Director of Finance

Job summary

After the recent announcement that our current Director ofFinance will be retiring after 6 successful years, there is an opportunity tojoin Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust as our Director of Finance, Systems andEstates.

We are seeking a highly experienced, credible andinspirational senior finance leader to join our Executive team and lead the organisationthrough our ambitious plans to deliver exceptional care to ourcommunities.

Main duties of the job

You will work alongside partner organisations across the Hertfordshire & West Essex ICS in supporting the development of sustainable healthcare, whilst balancing our financial risk and investment strategies.

You will act as a coach and mentor for your team, leading by example to build a culture of trust and continual improvement across the Trust, whilst imparting your commercial acumen.

The Trust operates a hybrid working model and therefore you will need to demonstrate your ability to lead a team through the usual remote operating channels.

To discuss this role confidentially or to receive further information, please contact our recruitment partners at CY Executive Resourcing via Vural Aglamaz

About us

Please find candidate information pack attached to this vacancy which gives an greater overview of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust and the Director of Finance role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:

The post holder will:

o Financial stewardship, governance and reporting

o Management and operation of financial and clinical systems

o Estates and Facilities services,

o Technology and Innovation development and services,

o Contract Management and Business Planning

o Integrated Business Support Team services

o Performance and Information Management

o Information Governance

o Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)

Be a key member of the Trust Board, influencing the Trusts strategic direction, development of the organisation and implementation of the Trusts key objectives to deliver services that provide optimum patient care and experience, ensuring efficient use of resources and promoting a culture that is progressive and inclusive.

Be responsible for the development of financial strategies which ensure the Trusts continued viability and has a key responsibility for ensuring that proper accountability and stewardship is maintained.

Provide strategic leadership ensuring that the Trusts financial systems are robust and fit for purpose.

Be a highly visible leader who will provide strong leadership to the Finance Directorate and has the authority to make operational and policy decisions as required.

Provide expert advice to the Trust Board and its Executive Team on all appropriate financial issues, ensuring the achievement of targets whilst maintaining the highest quality care.

Represent the Trust externally, developing and maintaining effective relationships within the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS, the East of England Region and where appropriate further afield ensuring that the aims, objectives and the performance of the Trust are understood and well perceived.

Support the development of service strategies that will structure services for the future and encourage their development.

Work with Executive colleagues to establish and maintain appropriate performance frameworks to ensure delivery of safe services to plan.

MAIN DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Strategy

Advise the Board of Directors on matters of financial strategy and to formulate and implement the financial strategy as approved by the Trust Board.

Translate corporate strategies into financial strategies, policies and associated procedures that enable those objectives to be met whilst maintaining the financial viability of the Trust

Advise the Chief Executive, in particular and also the Board of Directors on all investment matters, ensuring that decisions are reached through the proper appraisal processes, using accepted commercial techniques in assessing the financial viability of proposals

Identify financial risk and to lead in developing mitigation strategies

Oversee the establishment of systems to monitor performance against revenue budgets, to ensure that the Board of Directors is informed of progress in the delivery of financial plans

Ensure that the Trusts financial strategy and systems are fit for purpose

Financial Systems

Provide the expertise for financial input into major business cases/plans and other business critical documents.

Effect financial stewardship through value for money, financial control and strategy whilst ensuring that the highest standards of corporate governance are maintained in the Trust.

Ensure that an adequate Internal Audit Service is in place that meets the NHS Internal Audit Standards. Also through liaison with the Chief Executive, act as the interface between the Trust, Counter Fraud Specialists and the External Auditors, in particular ensuring that issues highlighted in the Auditors Management Letter are actioned in a timely manner

Ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are in place for the receipt of charitable monies, the creation of appropriate Charitable Funds and the expenditure there from, to comply with donor wishes, Charity Commission guidelines and Charity Accounts.

Provide sufficient resource to enable financial planning to secure Service Level Agreements that support the activities of the Trust and enable such agreements to be monitored so that appropriate levels of income are secured.

Establish and maintain appropriate liquidity controls through effective working capital and cash management procedures, ensuring that the Trust maximises cash surpluses, minimizes any need to call on credit facilities and obtains an appropriate return on cash investment.

Ensure that all financial aspects of Governance Assurance are monitored and actioned.

Ensure that the Trust has an effective internal audit and counter fraud function and lead the relationship with external auditors.

To ensure that the Trust develops a Service Line Reporting and Patient Level Costing Framework that is both in line with NHS wide requirements/expectations and which supports internal operational service management and decision making. To ensure that procurement processes align with other financial services processes, enabling contractors and suppliers to be paid in a timely and efficient manner. Ensure the development, review and implementation of the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders and these policies remain consistent with legislation, national guidance, and good practice.

Performance Management

Collaborate with other Executive Directors in the implementation of performance monitoring and accountability arrangements ensuring the effective reporting, evaluation and monitoring of progress against key performance indicators.

Assume professional accountability for the finance input in to the negotiation of Service Level Agreements/contracts with Commissioners and their subsequent performance monitoring and management.

Ensure that both internal and external deadlines are met for all financial monitoring information requirements.

Digital and Information Governance

Take on the role of Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)

Oversee and advise on Information Governance matters across the Trust working with the Caldicott Guardian and Data Protection Officer to ensure that the Trust remains compliant with Information Governance requirements.

Lead on the completion of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) annually.

Support the Technology and Innovation team in the delivery of a robust and effective digital infrastructure for users and the roll out of the Trusts Digital Strategy including the development of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) across operational services.

Represent the Trust at the IT Shared Services Partnership Board

Estates and Facilities

The Estates and Facilities Team are an integrated team providing Estates and Facilities services both to HCT and its partner Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust.

In the context of HCT and as the Trust lead on all Estate and Facility matters

Work with the Head of Estates and Facilities and his team

Oversee the resolution of operational matters

Oversee the development and delivery of estates related elements of the Trusts capital programme

Work with the ICB on Estates and Facilities system wide matters and strategies

Other Duties

Executive Lead for:

o Contract Management and Business Planning

o Integrated Business Support Teams

o Health and Safety

General

Has ultimate responsibility for the coordination, monitoring and review of the Finance Directorates activities to optimise use of resources, ensuring the activities of the Directorate are completed to high, professional standards and agreed deadlines that enable the Trust to meet its statutory financial and other reporting deadlines.

Ensure appropriate resources and skills are available to develop the competencies of staff and self through training and development activities, appraisals, ensuring that progress towards individual Personal Development Plans is maintained, reviewed and updated.

Participate in the Directors on call rota

To comply with the Code of Conduct for NHS Managers.

To work closely with partners in the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) and Integrated Care Board (ICB).

To attend, arrange or chair meetings, working groups, Committees and Boards, presenting complex information and contributing to debates, discussions, and provide support and information as required.

Undertake projects or tasks outside of stated responsibilities on behalf of the Chief Executive

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

CCAB professionally qualified accountant with significant post qualification experience Educated to Masters level or equivalent

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