Deputy Chief Financial Officer: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Job summary

Interview Date: 20th November 2026

The Deputy Chief Financial Officer is a senior leadership role within the Finance Directorate and serves as the principal deputy to the Chief Financial Officer.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the postholder will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Trust’s finance function and lead the delivery of high-qualityfinancial management, financial governance, financialplanningand financial performance.

The Deputy Chief Financial Officer will play a pivotal role in supporting the Trust Board and Executive Team to deliver financial sustainability, operationalexcellenceand long-term organisational success. The postholder will provide leadership across strategic finance, operational finance and corporate finance functions and willbe responsible forensuring that financial planning, performance management, financialcontroland governance arrangements support the delivery of the Trust’s strategicobjectives.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will lead major financial improvement initiatives, including the Trust’s Financial Recovery Programme, Cost Improvement Programme, productivityagendaand finance transformation programme. They will act on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer asrequiredand represent the Trust at local,regionaland national forums.

The Deputy Chief Financial Officer will provide visible professional leadership across the Finance Directorate, creating a high-performing culture and ensuring that the finance function is recognised as a trusted strategic partner supporting excellent patient care and organisational sustainability.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • Full CCAB professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

  • Master’s degree or equivalent level qualification.

Experience/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Significant senior finance leadership experience within a large and complex NHS organisation.
  • Extensive experience of financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial governance.
  • Proven experience of leading large finance teams through organisational change.
  • Experience of delivering financial recovery, financial sustainability and financial improvement programmes.
  • Experience of supporting Boards, Executive Teams and Board Committees.
  • Demonstrable experience of working effectively with clinical and operational leaders

Desirable

  • Previous experience as Deputy CFO, Director of Finance or equivalent.
  • Experience of group structures, subsidiaries or charitable organisations.
  • Experience leading finance transformation programmes.
  • Experience of contributing to HFMA accreditation or equivalent organisational development programmes.

Skills

Essential

  • Exceptional strategic financial leadership skills.
  • Strong understanding of NHS financial regime and regulatory requirements.
  • Ability to lead complex organisational change.
  • Highly developed analytical and problem-solving capability.
  • Strong influencing and negotiating skills.
  • Ability to communicate highly complex financial concepts to non-financial audiences.
  • Excellent governance and risk management skills.
  • Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Desirable

  • Knowledge of digital finance, automation, AI and finance transformation methodologies.
  • Knowledge of treasury management and commercial finance activities

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Freedom to Act

Essential

  • The postholder will operate with a high degree of autonomy, acting on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer across a broad range of corporate finance matters.
  • The postholder will be expected to make complex financial, operational and workforce decisions, exercising professional judgement within broad Trust policies and strategic objectives.
  • The role will significantly influence organisational decision-making and require independent leadership of major programmes of work, whilst remaining accountable to the Chief Financial Officer for overall delivery and performance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 29 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.