Job Title: Chief Finance Officer
Band: VSM
Base: Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead
Business Unit / Department: Trust Board
Reports to: Chief Executive
Accountable to: Chief Executive

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Chief Finance Officer will develop and lead the implementation of the Trust’s financial strategy, ensuring it is aligned to the vision, values, strategic direction and business plans of the Trust. The post holder will support the organisation to produce better value for money, reduce variation and waste, and encourage collective ownership of the financial plans, working collaboratively as part of a cohesive leadership structure.

The post holder will lead the finance, procurement, contracting, and estates functions, ensuring that they serve the needs of clinical and non-clinical departments across the Trust.

The post holder will contribute fully to all aspects of Trust business, establishing and leading the Trust’s financial management and regulation, and providing financial advice to the Board of Directors, Chief Executive and senior leadership teams.

As an Executive Director of a Foundation Trust, the post holder is a full Trust Board member and thus responsible for all aspects of the running of the Trust and its strategic development.

The Chief Finance Officer will ensure Queen Victoria Hospital is an active participant in the Integrated Care System, working with finance directors in other NHS and social care organisations.

Main working relationships

Chief executive, executive directors, non-executive directors, general managers, clinical directors, heads of nursing, and hospital management team.

NHS England, NHS Sussex and other ICBs, other acute trusts.

Department structure

*** You can view our structure chart here.

Key result areas

Strategy, governance and culture

Contribute to setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the drawing up of its business and operational plans, promoting the vision, values and strategic objectives of the Trust.

Formulate a financial strategy for achieving and maintaining financial balance, including working with Board level colleagues and other senior staff to agree service and organisational level plans for long term financial sustainability. Continuously monitor the strategy against performance and changes in context.

Ensure that the finance and estates functions are positive and proactive in their contribution to the Trust’s strategic and operational planning processes.

Contribute to good corporate governance arrangements, including risk management and compliance with essential standards, legislation and regulation relevant to NHS services. Ensure that the Trust operates within the framework set by its Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Scheme of Delegation.

Financial planning, contracting, and procurement

Support the Chief Executive in providing leadership to the organisation to ensure that the Annual Plan is delivered and that there are effective risk management and control systems in place.

Ensure the timely and accurate preparation of capital, revenue and cash budgets which reflect the Trust’s strategic service and business plans.

Provide timely and accurate information to the Board and senior staff on the budgetary performance of the organisation.

Ensure financial accounting and financial services strongly support the provision of complete, timely and accurate information, and that budget holders are trained and empowered to take ownership of financial management.

Work closely with executive colleagues in business planning, ensuring this is based on sound financial information and robust risk analysis.

Lead the process of preparation for and negotiation of contracts with commissioners, ensuring there is accurate and timely financial information available to provide a good understanding of the cost behaviour of the Trust.

Ensure the Trust has informed, integrated and sustainable procurement and supply chain management functions to provide cost-effective goods and services.

Estates modernisation and management

Develop and lead a modernisation programme for the Trust’s estate to ensure a consistently high quality and cost-effective environment for the delivery of healthcare services, which supports the delivery of the future organisational strategy.

Ensure that all estate is fit for purpose and compliant with statutory requirements, and that the Trust has a robust ongoing programme of maintenance and improvements.

Working with the associate director of estates, ensure the Trust has a highly responsive and proactive estates function and that all work is developed and implemented in accordance with best practice, including support for the Trust’s net zero goals.

System Working and Provider Collaboration

Work closely with partner organisations in the interests of maximising value across the system and operating to consistent standards.

Develop strong relationships with finance and estates leaders in the local system, the region and nationally, to influence people policy and practice.

Professional Leadership

Develop the professional competence of finance staff, and develop the overall financial and commercial competence of clinical and non-clinical staff across the Trust.

Provide professional leadership, vision and direction for the finance, procurement, business development and estates functions and ensure they provide the best possible service to internal customers.

Lead on the talent management and professional development of colleagues in the finance, procurement, business development and estates functions.

Advise the Board of Directors and senior staff on technical financial matters, ensuring that the Trust acts within its powers.

Personal and Professional Development

Participate in the Trust’s annual appraisal system designed to identify objectives and personal development opportunities.

Ensure that all mandatory training is up to date.

The post holder will be responsible for continually maintaining their working knowledge of local practices, policies and procedures and highlight ongoing training and development needs to their manager.

General

Executive member of unitary board

QVH operates as a unitary board and the Board of Directors is responsible for decision making associated with:

• The strategic direction of the Trust, ensuring that there is a clear vision for the Trust that people understand.
• The provision of high quality and safe healthcare services.
• Ensuring the Trust exercises its functions effectively, efficiently and economically.
• Overall performance of the Trust in relation to standards set by regulatory bodies.
• Ensuring effective arrangements are in place for governance and risk management.
• Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s Provider Licence and associated legislation, regulation and best practice.

The Chief Financial Officer will offer expert advice to the Board and participate in shaping and implementing Board level decision making.

Risk management

All executive directors are responsible for taking a systematic and rigorous approach to risk management, ensuring risks are understood and owned at the right levels, managing both operational and strategic risks, promptly identifying indicators that may point to escalating problems, agreeing actions, and working within the Board’s risk appetite parameters.

Leadership

All executive directors work to motivate, inspire and engage individual and teams, to enhance the Trust’s external image, to create opportunities to enhance understanding of the Trust’s work, and to enhance the profile of the Trust as an employer of choice for clinical and non-clinical staff.

On call 

The post holder will also participate in Trust senior manager on call rota.

Health and Safety

The postholder must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and must follow these at all times, including ensuring that they act in line with all policies and procedures at all times in order to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and colleagues. It is the responsibility of the postholder to complete a display screen equipment (DSE) self-assessment, with reference to the Trust Policy.

Equality and Diversity

The postholder is required to promote equality in service delivery and employment practices. All employees must comply with all the Trusts equality and diversity policies, procedures and initiatives.

Infection Prevention and Control

Infection Prevention and Control is everybody’s responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times.

Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Recruitment checks are undertaken in accordance with the NHS Employment Check Standards and successful applicants may be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Smoke free Trust

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free Trust covering Trust premises, grounds and any Trust owned vehicle. Staff should not smoke during their working hours and will be protected from passive smoking both in the Trust and whilst making home visits.

Sustainability

QVH wants to be the first Net Zero Hospital in England, and to achieve that wants every member of staff to be a green champion. The way in which the Trust works has a significant impact on the organisation’s carbon footprint and that of our patients. From the heat, light and power supplies within the hospital to avoiding unnecessary patient journeys, the Trust is empowering all staff to create a sustainable health and care environment for future generations. The Trust expects all staff to reuse and recycle more, to use energy and water efficiently, to walk or cycle to work if you can, and to have a focus on sustainability in the workplace.

QVH Trust Values

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Accounting Qualification (CCAB or equivalent).
• Educated to a Master’s Degree Level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level within a financial role.
• Evidence of ongoing continued professional development.

Desirable 

• Management training or qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of significant experience at, (or close to), Board level (including sub-committees) and working in complex partnerships.
• Experience in leading and developing successful finance teams with a track record of adding value to service delivery.
• Sound knowledge and demonstrable experience of the NHS or similar finance regimes, including financial management, capital investment and financial accounting.
• Considerable experience of leading and managing the financial elements of transformational change in a complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of setting out a clear strategic direction, leading and inspiring others to achieve a common purpose.
• Demonstrable experience of leading an organisation through successful and sustainable financial performance improvement.
• Experience of developing organisational finance and business strategies including for financial recovery/turnaround.
• Experience of contract negotiation and management and legal dispute management.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of estates policies and strategy and experience in leading capital investment programmes and complex estates/facilities contracts.

Desirable

• Experience of NHS system working and of change across systems.
• Experience working with both internal and external auditors.
• Experience of leading estates teams.
• Experience of leading transformational programmes and efficiencies.
• Experience of working with estates function.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Personably credible.

• Sound knowledge of NHS financial governance. 

• Detailed knowledge of government policy in relation to health services.

• Highly skilled communicator; able to articulate vision, strategy and values in a way that is understandable to stakeholders internally and externally.

• Able to secure high performance from others through development and coaching including holding to account appropriately to achieve outcomes.

• Collaborative leadership skills: a team player and able to advocate for and demonstrate cohesive team working.

• Highly-developed influencing and negotiating skills and skilled at addressing and resolving conflict.

Attributes

Essential

• Ability to self-manage within a complex environment, anticipating and dealing with adversity and opportunity effectively.
• Invests sustained effort in making a significant impact on improvement within the organisation.
• A sense of integrity underpinned by a belief in a set of values which demonstrate commitment to the organisation.
• Advocates for all staff groups and individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity.
• Acts as a role model for organisational values and collaborative working.
• Self-awareness, including strengths, limitations and personal impact on others.