provide overall financial leadership and strategic direction ensuring thatfinance delivers a high-quality customer focused service.
• They will take overall responsibility for staff development and performance for the staff in the Financial Management Team that they lead.
• They will take overall responsibility for the regular reporting of financial performance management information to the groups that they support and to the relevant Trust Committees/Board as part of the Integrated Finance Report.
• They will ensure efficiency, effectiveness, integrity and business focus of financial systems and processes across the groups they support.
• They will take a strategic lead for ensuring that the Group operational expenditure is fit for purpose for Service Line Reporting.
• They will deputise for the Senior Head of Group Finance and the GroupManagement Team as and when appropriate.
• They will be required to make decisions within their own interpretation and understanding of national policies and professional standards.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• oProfessional Accountancy Qualification (CCAB/CIMA qualified or equivalent) oEvidence of CPD oPost qualification experience (as a Senior Finance Professional)

Experience

• oProven track record of successful financial management oSenior experience with a large complex organisation oExperience of computerised accounting and financial systems. oExperience of investigation and analysis into financial issues, including evidence of detailed and precise report writing skills. oBusiness planning and capacity expertise linked to forecasting and budgeting. oExperience in the analysis, translation and communication of service line reporting/patient level costing system outputs to non-financial colleagues. oEvidence of extensive line management responsibilities, ensuring teams deliver to their maximum potential. oExperience in working with, influencing and building effective working relationships with staff at all levels across the Trust.
• oSubstantial post qualification experience covering a full range of responsibilities of a senior financial professional. oSignificant experience preparing Budgets linked to Operational and Workforce plans. oExperience in translating complex data from various systems into a clear and comprehensive financial model. oExperience in using benchmarking information (including Model Hospital) to identify performance or productivity benefits.

Knowledge

• oKnowledge of the rules surrounding confidentiality, information governance and the Data Protection Act. oExpert Theoretical and practical knowledge of the NHS accounting. oKnowledge of the costing standards.

Skills

• oMicrosoft Office. oAble to move easily between the detail and the big picture on issues. oAbility to clarify key points from complex sets of information. oAbility to concentrate on complex issues for prolonged periods. oAbility to work autonomously with the skills to make complex decisions independently where decisions are required urgently. oAbility to work under pressure and meet objectives with conflicting deadlines. oAble to plan and prioritise work of self and others. oGives the team a sense that change is achievable and that their contributions matter. oProven ability to operate and think strategically, reflecting wider organisational priorities and performance.
• oMulti-discipline oUses range of influencing strategies to bring about change. oDemonstrates the use of extended network of influence.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• oMust be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below) oApplicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

£66,582 to £77,368 a yearper annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

218-AC-B8B-8292314

Job locations

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire