Band 8c Director of Financial Management

NHS | Band 8c | 6-Month Interim Assignment
Crawley / Flexible across Trust locations | ASAP Start

Are you an experienced senior NHS finance leader with a strong track record in financial management, recovery and transformation?

We are recruiting an Interim Associate Director of Financial Management for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, offering the opportunity to take on a high-profile leadership role at a particularly important time for NHS finances.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, you will lead the Trust's Financial Management and Business Partnering function, providing strategic financial leadership across multiple operational and corporate portfolios.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished NHS finance professional who can quickly establish credibility, provide constructive challenge at a senior level and help drive financial sustainability, recovery, transformation and improved financial performance.

The role:

As Interim Associate Director of Financial Management, you will play a key role in supporting the Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer in delivering the Trust's financial strategy.

You'll have responsibility for ensuring robust financial planning, forecasting and performance management arrangements are in place, while providing expert financial advice and insight to Executive and senior leadership teams.

A significant focus will be on financial recovery and Cost Improvement Programmes (CIPs). You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to identify financial risks and opportunities, provide appropriate challenge and help ensure recovery and efficiency plans translate into sustainable financial improvements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership to the Financial Management and Business Partnering function
• Leading the development and delivery of annual and medium-term financial plans
• Driving and supporting financial recovery plans and Cost Improvement Programmes
• Overseeing financial performance across multiple operational and corporate portfolios
• Ensuring financial risks are identified early and appropriate mitigating actions are developed
• Providing strategic financial advice, insight and constructive challenge to Executive and senior management teams
• Leading financial input into business cases, transformation programmes and major investment decisions
• Ensuring robust budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting
• Leading and developing Finance Business Partners and the wider financial management team
• Developing effective relationships with operational, clinical and corporate leaders
• Supporting stronger financial understanding and capability amongst budget holders and senior managers
• Driving value for money, efficiency and long-term financial sustainability
• Representing the Trust at system, regional and partnership meetings where appropriate.

About You

For this appointment, significant senior NHS finance experience is essential.

We are particularly interested in speaking with established finance leaders who can demonstrate:

• CCAB or CIMA qualification
• Extensive experience of NHS financial management, financial planning and business partnering
• A proven track record of delivering financial recovery programmes and CIPs
• Experience of leading finance through organisational change and transformation
• Strong knowledge of NHS financial governance and regulatory requirements
• Experience of advising and influencing Executive and senior leadership teams
• Strong financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling skills
• Successful leadership and development of high-performing finance teams
• The ability to interpret complex financial information and translate it into clear, commercially focused advice
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge constructively
• The ability to operate autonomously and deliver in a complex, fast-moving environment.

Previous experience within an NHS Foundation Trust would be particularly valuable. Experience within an Ambulance Trust, Integrated Care System, digital finance transformation or major organisational transformation programme would also be advantageous.

• Interim Associate Director of Financial Management
• Band 8c
• 6-month initial assignment, with potential to extend depending on business needs
• 37.5 hours per week
• Trust Headquarters in Crawley, with flexibility to work across Trust locations as required
• ASAP start.

If you're a senior NHS finance professional with strong Financial Management, CIP, financial recovery and transformation experience, we'd be very interested in speaking with you.

Get in touch with Rebecca for a confidential conversation about the assignment, or apply with your CV outlining your relevant NHS finance leadership experience and availability.

Applications from candidates without demonstrable senior NHS financial leadership experience are unlikely to be suitable for this particular assignment.