Associate Director of Finance - Financial Improvement Band 8D

• Lead the development, implementation and delivery of the Group-wide financial improvement, productivity and efficiency agenda, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable and achieves its strategic objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the Group's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), including the development, monitoring and delivery of financial recovery and efficiency plans.
• Lead the Group's costing function, ensuring compliance with all mandatory costing requirements, including the National Cost Collection and associated regulatory submissions.
• Develop and promote the use of costing, benchmarking and service line management information to support evidence-based decision making and improve operational and financial performance.
• Support the Finance & Performance Committee and Board in providing assurance on financial performance, sustainability and delivery of improvement programmes.
• Provide expert financial advice and challenge to Executive Directors, senior operational leaders and clinical teams to support strategic and operational decision making.
• Actively identify opportunities for financial improvement and intervene to support the resolution of issues that could impact the organisation's financial position.
• Lead and develop high-performing finance teams, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional excellence and staff development.
• Provide leadership and line management for the Financial Improvement, Costing and Capital Finance teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and outcomes.
• Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, representing the organisation at internal and external meetings and supporting wider corporate leadership responsibilities.

• Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
• Deputy Chief Finance Officer / Group Deputy Director of Finance
• Executive Leadership Team
• Board of Directors and Board Committees
• Care Group and Corporate Directors
• Clinical Leaders and Senior Operational Managers
• Senior Finance Leadership Team
• Finance, Costing and Capital Teams
• Internal Audit Services

• NHS England
• Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (DLN) ICB Cluster and system partners
• Peer Finance Directors and Deputy Directors across the NHS
• Internal and External Auditors
• National Costing and Regulatory Bodies
• Benchmarking and Professional Networks
• Wider NHS and healthcare partners across the local health economy

Essential

• CCAB-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) through further specialist training & experience.
• General business/management qualification at a masters level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of leadership development
• Experience of working at a senior management level in a finance department.

Essential

• Expert understanding of the NHS financial regime and policies
• Understanding of financial legislation and ability to ensure the organisation adheres to it.
• Knowledge of all appropriate legislation and its application within a large organisation
• Thorough knowledge of and understanding of governance issues.

Essential

• Experience of effective staff management
• Experience of developing IT solutions including advanced spread-sheets, computerised financial ledgers, budgeting and financial modelling systems and costing systems
• Experience of managing a senior finance team
• Experience of Financial improvement and change management.
• Experience of Financial Management including substantial post qualification experience operating at a strategic level.
• Experience of working and contributing effectively with Board members, clinicians and other senior staff both within and outside the NHS
• Experience on management accounting and Experience of SLA Contract negotiations costing techniques

Essential

• Advanced key board skills to produce and present high quality coherent reports
• Analytical skills and Business Thinking to interpret financial and non-financial information
• Able to demonstrate planning and organisational skills to take into account good judgement, decision making and strategic prospective
• Possess excellent communications skills with the ability to be clear and persuasive in speech and writing; and to handle difficult and sensitive situations

Essential

• Evidence of working across a range of organisations including external stakeholders to achieve significant change
• Leadership of complex organisations change management.
• Ability to analyse complex problems using data analysis to understand the root causes and develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them
• Able to demonstrate an innovative approach to management issues
• Leadership and coaching, change and learning orientation
• Able to demonstrate team building and inter relationship skills including influencing and communication
• Ability to have a high level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and flexibility in approach and attitude and ability to work under pressure.