Operational Director of Finance

Wwl; Heath Charnock; Hybrid; GBP 109,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Greater Manchester is seeking an Operational Director of Finance. This pivotal role requires a CCAB-qualified finance leader with significant experience in NHS finance. Responsibilities include overseeing financial management, strategic planning, and contributing to financial sustainability. The position offers a competitive salary within the range of £109,179 to £125,637 per annum, alongside flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in NHS finance or a similarly complex organization.
• Experience of leading budget setting and strategic financial planning.
• Experience in contract negotiations and financial governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance team and ensure strategic planning aligns with financial control.
• Develop oversight of financial probity and reporting.
• Collaborate with partners to ensure financial sustainability.

Skills

Highly numerate

Excellent analytical skills

Ability to influence stakeholders

Ability to motivate teams

Ability to balance strategic planning

Ability to identify new opportunities

Ability to scan for financial risk

Education

CCAB Qualified

Further managerial qualification (e.g., MBA)

Completion of leadership development program

Job description

Overview Main area Finance Grade NHS AfC: Band 9. Contract Permanent. Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday). Flexible working; on-site requirement at least 2 days per week. The post has corporate responsibilities as a senior member of the Trust including On-Call.

Site: Buckingham Row, Town: Wigan. Salary: £109,179 - £125,637 per annum, pro rata. Salary period: Yearly. Closing: 03/11/:59. Interview date: 14/11/2025.

Choose Well - Choose WWL Job overview This is an exciting and influential opportunity to join WWL's senior finance leadership team as Operational Director of Finance - a pivotal role at the heart of one of Greater Manchester's most forward-looking provider organisations. Following the successful promotion of the current postholder to a role in the wider health economy, this position offers the chance to shape how we deliver sustainable, system-wide value in a fast-evolving NHS landscape.

You will lead a talented and well-established finance team and bring exceptional foresight - anticipating future pressures, interpreting emerging trends and shaping the Trust's financial strategy over the medium term. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Tabitha Gardiner, you will ensure that robust financial control is matched by clear strategic planning, helping WWL remain financially agile and ready for the future.

Main duties of the job You will be a CCAB-qualified (or equivalent) finance leader with significant senior experience in NHS finance or a similarly complex organisation.

You will combine a deep understanding of operational financial management with the strategic ability to see around corners - identifying early warning signs, interpreting national and system trends, and using data and insight to inform decision-making.

A natural collaborator, you will build trust and confidence across clinical, operational and system partners, using your analytical skills to support transformation and long-term planning. You will thrive in a dynamic environment, balancing assurance and innovation to help shape a sustainable financial future for WWL.

Above all, you will share WWL's values - People at the Heart, Kind and Respectful, Listen and Involve, One Team - and you'll role model these in the way you lead, influence and develop others.

Working for our organisation Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Operational Director of Finance has responsibility for strategic and operational finance on a day-to-day basis including financial management, financial services, financial planning, financial transformation, procurement, payroll and capital. The role will require the development and oversight of robust systems and processes to ensure financial probity. The post will provide leadership and oversight of Standing Financial Instructions, external assurance requirements and other relevant policies. The post holder is responsible for reporting the financial position to the Trust Executive and the Trust Board.

Beyond strong operational stewardship, this role is about looking ahead - bringing insight, foresight and strategic perspective to our financial leadership. We are seeking a professional who can combine operational excellence with the ability to anticipate challenges, interpret emerging trends and shape the Trust's financial strategy over the medium term.

You will play a key role in horizon scanning across the local system and the wider NHS, helping WWL and its partners to plan with confidence amid changing demand, regulation and funding environments. By working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, you will help to ensure that financial sustainability is underpinned by strong strategic planning and proactive risk management, not reactive control.

As part of the Trust's senior finance team, you will be instrumental in supporting WWL's contribution to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System's financial recovery and sustainability plans, ensuring that partnership working and shared foresight drive efficiencies, innovation, and value for patients.

The role requires strong working relationships with partners within the Wigan Locality including Local Authority and ICB colleagues and will lead the commissioning negotiations with commissioners. WWL also has a strong collaborative working relationship with our neighboring Trust through a cluster working relationship which supports our operational and strategic objectives to be delivered.

The post holder has direct line management of the Senior Finance Team and will input into all key senior Trust meetings and decisions. They will continue the ongoing development of the Finance team to ensure it becomes the benchmark within the NHS of a professional, innovative, motivated, effective Finance team.

The Operational Director of Finance will lead the delivery of annual financial plans and their translation into agreed budgets across the organisation, including devolved financial management strategy, and required CIP targets.

When required, the role will also provide leadership for financial recovery including delivery. The post holder will also lead on improving the development of SLR/SLM with clinical engagement. The post holder will also have a key supporting role in the development of the following strategies: finance, commercial development, financial planning & information.

The Operational Director of Finance will deputise for the Chief Finance Officer as appropriate and undertake all duties in line with the requirements of the role to support the Chief Finance Officer. The post has corporate responsibilities as a senior member of the Trust including On-Call.

If you are a strategic finance leader who wants to make a lasting impact on a progressive, community-focused Trust - and play a system-wide role across Greater Manchester - we would be delighted to hear from you.

Person specification Qualifications

• CCAB Qualified
• Demonstrable CPD as recognised by professional body
• Further managerial qualification e.g. MBA
• Completion of recognised leadership development program

Experience

• NHS finance knowledge or experience
• Experience at a senior level within an acute setting or equivalent
• Experience of leading budget setting
• Experience of contributing to strategic financial planning
• Experience of contributing to and leading the development and delivery of sustainable CIP/SAVI programs, using a "turnaround" approach
• Experience of leading the financial aspect of contract negotiations
• Experience in the preparation of statutory and non-statutory periodic and ad hoc financial returns e.g. final accounts, Ref Cost Submission, PFR returns, capital charges returns
• Experience with dealing with locality partners
• Experience of leading the Business planning functions of a large acute organisation or equivalent
• Experience in the preparation of complex capital investment cases
• Experience in securing value for money in the application of the Trusts resources
• Experience of leading aspects of the provision of financial governance and assurance to the Trust Board and stakeholders or equivalent
• Experience of delivering complex information to an organisation in a digestible and easily understandable way
• Experience, through regular attendance at Board sub committees e.g. Audit Committees
• Experience of meaningful change management
• Experience of new business systems implementation
• Experience of the provision of reports to a range of users including Trust Boards
• Experience of leading, managing and developing teams
• Broad range of finance exposure covering financial services and financial management
• Internal or external Audit experience
• Delivery of financial service within a shared services environment
• Experience of dealing with non- NHS public bodies e.g. Voluntary sector
• Experience of working within a shared services environment for the provision of Payroll, Business Systems and procurement as a minimum
• Experience of leading other professionally qualified staff
• Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams

Skills

• Highly numerate
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to influence a range of stakeholders including Directors and Non-Executive Directors of the Trust
• Ability to lead and motivate teams through complex activities such as service redesign
• Ability to balance strategic planning with delivery of short term annual targets
• Ability to identify new opportunities to build sustainable business developments and consider these within a "commercial" framework
• Ability to scan the horizon to identify and plan for potential financial and service risk.
• Ability to act as a senior corporate figure across the organisation

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