Band 8c Head of Finance

Job summary

We’re looking for a bold, strategic finance leader to drive transformation across one of the UK’s largest NHS Trusts, specifically at one of their largest Hospital Site, Heartlands Hospital (c.530m).

As our Head of Finance, you’ll act as the formal deputy to the Associate Director of Finance, providing senior leadership across the site and influencing decisions at the highest levels.

You’ll be a key strategic finance business partner, leading critical work including consolidating the month end position, shaping forecasts, driving annual planning, and strengthening financial governance. Alongside this, you’ll provide strategic oversight for CIP programme, driving productivity improvements, and financial recovery — working closely with clinical and operational leaders to deliver sustainable change.

You’ll also provide leadership oversight to a team of around c.20 finance professionals, building capability, driving performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

If you’re a resilient, CCAB/CIMA qualified senior finance leader with a passion for transformation and the confidence to operate at executive level, we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Professional Accountancy Qualification — i.e. Fully Qualified member of CCAB (as per HFMA national finance profiles definition).
• Completion of evidenced ongoing continuing professional development, in accordance with guidelines produced by the relevant Professional Accountancy Body.

Experience

Essential

• Track record of leading change in a complex organisation
• Experience of multi professional collaboration at a senior level.
• Development and utilisation of internal and external benchmarking techniques including the use within business case appraisal.
• Experience of leading, managing and developing a team.
• Experience of suggesting and making changes to local systems and processes.
• Extensive relevant experience of Financial Management.

Desirable

• Evidence of delivering savings within a health or social care setting
• Specialist, expert knowledge of specific NHS policies/procedures for example Payment by Results, Coding, Patient Choice, Foundation Trusts, GIRFT, Model Hopsital
• Good working knowledge of and proven interest in the NHS including understanding of key targets and the performance management framework.
• Up to date, in depth knowledge of Financial and Management Accounting procedures including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Familiarity with relevant changes in clinical practice and the consequent impact on resource utilisation.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills including the ability to summarise highly complex financial issues into concise financial reports and prepare complex, multi- faceted business cases.
• Good verbal communication and presentation skills including the ability to explain highly complex financial issues clearly and persuasively to non-financial staff and communicate sensitive or contentious information in order to influence decision making.
• Excellent negotiation skills are required to overcome barriers to understanding arising from the complexity of issues. The ability to empathise with a conflicting point of view and work in a co-operative way in order to facilitate a workable compromise is essential.
• Standard keyboard skills.
• Strong inter-personal skills including the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels from within the organisation and external stakeholders
• Awareness of organisational politics in order to keep healthcare professionals on board with the change and resource management agenda.
• Ability to effectively lead and motivate teams to manage change and achieve organisational goals
• Flexibility to work autonomously with the skills to make decisions independently and delegate effectively
• Proven ability to use own initiative, prioritise work to meet tight deadlines delegate appropriately and apply problem solving skills effectively.
• Good understanding of operational issues and how organisational pressures affect broader resource utilisation.
• Experience of transformation and change management
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to make sound judgements and decisions on highly complex issues to minimise financial risk in situations where there is a multiplicity of targets / objectives, imperfect information and no obvious precedent.
• Ability to make judgements on financial risks where expert opinions may conflict is required.
• Ability to remain calm and perform consistently in stressful situations, including formal meetings with Executive Directors and senior staff from external organisations.
• Confidence to advise on certain courses of action/decisions which may have far-reaching and long-term strategic consequences for the Trust.
• Commitment to development and training of staff
• Willingness to learn
• High levels of personal integrity and displays smart appearance
• Adhere to and ensure compliance with relevant Health and Safety legislation.
• Reliable, punctual, proactive approach.
• Ability to travel to fulfil the role, both between hospital BHH Sites and elsewhere, as required.

Desirable

• Comprehensive IT skills including the use of Financial Systems / General Ledgers. Experience with Microsoft Office products/other software packages including the ability to design highly complex spreadsheets, reports and databases to manipulate and analyse technical data and convert it into an accessible, user-friendly format.
• Member of the HFMA

Closing Date: 28 July 2026