Head of Financial Services: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is comprised of three hospitals; the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital and Christchurch Hospital, which merged on 1 October 2020, creating a new organisation. The Trust provides huge opportunities and benefits in Dorset to the way patient care is delivered now and in the future and will lead to better outcomes, improved quality and more efficient service delivery.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD.

• We are caring
• We are one team
• We are listening to understand
• We are open and honest
• We are always improving
• We are inclusive

They underpin everything the Trust’s does now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients and visitors, but also how we treat each other – our valued team mates and colleagues.

Interview: 16th September

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Associate Director of Finance (Financial Services, Systems, Capital & Projects), you will directly line-manage the financial services portfolio, working closely with the Associate Directors of Finance, Finance Business Partners, the Head of Contracting and Commissioning, and Commissioner contract teams to maximise income flows to the Trust.

The role of Head of Financial Services has prime responsibility for the provision of a wide range of financial accounting operations necessary for the Trust to fulfil it’s statutory and non-statutory duties and obligations, alongside those of the Trusts Charitable Funds Accounts. Additionally, the Head of Financial Services will provide comprehensive management support to the Associate Director of Finance, deputising as appropriate.

The post holder will use high level technical, analytical, interpersonal and negotiating skills to develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of internal and external managers across the NHS and wider system, and work autonomously as an expert practitioner, with minimal supervision, using own initiative to make operational decisions often without reference to others.

Applicants must be a CCAB Accountant and NHS Experience is highly desirable. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles as diversity strengthens our teams.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Accountancy (CCAB) Qualification
• Evidenced continuous professional development record

Desirable

• Masters level qualification

Experience

Essential

• Expert, demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of financial accounting and information systems and accounting procedures within the NHS
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of International Accounting Standards and their application
• Detailed understanding of the Payment by Results (PbR) tariff system and its application within an NHS Foundation Trus
• Experience of modelling the financial impact of service pathway redesign
• Experience of developing income, expenditure and activity forecasts, including the modelling of different scenarios
• Expert analytical skills to solve highly complex financial and non financial problems including devising and using benchmarking data as a tool to compare and contrast detailed data sets
• Significant experience of working with Clinical Care Group & Non-Clinical Care Group colleagues

Desirable

• Experience in the use of E-Financials software packages
• Experience in the use of PLICS costing software
• Previous experience of working within an NHS Foundation Trust
• Experience of using Business Objects

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

• Clear, demonstrable understanding of statutory and other financial responsibilities
• Computer literate with experience of using Microsoft Office applications
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills, including the ability to communicate contentious information to an audience that may not be receptive. This will include senior managers within the Trust and external stakeholders

Knowledge

Essential

• Expert knowledge of NHS financial and accounting procedures in relation to the portfolio
• Understanding of NHS statutory and other financial responsibilities
• Ability to interpret highly complex information, including national financial policies
• Recent Expert Knowledge of Clinical Care Group & Non-Clinical Care Group finances

Interpersonal Skills

Essential

• Active listening skills, to interpret managers needs and issues
• Ability to forge and maintain constructive relationships with senior managers and to constructively challenge and hold to account in relation to financial decision making and subsequent consequences
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Confident in dealing with key relationships with Clinical Directors and Directors of Operations and senior managers within the organisation
• Ability to use initiative, work autonomously, and demonstrate flexibility
• Ability to lead a team of fellow professionals and to adopt a collaborative approach both within the Finance function and across UHD
• Able to communicate sensitive/contentious financial information in a clear and persuasive way

Other

Essential

• Ability to express facts, ideas and opinions clearly and directly both orally and in writing to both internal and external stakeholders
• Political astuteness to understand the business, political and economic context in which discussions are taking place
• Ability to write and present reports on complex matters in a way which can be understood by other professionals
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to builds networks with external contacts to maintain professional knowledge and developments within the local healthcare economy
• Emotionally resilient with the ability to provide and accept constructive criticism and to reflect and learn from guidance and feedback
• Well organised, a completer/ finisher with the ability to multi-task complex issues
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and to manage the expectations of stakeholder

Language requirement

Essential

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

Closing Date: 6 September 2026