Finance Manager

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen to join the ICB Finance & Contracting Directorate as a Finance Manager working in the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Finance team. Lincolnshire ICB finance are proud to have achieved level 2 One NHS finance accreditation.

The post holder will provide financial expertise for their programme area and will support the Senior Finance Team and the wider organisation in the development of the financial strategies and plans of the ICB; linked to the overall plans to deliver cost effective health services to the people of Lincolnshire.

As well as being the finance lead for your programme areas, the successful candidate will need to build strong relationships with both internal and external partners. They will have experience of communicating at a senior level, be flexible in their approach and able to manage a varied workload to meet key deadlines.

The post holder will be responsible for developing and maintain systems and processes to account for the use of resources in an efficient, effective and economical way and in accordance with statutory requirements. This includes managing the CHC Finance staff responsible for timely review and processing of CHC service Provider invoices and Scheduled Payments, and minimising Aged Payable values.

Main duties of the job

Finance and Business Planning - support the Senior Finance Business Partner & Finance Business Partner to deliver a wrap around financial service to Budget Holders and Senior Responsible Officers.

Reporting - monthly and end of year reporting of financial and supporting information.

Payments - managing the team responsible for the timely review and payment of Provider invoices, resolution of invoice queries with Providers, minimising Aged Payables values, and producing monthly Scheduled Payment information.

Productivity & Efficiency - support identification of cost efficiency and waste reduction.

Expert Advice & Training - support the development of financial skills within the team and ensure FFF frameworks are followed.

Engagement - effective relationship building with stakeholders, peers and partners within the Lincolnshire System.

Other - Deputise for the Finance Business Partner in their absence. Ad-hoc duties as the required.

About us

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a strategic component of the Integrated Care System (ICS) across Lincolnshire, delivering the commitments set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. As a strategic commissioner the ICB is responsible for meeting the needs of the population through commissioning high quality services. It seeks to improve patient experience and is committed at looking at innovative ways to improve care and offer more choice.

Patients are at the heart of everything the ICB does and it's important that they are involved not just in decisions about their individual care, but also in the decisions that shape the health services delivered locally. In conjunction, with patient experience and the growing demands of our population, the ICB is facing increasing financial challenge. The ICB is required to manage expenditure within sustainable levels (in alignment to the Lincolnshire System Strategic Plan) through three types of scheme; system wide transformation, system wide efficiency, ICB only efficiency. The ICB will promote good governance and proper stewardship of public resources in pursuance of its goals and in meeting its statutory duties. Good corporate governance arrangements are critical to achieving the ICB's objectives and financial sustainability.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Minimum qualifications, knowledge, training and experience required for the post.

CCAB or CIMA, newly-qualified or finalist, with 2 years experience in a variety of roles within a finance environment or equivalent experience Expert advisor to finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their lead areas, providing detailed advice and guidance Experience of managing a team of people Experience of managing a project working to a tight deadline Knowledge of NHS policies, strategies and plans and ability to link to local circumstances Strong IT skills particularly spreadsheets Knowledge of improvement skills and techniques to support change

Duties

Finance and Business Planning

Support the Finance Business Partner and Senior Finance Business partner to develop robust plans and strategies that deliver overall NHS and ICB objectives within available resources Support financial costing and best value appraisal of business cases Develop robust financial modelling to support contract monitoring and contract setting Analyse complex financial information to support decisions. Support the Finance Business Partner in the costing and appraisal of projects including costing of pathways, working alongside project leads and key partners including business intelligence. Support the Finance Business Partner with procurement projects Adhere to finance team values and guiding principles demonstrated through positive behaviours and leadership. Ensure good financial governance processes in place for programme area.

Reporting

Make appropriate arrangements for the production of regular high quality financial information and intelligence to the ICB, and recommend actions to influence future performance. Lead the production of monthly financial information to budget holders for your programme areas and other key ICB stakeholders. This is to include written commentary, year-end forecast, trend analysis, run rates and projections and an overview of the ICB and system financial position. Provide financial information to support the production of the financial plan Assist and/or complete, where required, NHSEI and other external and internal returns. Complete high quality working papers to support year-end audit.

Productivity & Efficiency

Support the identification of waste reduction opportunities. Identify variation in practice and use of resources. Analyse financial benchmarking information and explore levels of variation in practice using appropriate tools and information (eg RightCare) and provide information to support informed decisions. Ensure provision and understanding of programme level run rates Promote a culture of innovation and productivity using financial models to support cost improvement and productivity concepts, business cases and other activity as required.

Expert Advice & Training

Support the development of financial skills within the team you lead and ensure FFF frameworks are followed. Challenge the assumptions made in the production of financial reports and forecasts. Provide finance support and advice to the ICBs contracting team. Interpret and implement, where appropriate, financial policies, procedures and budgetary controls, providing advice on remedial courses of action, identifying the financial consequences.

Engagement

Effective liaison with stakeholders and peers within the Lincolnshire footprint to ensure ICB receives appropriate financial advice. Support on the financial aspects of contract negotiation with key providers as part of the core negotiation team. Work alongside non-finance colleagues constructively challenging where appropriate.

Other

Deputise for the Finance Business Partner in his/her absence. Support the Finance Business Partner to manage, build and improve the capability and capacity of the ICB finance team. Continuously improve the financial systems and processes of the ICB to ensure good governance, stewardship, controls and cost-effective use of resources at all times. Support cover arrangements for finance team peers during periods of leave. Provide leadership for the finance team whom are accountable to this post including appraisals and supporting training and development needs where appropriate. Undertake other work commensurate with the level and seniority of the post. Adhere to the finance team values and guiding principles, demonstrated through positive behaviours. Ad-hoc duties as required.

Skills Required for the Post

Communication and relationship skills

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with senior colleagues and staff, both within and outside NHS Lincolnshire ICB, often providing and interpreting highly complex and sensitive data to inform decision making where there may be barriers to understanding. This typically includes senior clinicians and managers in the organisation and wider NHS and contractors. Excellent written and verbal communication skills Good influencing and negotiation skills Ability to learn and to adapt behaviour and actions based on learning Ability to maintain objectivity and remain calm, confident and composed under pressure Able to understand and value different perspectives and contributions to a team including personal contribution Positive and enthusiastic approach that supports, develops and motivates others to achieve objectives and seeks continuous improvement Political awareness Prepared to challenge and be challenged

Analytical and judgment skills

Able to analyse and interpret highly complex numerical and verbal data, to develop and consider a range of options Make judgements regarding allocation of finances to support the delivery of the ICBs objectives, financial decision-making and minimise financial risks Excellent numerical and verbal reasoning and problem solving skills Ability to identify and find links between issues Ability to identify and evaluate consequences and risks of options

Planning and organisational skills

Workload planning of both own workload and that of the team to ensure plans and projects are delivered on time to a high standard of accuracy and completeness Supports the development and management of plans and projects linked to the delivery of the ICB's strategy Flexible and adaptable Ability to prioritise and delegate Ability to embrace paradox and change

Physical skills

Standard keyboard skills Ability to use road transportation in a timely manner

Responsibilities of the Post Holder

Responsibilities for direct/indirect patient care

Incidental contact with patients, clients

Responsibilities for policy and service development implementation

Propose improvements, changes and redesign local accounting and financial policies and procedures, which have an impact on other areas Recommend, in discussion with senior colleagues, the most appropriate options for improving specific healthcare services for patients within the ICB as part of business plan and case development Support the ICB financial planning ethos with managers and clinicians Day to day management of financial systems and processes in accordance with the agreed aims and objectives of the ICB and within local Governance frameworks Remain up to date with relevant NHS guidance and policy relating to Clinical Commissioning Groups Operate to professional standards and within the ICBs overall financial policies, systems and processes

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

Day to day accounting support to ensure that resources are used in accordance with the agreed aims and objectives of the ICB Develop and monitor budgets for departments, services or programmes relevant to the role, provide financial advice as required Identify and disseminate best practice in the use of resources Ensure all financial policies, systems and processes are cost effective and utilised to maximum effect Assist in ensuring high quality financial advice is provided to senior management to facilitate effective decision making.

Responsibilities for human resources (including training)

Line management including recruitment, appraisal, performance management, training and delegation Regularly seek and act on feedback on personal and team performance Develop and train the finance team to realise their potential Design and deliver training relevant to the role

Responsibilities for information resources

Manage the design and production of financial budgets and reports to strict, non-negotiable deadlines, to meet local and national targets Create and improve financial systems relevant to the role, for use by others

Responsibilities for research and development

Undertakes surveys and audits as necessary to own work Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

CCAB or CIMA newly qualified or finalist or equivalent experience Evidence of CPD

Desirable

CCAB or CIMA Qualified Accountant

Previous Experience

Essential

Experience at a senior level in a complex multi-professional organisation Successfully led a team responsible for the delivery of a programme/project to improve services Experience of all aspects of annual accounts

Desirable

Experience at a senior level in an NHS organisation, including supervision of staff Successfully led a team on a complex project in the NHS or a public sector organisation, including annual accounts Experience working with healthcare providers at a senior level who have a turnover of 50 million plus Good understanding of NHS Financial contract environment including PbR and Non-PbR.

Evidence of Particular Knowledge, Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

Sound knowledge of accounting principles Excellent verbal, written, numeric reasoning and presentation skills Well developed influencing, negotiation and communications skills Ability to learn and adapt behaviours quickly Understanding of the current NHS policies and strategies Ability to motivate and lead a team to achieve objectives Proficient in the use of IT systems and Microsoft Office software, including beyond basic Excel Excellent at prioritising Experience and knowledge of financial rules support NHS national contract

Desirable

Detailed knowledge and understanding of specific NHS plans, policies, systems and processes Advanced Excel skills

Specific Requirements

Essential

Self motivated Objective, calm, collected and confident under pressure High degree of personal integrity Access to travel Committed to developing self and others Organised and methodical Positive and enthusiastic

Equality & Diversity

Essential

Value Diversity

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