Senior Finance Business Partner

REPORTING Lead the production of the Directorate/Division monthly management accounts using the general ledger system within the timescales determined by the Trust. Ensure that reports are of the highest quality by defining the quality assurance process and ensuring that key validations and reconciliations are completed. Ensure that financial records represent a true and fair view and meet financial timescales and requirements of the Trust's corporate reporting system, external statutory returns and accounts, accounting policies and legislation. Ensure that there is a rigorous process of the production of the final monthly positions and year-end forecasts to ensure that all financial forecasts are operationally owned and understood.

The Senior Business Partner has responsibility for the agreement of the financial position and must ensure any risks are highlighted to the Deputy Director of Finance and their Directorate/Division Management team. Manage the Directorate/Divisions financial performance against agreed financial targets, using the most appropriate means available. Produce action plans to manage financial Performance/risks and ensure that these are followed through. Undertake comprehensive analytical review of monthly, quarterly, annual historical and forecast reporting to ensure the accuracy of information and highlight any key issues.

Produce an executive reporting pack for Directorate/Division meetings and Trust Committees to ensure that the key financial issues are clearly and professionally presented with any risks & mitigations clearly explained. Work with the Income, Contracts and Information teams to develop activity and income information to support the delivery of activity and income targets. The Senior Business Partner will monitor the service provided by the division to other Trusts in accordance with the Service Level Agreements, and with the Contracts team, discuss and renegotiate these SLAs as necessary. Support the production of the statutory annual accounts including the provision of information and co-ordination of stock-takes across Directorates/Divisions.

Develop internal trading mechanisms as required, which will support service line management arrangements. Ensure that all operational reporting policies and procedures are followed. Planning and co-ordinating work activities across the relevant clinical and non-clinical areas to provide financial advice to managers and to ensure the availability of relevant information to provide accurate forecasts of potential future activities. FINANCE & BUSINESS PLANNING To lead the Planning process within the Directorates/Divisions, including the integration of activity, workforce, income and expenditure, cost improvement or savings plans, the production of capital plans and utilisation of Charitable Funds.

Provide leadership and guidance to Directorate/Division management teams during the annual financial planning process including identifying and quantifying of Service Developments, Cost Pressures, Cost Improvement Programmes, and Capital Bids to support the annual objectives. Identify risks to the financial stability of the Directorate/Division and agree mitigation measures with the relevant clinical or non-clinical managers, ensuring that plans are regularly maintained to ensure financial viability is retained. Take responsibility for budget setting for the Directorate/Division, ensuring the involvement of Executive Directors, Clinical Directors, Group Managers and other key Specialty managers. To support the management team and Executive Directors in the identification, delivery and recording of cost improvement plans (CIP).

Support the Deputy Director of Finance in driving forward the continued development of the finance function and organisational financial awareness in response to national policy drivers eg PbR, reference costing, interpreting financial and other legislation/policies for the Trust. Take responsibility for the financial assessment/viability of proposed Healthcare Provider Tenders and any Qualified Provider bids. Interpret and advise management teams and Executive Directors of the financial implications arising from such processes. EXPERT ADVICE The post will provide expert advice and interpret any change in local or national policy to the Group.

The post holder will ensure that the Trusts standing financial instructions and codes of procedures are adhered to at all times. The Senior Business Partner will provide Financial, Informatics and Performance advice that support the agreed strategic direction of the Directorate/Division, ensuring that resources are effectively utilised to enable the objectives to be met within available resources. The post holder, will ensure that each service group or specialty has fully integrated Service Line Reporting/Patient Level Costing reports as part of its financial suite of reports and that this is understood and utilised within the Directorate/Division as a key performance m