Head of Financial Governance and Strategic Investments

• Provide senior Trust-wide leadership for financial governance, controls, assurance and risk management.
• Lead the Finance relationship with internal audit, external audit and counter fraud, and oversee key assurance requirements.
• Lead and coordinate the Trust's Annual Report and Accounts, providing senior oversight of complex technical accounting matters.
• Lead financial oversight of significant business cases, investments and benefits realisation.
• Identify and oversee opportunities to improve financial value through accounting, VAT/tax, capital and revenue treatment, and balance sheet management.
• Provide senior leadership for finance systems, digital enablement, data, controls and business continuity.
• Lead and develop teams across financial governance, assurance, systems, investment and technical finance, providing expert advice to senior leaders and Trust committees

• Lead the development, maintenance and embedding of Trust-wide financial governance, assurance and control frameworks, including Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation and related policies.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders, Audit Committee and Trust Board on financial governance, assurance, risk and controls.
• Prepare and present committee papers and advise on complex governance matters, balancing compliance, operational requirements, audit expectations and financial risk.

• Provide assurance on the effectiveness of audit and counter fraud arrangements.
• Oversee the Value for Money assessment, Management Representation Letter and finance input to external assurance processes.
• Ensure recommendations are tracked, followed up and embedded appropriately.

• Work with senior finance colleagues to ensure clear accountability for accounts production, technical accounting and audit evidence.
• Ensure significant accounting judgements are appropriately evidenced, reviewed and approved.
• Provide senior review and challenge on complex technical accounting matters.

• Provide senior financial challenge on affordability, options, risk, opportunity cost and benefits.
• Challenge assumptions, financial models and benefits claims, exercising professional judgement on complex or sensitive proposals.
• Oversee consistent investment reporting, risk escalation and post-implementation review.
• Ensure service teams retain ownership of delivery while receiving appropriate financial guidance and assurance.

• Maintain a quantified pipeline of opportunities, assessing compliance, risk, deliverability and financial benefit.
• Assess the impact of changes in accounting standards, NHS guidance and VAT or tax requirements.
• Develop internal capability where this can safely reduce reliance on external advice.

• Oversee systems governance, supplier relationships, business continuity, authorisation and system controls.
• Ensure access, controls and continuity arrangements are proportionate to financial risk.
• Support increased use of Power BI, automation, AI-enabled analysis and digital processes where these improve insight, efficiency, control or service quality.

• Lead Finance business continuity and resilience arrangements.
• Contribute as a senior Finance leader to directorate strategy, workforce sustainability, succession planning and improvement programmes.

• Promote strong governance, accountability, professional judgement, continuous improvement and collaborative working.
• Provide professional leadership beyond the immediate team, influencing senior colleagues and strengthening financial controls and decision-making.
• Represent Finance and the Trust on complex and sensitive financial governance, assurance, systems and investment matters.
• Act as a senior role model for inclusive, professional and accountable leadership, supporting resilience, succession planning and capability development.

Essential

• CCAB qualified accountant, with evidence of continuing professional development
• Substantial senior finance experience gained within a large and complex organisation
• Expert knowledge of financial governance, accounting, internal control, audit and assurance, including experience operating across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable experience of advising senior decision-makers on complex, sensitive or high-risk financial matters
• Experience of interpreting complex policy, professional guidance and accounting requirements, including matters involving significant financial consequence or judgement.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with evidence of translating highly complex financial and non-financial information into clear advice and written material for senior audiences
• Proven leadership and people management experience, including developing staff and leading across professional or organisational boundaries.
• Strong understanding of finance systems, data quality, digital reporting and system controls

Desirable

• Senior finance experience within an NHS provider organisation
• Experience of reporting to or working with Board, Executive or Audit Committee-level stakeholders
• Experience of investment governance, business case assurance and/or benefits realisation
• Experience of finance systems, digital finance or transformation
• Specialist knowledge or experience of VAT, tax, capital accounting, investment appraisal or financial value optimisation.
• Working knowledge of Power BI, automation or AI-enabled financial analysis
• Postgraduate leadership or management qualification