Principal Finance Manager

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board; Warrington; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board in Warrington is seeking a Principal Finance Manager (Band 8a) to lead financial planning, forecasting and expenditure reporting. The role requires strong leadership and senior financial management experience within the NHS or a similar environment.

The post holder will coordinate reporting, develop cost plans, and influence operational managers to take corrective actions. Travel across Cheshire and Merseyside is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Significant senior financial management experience.
• Leadership experience at a senior level.
• CCAB or CIMA qualification (e.g., CIPFA, ICAEW, ACCA).

Responsibilities

• Lead financial advice on the ICB’s position including planning, budgeting, forecasting and costing.
• Review and maintain integrity of the general ledger and financial reporting.
• Develop medium/long-term financial plans and adjust for year changes.
• Drive cost improvement and automation while ensuring governance.
• Report on financial performance to budget holders and Board members.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Planning & forecasting

Project management (PRINCE2)

Communication of complex information

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

CCAB/CIMA qualification

Tools

PRINCE2

Managing Successful Projects

Job description

Employer NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board Employer type NHS Site NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Headquarters (with travel across Cheshire and Merseyside) Town Warrington Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/11/2026 23:59

Principal Finance Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8a

An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of the changing shape of NHS commissioning in Cheshire and Merseyside. Our current organisational structure supports effective working both locally and across Cheshire and Merseyside as we develop as an Integrated Care System.

The population of Cheshire and Merseyside is diverse and growing and we are keen to see that diversity recognised within our own workforce. As an employer we seek to open opportunities for our staff to gain new skills, gain knowledge and develop careers in heath and care.

We welcome students, staff, people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, physical abilities, backgrounds, and philosophies and those who are accepting of others. Our goal is to support all of our workforce in their work, if you believe you can bring your skills and experiences and an open-minded approach into our fast paced and dynamic organisation, we are committed to providing a positive and supportive experience for all of our staff.

Job overview

Job Summary

The postholder plays a key role in the management and reporting of expenditure. The role requires strong knowledge of the individual areas and any associated reporting requirements.

Coordinating and assist in the reporting and validation of the monthly income and expenditure position, including forecasting, and analysis and interpretation of significant variances and where appropriate, to influence operational managers into taking corrective action.

Main duties of the job

Ensuring financial systems and procedures are efficient, effective and business focused in order that they operate in such a way to meet the highest standards of probity and governance.

To take a lead within their key areas on changes through national and local initiatives, ensuring these are reviewed to ensure compliance with ICB accounting standards and policies. This will enable to the ICB to be well positioned to plan for these for current and future years.

Working for our organisation

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside serves a population of over 2.7 million people across nine localities, working with 16 NHS provider organisations, 51 Primary Care Networks, local authorities and voluntary sector partners.

We are proud of Cheshire and Merseyside's record of collaborative working and there are countless examples of brilliant care, but there are also examples of variation in service which only serve to exacerbate health inequalities.

Our vision is for everyone in Cheshire and Merseyside to have a great start in life and get the support they need to stay healthy and live longer.

We will do this by working together, as equal partners, to support seamless, person-centred care and tackle health inequalities by improving the lives of the poorest fastest.

Our values are rooted in the NHS Constitution, and we strive to create a compassionate, collaborative and innovative culture where staff can thrive and make a real difference to local communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will need to build and maintain constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• Internal ICB staff including managers, colleagues, and senior management as appropriate.
• National and regional colleagues at NHS England.
• ICS partners, including portfolio leads, Local Authorities and Provider Collaboratives.
• Non-NHS organisations.
• Members of the public and service users as appropriate.
• Matrix work across all other teams to address interdependencies and ensure alignment of mutual objectives.
• External consultancy, as required.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The postholder plays a key role in the management and reporting of Secondary Care. Requiring strong knowledge of the individual areas and any associated reporting requirements. The postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:-

• Lead the provision of financial advice on the ICB’s financial position, including responsibility for financial planning, budget setting, forecasting and costing activities for agreed areas of responsibility.
• Review and maintain the integrity of the ICB general ledger in relation to all financial management aspects.
• Support the development of short, medium and long term financial plans, and be able to update and tailor these based on in year changes.
• Generate and maintenance of standard operating procedures and financial policies, whilst ensuring they are adhered to.
• Produce internal and external reports on financial performance incorporating commentary on variances to plans and forecasts.
• Develop strong and effective relationships with budget holders/Board members to report on respective financial performance and to develop outturn forecast data using professional knowledge to influence and negotiate the financial position, providing professional integrity and challenge when needed.
• Interpret and communicate highly complex financial information to finance and operational colleagues as required
• Be responsible for ensuring accurate sales invoicing and reviewing the status of the sales ledger
• Complete NHS England statutory returns on a periodical basis including the preparation of accurate working papers.
• Line manage staff including all aspects of staff management.
• Work autonomously, interpreting relevant policies and standards.
• Support the development of and monitor the implementation of cost improvement plans without compromising financial management and control.
• Lead on continuous improvement initiatives to improve processes and systems, including greater automation, eliminating duplication, consolidation and standardisation.
• Assist with scenario planning and quantitative and qualitative financial analysis.
• Produce financial plans and costings for procurements, service development proposals and skill mix changes for designated budget holders. Provide financial analysis and advice for new and existing Service Level Agreements.
• Develop and assist in the development of finance policies.
• Develop and deliver financial and commercial training to non-finance staff.

Please ensure to read the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role.

Person specification

Knowledge, Education & Training

• Educated to master’s level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Significant experience of financial management at a senior level
• Proven and significant leadership experience.
• CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant, for example CIPFA, ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA.

Skills

• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
• Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects

EDI

• Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the area.

Additional information relating to the role can be found in the Job Description below. Please note that candidates will be shortlisted against the criteria outlined within the Person Specification (also below), therefore, to avoid disappointment please ensure you meet the requirements of the role before applying and that you are able to demonstrate these requirements throughout your application form.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Michelle Clunie Job title Head of Finance Email address [e-mail]