Job Description

The Senior Finance Manager is responsible for the delivery of all aspects of operational financial management within a corporate area. The Senior Finance Manager will act as a critical friend, providing high quality advice, information, analysis and interpretation to Managing Directors, Clinical Directors and budget holders to underpin effective decision making and meaningful performance management. The Senior Finance Manager will be accountable for delivery of finance reporting for the Division, maintaining financial controls to support governance and providing financial support to budget setting, cost improvement and productivity schemes.

The main responsibilities will be:

• To line manage a Deputy Finance Manager and Management Accountant and contribute to the development and training of trainee accountants.
• Co-ordinate the development of summary financial plans for services ensuring they reflect their strategic objectives.
• This can involve the development of annual and multi-year year integrated, income, expenditure, workforce, activity and capacity plans for the Division.
• Prepare detailed bridging statements reconciling year on year performance and validating key movements.
• To lead the annual and periodic detailed budget setting processes in conjunction with budget holders and the divisional senior management team, endeavoring to ensure that resultant targets (both financial and non-financial) are realistic and are fully understood by budget holders.
• To ensure that budgets are congruent with Trust targets and activity plans.
• Undertake a comprehensive analytical review of monthly reports to ensure the veracity of information and highlight and substantiate key issues.
• To produce accurate financial forecasts, using professional skill and judgment, ensuring that the Divisions lead their forecasts.
• The forecasts plans should highlight potential opportunities and risks. Quantify and grade risks identified and support the formulation and implementation of mitigation plans where these are required.
• Provide an executive reporting pack for the Divisions to ensure that key financial issues are clearly and professionally presented in a format which is tailored to the recipients.
• Division to which the post holder is aligned, including making a significant contribution to the business planning and financial monitoring processes and providing advice to enable effective management of budgets and the carrying out of financial duties
• To build and maintain effective relationships with divisional management teams and wider budget holders so that there is a high degree of trust in these working relationships.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A CCAB qualified (ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA/ACA or equivalent).
• Accounting skills including forecasting, costing, benchmarking and option appraisal.
• Previous management of a large and complex budget setting and reporting processes.
• The ability to analyze, compare and interpret highly complex financial and performance data using skills, knowledge and judgment.
• Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with divisional management teams striking the right balance between being supportive and challenging.