United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Job summary
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) is seeking an exceptional finance leader to join our senior leadership team as Associate Director of Finance – Financial Improvement. This pivotal role will lead the Group’s financial improvement, productivity, efficiency and costing agenda across a complex NHS organisation with an annual turnover of approximately £1.1 billion.
Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Group Deputy Director of Strategic Finance and Executive colleagues, you will provide strategic leadership for the delivery of financial improvement programmes, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while supporting high-quality patient care. You will lead the Group’s Cost Improvement Programme, drive productivity initiatives, oversee costing and service line management, and provide expert financial advice to senior leaders, Board Committees and external stakeholders.
The successful candidate will be a qualified CCAB accountant with significant senior-level NHS finance experience, a strong understanding of the NHS financial regime, and a proven track record of delivering financial transformation and change.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest level, help shape healthcare services across Lincolnshire, and play a key role in developing a high-performing, innovative and inclusive finance function
Main duties of the job
Lead the development and delivery of the Group’s financial improvement, productivity and efficiency programmes, ensuring long-term financial sustainability across a £1.1bn NHS organisation.
Provide strategic leadership for the Group’s Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), supporting the identification, delivery and monitoring of savings and transformation opportunities.
Lead the costing function, including statutory costing requirements, National Cost Collection submissions and the development of service line management information to support decision-making.
Work closely with Executive Directors, Care Group leaders, clinicians and corporate teams to drive financial performance and support strategic objectives.
Present complex financial information and recommendations to senior committees, Board members and external stakeholders, providing expert advice on financial sustainability and improvement.
Build strong relationships with NHS England, the ICB, auditors and wider system partners, representing the Group on financial improvement and costing matters.
Provide leadership to finance teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional development and high performance.
Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, contributing to corporate leadership and key organisational decision-making
Person Specification
Qualifications
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.
Desirable
- Undertaking or willing to undertake further management courses.
- Educated to Masters Level or measurable experience of working at masters level
Knowledge
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.
Experience
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
Desirable
- Experience of SLA Contract negotiations
Skills
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
Specific Requirements
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.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work in line with and role model Group values.
- Be able to demonstrate achievement orientation, self-confidence and initiative
Closing Date: 11 October 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.