Finance Manager

Job Overview
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to join our team at Health Innovation Wessex. Please refer to the detailed job description below for more information about the role.

Main duties of the job

Are you fascinated by change and innovation? Can you help the NHS adopt innovation faster to help deliver better care to patients?

At Health Innovation Wessex, we improve people's health, achieve excellence in healthcare and boost innovation and growth in our region's life sciences and healthcare sector.

As one of 15 Health Innovation Networks (HINs) across England, we connect and support academics, NHS, industry and others to bring fresh energy to old problems, inspired thinking to new ones and to adopt innovative practice at scale.

The finance function at Health Innovation Wessex supports the strategic aims and delivery of our commissions. Finance is a small, dedicated team who provide all aspects of finance support from processing invoices through to the production of the accounts.

We are an ambitious organisation, looking for passionate and motivated people to join us with a proven track record of delivery. You will need to be a self-starter who is able to work independently, with great communication skills, and an ability to build new relationships quickly. You may not feel you meet all aspects of the role, but we welcome applications from people with a wide range of past experiences, particularly in smaller organisations. An appreciation of how the NHS and NHS funding work is an advantage to succeed in this role.

The successful candidate will need experience working in a small finance function, with a breadth of knowledge of the end-to-end finance processes.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We're committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The purpose of your role is to ensure budgetary control is maintained and budgets are devolved to the relevant budget managers within Health Innovation Wessex (HIW). You will work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders on all aspects of financial management and support up to and including Portfolio Directors.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Provide business and financial management information and advice to the Executive Team, Portfolio Managers and Project Managers.
• Report income and expenditure within required timescales for the achievement of financial and operational plans.
• Be responsible for the accurate delivery of the statement of the financial position and financial forecast for the Finance Director.
• Produce standard and ad hoc reports and analysis for presentation to the Exec, Portfolio Managers and Project Managers. Ensure reports are accurate, consistent and timely and highlight risks and opportunities.
• Monitor actual against planned income and expenditure and ensure all variances are investigated and resolved with budget holders. To provide well-researched forecasts for planning and reporting purposes.
• To be responsible for the compilation, co-ordination and monitoring of the key areas of financial performance, providing variance analysis and key financial information on which business decisions can be based.
• To work as an integrated member of the management structure of HIW, offering challenge and constructive input on proposed ideas, key business decisions and strategy.
• To meet key budget managers regularly to proactively support with financial management and strategic planning.
• To be responsible for leading the financial business planning process, consistent with guidance issued by the Finance Director.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Tracey Purvis

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required
Essential criteria

• Professional Accountancy Qualification (AAT)
• CCAB Finalist or working towards
• Knowledge of finance work practices and/or professional guidelines
• Evidence of CPD

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and experience working in an NHS Organisation and local health and social service functions
• Experience of leading projects
• Experience managing own as well as staff schedules
• Ability to present and explain complex and specialist financial information in a simple and understandable format to both financial and non-financial managers
• Proven track record of working well with non-financial managers
• Experience of integrated working, across professional boundaries and involving several organisations

Personal qualities / temperament

Essential criteria

• Innovative with strong problem solving and fact-finding skills

Values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet the Health Innovation Wessex values and behaviours policy and UHS Trust Values;
• Quality – People – Together
• Innovative
• Inclusive
• Collaborative
• Achieving
• Trustworthy
• UHS
• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together