Senior Finance Officer (CHC, Mental Health and LDA)NHS

Job summary

We are looking for an individual educated to degree level or a Part qualified member of CCAB accountancy body (or equivalent qualification) with significant experience of working in an finance environment, where use of computerised systems was a regular requirement.

You should be a clear communicator with working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, and also have a demonstrable understanding of equality and diversity.

In return, you will join a supportive, forward-thinking team offering flexible hybrid working, professional development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference to the health of our communities.

Main duties of the job

This role supports financial management and analysis of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services within the ICB. Key responsibilities include financial planning, contract monitoring, forecasting and reporting to support decisions, financial control and ICB objectives.

You will manage complex financial information and forecasting models, coordinate reporting, monitor monthly budgets, identify cost pressures and support the Senior Finance Manager to develop mitigating actions. Working with commissioning, contracting, planning and strategic investment teams, you will support or lead discussions with Right to Choose providers and line manage the Finance Support Officer/Assistant.

The role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including interpreting complex financial information, investigating variances and developing solutions. You will provide specialist advice and present analysis to senior managers, committees, NHS providers and partners. You will support negotiations on complex and sensitive matters, ensuring contracts remain affordable and deliver value for money.

You will contribute to financial strategy and service improvement, maintain accurate and audit-ready records, support statutory accounts and governance processes, and provide guidance to colleagues.

Success requires NHS financial knowledge, attention to detail, effective communication, flexibility, collaboration and the confidence to work autonomously while improving outcomes.

Job description

The postholder will be accountable for:

• Supporting the Senior Finance Manager with monthly accounting processes including supporting monthly reporting to budget holders. This includes timely financial analysis and modelling on a routine and ad hoc basis to ensure that monthly reports and forecasts represent a true and fair view of the ICBs financial position.
• Supporting on the completion of Freedom of Information requests that require financial input relating to CHC, Mental health and LDA in accordance with the legislation.
• Undertake monthly reconciliation of the ledger to ensure that all transactions are coded correctly, to post ledger journals where required.
• Undertaking in-depth financial analysis, interpreting data trends and variances, and presenting findings to senior finance colleagues and stakeholders to inform strategic decisions.
• For a range of specific healthcare contracts and programme/projects/types of packages of care to be responsible for budget setting and in-year monitoring and reporting of variances and areas of risk. This will also include supporting the team to meet any external reporting requirements.
• Processing mandate payment schedules in line with contract values, processing of Non-Purchase Order invoices ensuring these are correctly validated and coded.
• Liaising and working with providers for the relevant contracts/projects/package of care providers and resolving payment queries. This may also include involvement in contract meetings, supporting with activity management processes or review of costs of packages of care.
• Producing complex financial analysis and modelling to tight deadlines and to a high standard of accuracy, using information from various sources outside of the general ledger. This can include support to the development of healthcare programme reporting, for projects related to value and efficiency
• Preparation of sales invoices and processing of credit notes and raising of purchase orders and liaising with suppliers and the finance team to ensure prompt and accurate payment of invoices/reimbursements.
• Following financial policy and process to ensure funding allocations are spent in line with guidance and relevant accounting/procurement processes.
• The post holder will support the Financial Control team with the month-to-month management of the ICB cash requirements providing cash flow forecasting and supporting with cash management for specific budget areas.
• Completion of reconciliations relating to contracts, client database financial information and other areas as required.
• To be able to work with the ICBs client databases, reviewing, interrogating and interpreting relevant financial information for month end reporting and planning purposes
• To support the implementation of projects and provide the financial support in the development of business cases as appropriate
• Providing financial information to support financial returns/requests to external stakeholders, e.g. financial submissions to NHS England, Freedom of Information Requests, ensuring that all financial information is accurate and submitted on time.
• Working to tight timescales and fixed deadlines with peaks in workload requiring increased focus and effort, particularly at month end and during the year end accounting process and the annual contracting round
• Utilising benchmarking data to assess performance against standards set both internally and externally by NHSE
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of financial processes, identifying efficiencies, and supporting wider financial projects as directed by senior finance staff.
• Line management responsibilities and day to day oversight for Finance support officers/finance assistants in team
• To contribute to the development and improvement of the ICB finance team as a service provider by suggesting improvements to working practices; documenting procedures; maintaining a robust filing structure; organising own time to meet departmental and statutory deadlines; and supporting the development of other members of staff.

Please refer to the full job description

About us

Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) brings together the NHS, local councils and voluntary sector partners to support 2.7 million people. Our vision is to make the area the healthiest place to live and work by improving life chances and reducing inequalities.

As an employee, you will demonstrate our system values, champion inclusion and help address health inequalities so everyone can thrive. In return, the ICB offers a supportive, ambitious and inclusive workplace, with opportunities to develop and work with partners to deliver meaningful change.

The ICB is committed to a workforce that reflects the population of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone who meets the role criteria, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

The ICB is a registered Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and will shortlist suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Employees formally notified that they are at risk of redundancy within the organisation will receive priority consideration for this vacancy if they meet the roles essential requirements. This supports redeployment and helps minimise compulsory redundancies.