Head of Finance - Projects

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Head of Finance - Projects

The closing date is 19 May 2026

The Head of Finance - Projects will be a key member of the Strategic Finance Team within the Financial Management Department. The Projects Finance Team, comprising four posts, operates within a matrix structure and supports a range of high-profile, Trust-wide initiatives. These include major programmes such as the Cambridge Cancer Research and Cambridge Children's Hospitals, alongside core strategic priorities within the Trust's wider strategy, including Neighbourhood Health. This role presents a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute directly to some of the most significant and transformative projects at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH).

The postholder will play a pivotal role in shaping strategic decision-making across the Trust and the wider health system. This will be achieved through the provision of highly complex financial analysis, business insight, and expert advice to the Trust Board, senior leaders, and clinical teams. The decisions supported by this role will have a lasting impact on the quality of care delivered to patients and the working environment for staff.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Finance - Projects will act as the lead financial specialist for specific large strategic capital projects including developing complex business cases, analysing complex business opportunities and identifying and reporting of associated financial efficiencies. While supporting the completion of the Full Business Case for the Cambridge Children's Hospital, this post will work across CUH and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHSFT (CPFT).

About us

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1,100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing highly complex financial analysis, business insight, and expert advice to senior leaders, the Trust Board and clinical teams.
• Developing complex business cases and financial models for large strategic capital projects.
• Identifying and reporting financial efficiencies across projects.
• Supporting the completion of the Full Business Case for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
• Working collaboratively across CUH and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHSFT (CPFT).

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose‑created colleague‑only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work‑life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Professional Accountancy Qualification (i.e. Fully Qualified member of CCAB) or equivalent experience.
• Degree or equivalent.
• Completion of evidenced on‑going Continuing Professional Development (CPD), in accordance with guidelines produced by the relevant Professional Accountancy Body.
• Masters Qualification.
• Better Business Case Foundation and Practitioner levels.

Experience

• Extensive experience of Financial Management including substantial post‑qualification experience operating at a strategic level.
• Experience of working at a strategic level, able to recognise direction and implications of policy.
• Extensive experience of the financial elements of business planning, the preparation of business cases and the practical application of investment appraisal techniques.
• Experience of costing methodologies and their applications.
• Experience of working with external professional advisors.
• Experience of financial planning on an organisational basis.
• Experience of tariff pricing structures.

Knowledge

• Ability to negotiate effectively and maintain robust partnership relationships.
• Specialist, expert knowledge of specific NHS policies/procedures for example Payment by Results, Coding, Patient Choice, Foundation Trusts.
• Good working knowledge of and proven interest in the NHS including understanding of key targets and the performance management framework.
• Up to date, in‑depth knowledge of Financial and Management Accounting procedures including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Familiarity with relevant changes in clinical practice and the consequent impact on resource utilisation.

Skills

• Excellent written communication skills including the ability to summarise highly complex financial issues into concise financial reports and prepare complex, multi‑faced business cases.
• Good verbal communication and presentation skills including the ability to explain highly complex financial issues clearly and persuasively to non‑financial staff and communicate sensitive or contentious information in order to influence decision making.
• Awareness of organisational politics in order to keep healthcare professionals on board with key changes and resource management.
• Flexibility to work autonomously with the skills to make decisions independently and delegate effectively.
• Proven ability to use own initiative, prioritise work to meet tight deadlines, delegate appropriately and apply problem‑solving skills effectively.
• Good understanding of operational issues and how organisational pressures affect broader resource utilisation.
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to make sound judgements and decisions on highly complex issues to minimise financial risk in situations where there is multiplicity of targets/objectives, imperfect information and no obvious precedent.
• Ability to make judgements on financial risks where expert opinions may conflict.
• Ability to assess benefits realisation and advise on potential remedial solutions.
• Confidence to advise on certain courses of action/decisions which may have far‑reaching and long‑term strategic consequences for the Trust.
• Comprehensive IT skills including the use of Financial Systems/General Ledgers. Experience with Microsoft Office products/other software packages including the ability to design highly complex spreadsheets, reports and databases to manipulate and analyse technical data and convert it into an accessible, user‑friendly format.

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
• Ability to demonstrate a supportive and facilitative management style.
• Ability to work effectively with senior colleagues, including at Trust Board Level.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, enabling quick decision making whilst balancing risk.
• Discretion, integrity and reliability.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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