Finance Business PartnerNHS

Job summary

37.5 hours per week

Are you keen have a role that has real impact? To be part of transforming local healthcare services & ensuring they deliver the best service possible within their resources? We are seeking a Finance Business Partner to make a real difference in a new & exciting role

We are looking for a forward thinking, motivated qualified finance professional to join our developing business partnering model. A qualified finance professional you will want to offer much wider skills than just financial acumen, with the ability to be strategic. You will have excellent analytical skills with the ability to turn complex and multiple information sources into clear, actionable insight to transform patient pathways & organisational performance.

You will have strong influencing & communication skills, with the ability to form close working relationships with management & clinical colleagues, being part of a multi disciplinary team. You will be able to prioritise work effectively to ensure largest impact & meeting the organisations key strategic & operational objectives

The organisation has entered its largest ever transformation programme to ensure our services are high quality, efficient & forward looking, taking advantages of digital solutions & driving best practice. You will work with operational teams in delivering this, & will take this same forward thinking approach in your own work, harnessing digital solutions to streamline, improve forecasting/modelling & unlock insights

Main duties of the job

To provide a comprehensive high quality, trusted business advice service to operational areas.

You will provide high quality analysis, modelling & scenario planning to support service planning, improvement & innovation. You will play a key role in developing business cases for investment.

You will challenge assumptions, highlight risks & identify opportunities for efficiency and value. You will ensure information is reviewed jointly with service areas, collectively understood & correctly reflects actual performance, risk & forecasts with mitigating actions for improvement being clear

You will benchmark, identify best practice, opportunities for efficiency & work with operational areas to create & deliver plans for improvement.

You will understand resources consumed, cost drivers, indirect costs of service delivery & how these link to activity & income. You will play a role in supporting contract negotiations & ongoing contract review meetings, providing high quality information to inform them.

We support flexibility in working arrangements.

Hybrid working but office based one day a week, as a minimum. Travel to other locations will be required.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job description

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Utilising specialist knowledge of complex organisations accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, for individual Services to:

• Provide strategic and business planning advice to Directorate and operational management teams;
• Encourage and influence Operational Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;
• Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the operational areas financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;
• Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Operational Managers.
• Assist and advise Operational Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the organisations Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the service area for that purpose.
• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of operational financial information relating to service line reporting and costing in particular;
• Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with operational areas to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions.
• Thoroughly review monthly activity reports with service areas to ensure robust capture of activity. Work with operational managers, Business Analysts and Management Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts, performance target requirements and capacity constraints.
• Benchmark the services against other similar services using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as NHS Futures) - identify areas for improvement and work closely with Operational Management teams to identify actions and effect such changes.
• Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others. Ensure efficient delivery utilising digital products and systems, and adopting and developing efficient ways of working such as the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence.
• Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and utilising investment appraisal techniques.
• Take a lead role in developing contract issues papers with Operational managers, utilising detailed knowledge of guidance and contractual requirements.
• Represent the organisation at meetings with Commissioner colleagues as required to support the contract setting and in year monitoring process.
• Utilise knowledge of NHS and other guidance to ensure operational areas are correctly recording and being appropriately paid for all activity performed. Working with Operational teams to ensure a clear understanding of activity performance and attainment of key operational performance metrics, understanding financial implications and clinical risks.
• Provide information and advice to support the allocation of resources, Service Line reporting and improve the accuracy of costing.
• Work with the Business Planning, costing and income accountant and operational teams to understand all resources consumed and indirect costs of service delivery. The development and refinement of Service Line Reporting (SLR) is a key tool upon which both operational and strategic decisions can be based.
• Produce or assist in the production of reports to the organisations committees and Board, as required, using spreadsheets, databases, presentations and report writing skills.
• Work with operational areas and the Accountant to ensure an in depth understanding of the forecast position, any action plans to address variances and ensure accurate forecasting. Understanding the impact of other performance measures e.g. waiting times on this.
• Liaise with the Accountants with the activity and Income analysis to refine monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts of operational financial performance as required, taking into account likely profiles of activity, cost behaviours, savings plans and other influencing factors.
• Identify and maximise the financial impact of Cost Improvement Programme and Transformation schemes.
• Produce financial information to support organisation wide projects and business cases;
• Assist in the completion of the annual planning in accordance with the timetable set internally being aware of NHS planning deadlines, and ensure compatibility with the organisations long term financial plans.

Utilising professional and specialist finance knowledge and general management skills, for the Finance Directorate to:

• Manage all aspects of own workload and the organisation of the teams workload to balance frequently changing priorities to deliver work within tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality of information and meeting the needs of Operational Management teams. This will include using time management skills to ensure that workload and individual projects are delivered in a timely and accurate manner and balancing the demands of the Operational managers requirements with organisational needs.
• To coordinate with Operational Management teams and finance and business intelligence and other corporate areas to ensure smooth delivery of deadlines for all aspects of work.
• Take responsibility for developing and implementing discrete areas of financial policy and processes in line with latest accounting standards.
• To act in a professional manner at all times and instil the same standards in members of staff.
• To input and manipulate financial data in highly complex computer spreadsheets and reports, where speed and accuracy are essential.
• To undertake light physical effort and extended periods of computer use in an office environment.
• To concentrate when inputting data, checking and reconciling information and making calculations.
• To cope with unpredictable work patterns and respond flexibly to queries and requests from Senior Finance and Operational Management.
• To work under intense pressure on occasions and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis.
• To supply internal and external auditors with any information and explanations they require with regard to any aspects of the above.
• To act on own initiative and to carry out the above duties in accordance with broad professional accounting standards without reference to line manager.
• The postholder will be required to travel on occasion.

Line manage members of the Business Support Unit and provide a key link to other areas of the finance directorate:

• Ensuring clarity on priorities and expectations for team members working jointly with Operational Senior Managers to set these priorities.
• Ensure all members of the team develop their skills and knowledge, utilising other professionals within the organisation.
• Ensure close working between all finance directorate and corporate areas. Ensuring that core teams and the Business Support Unit work seamlessly together.

Communication and Relationships

The postholder will have to work extremely closely with the relevant Associate Director and Management Team/s they are assigned to. They should play an active role as part of the Directorates Management team and be seen as an integral part of this.

Internal Face to face and virtually

• Executive Directors
• Director of Finance
• Director of Operations
• Deputy Director of Finance and Business Support
• Associate Directors
• Management Accountants
• Business Analysts
• Heads of Finance Directorate teams
• Business Planning Costing and Income Accountant
• Financial Accountant
• Project Management Office (PMO) and Quality Improvement
• Clinical Director and Assistants
• Operational Managers
• Heads of Department
• Clinical teams
• Budget Holders
• Other Finance, Planning staff
• Procurement staff
• Other Trust staff as required
• Executive Board & Committees

External

• Other Providers
• ICB commissioners
• NHSE
• Other outside agencies including the external auditors, local authorities/social services and relevant partners

Internal Training delivery

• Finance Directorate Staff
• Operational Managers and Staff

Physical Demands of the Job

Physical Effort

Limited physical effort required, there will be long periods of desk work.

Mental Effort

There will be a high level of mental effort with sustained concentration, clear communication of complex issues and engagement with others.

Emotional Effort

Will have to deal with potentially contentious or difficult issues. Therefore must be able to handle conflict effectively and able to influence and support others.

Physical Skills

May require occasional travel other than base.

Working Conditions

Hybrid working.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.