Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust – Director of Operational Finance
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional senior finance leader for the role of Director of Operational Finance. This critical Board‑facing role leads the Trust’s operational finance function, ensuring robust financial control, high‑quality reporting and strong financial performance across all services. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the postholder plays a central role in financial leadership across the organisation, working closely with Executive colleagues, clinical divisions and external partners.
The role
This position leads the operational finance agenda across the Trust, overseeing financial management, reporting, planning delivery and performance support to clinical and corporate services. The day‑to‑day leadership of a large, high‑performing finance function is required, ensuring financial information is accurate, timely and insightful, and that budget holders are effectively supported and challenged. The role has a strong strategic component, contributing to financial planning, transformation programmes, system‑wide working, and deputising for the Chief Financial Officer as required. The role operates at both strategic and operational levels, ensuring financial governance is robust, cost improvement programmes are delivered and the Trust maintains strong relationships with commissioners and system partners.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the Trust’s operational finance function, ensuring high‑quality financial management, reporting and control
- Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer, including at Board and Committee level where required
- Lead the annual budget setting process and ensure alignment with the Trust’s financial strategy
- Oversee financial performance reporting, forecasting and analysis, ensuring clear insight into drivers and risks
- Provide expert financial advice and challenge to clinical and operational leaders across the organisation
- Champion and drive delivery of the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme, ensuring robust governance and reporting
- Lead financial input into business cases, service developments and transformation programmes
- Act as the senior operational finance lead for contracting and commissioning processes
- Build and maintain effective relationships with ICBs, regulators and partner organisations
- Ensure robust financial governance, compliance with statutory requirements and continuous improvement of systems and processes
- Lead, develop and motivate a large finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, high performance and continuous improvement
About you
We seek a highly experienced senior finance professional with a strong track record of operational financial leadership within an NHS provider environment. Applicants should be CCAB or CIMA qualified and able to demonstrate substantial experience operating at or near Board level. You will bring deep expertise in financial management, reporting and planning, alongside the credibility to influence senior stakeholders across clinical, operational and system settings.
Required skills and experience
- Significant senior‑level experience in operational finance within a complex NHS organisation
- Strong understanding of NHS financial frameworks, governance and regulatory requirements
- Experience of leading large finance teams and driving high performance
- Proven ability to deliver robust financial reporting, forecasting and budgetary control
- Experience of supporting and challenging senior operational and clinical leaders
- Strong knowledge of contracting and commissioning processes within the NHS
- The ability to interpret complex financial and activity data and translate it into clear insight and action
- Experience of leading cost improvement and financial recovery programmes
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, including at Board level
- Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment
About Lewisham and Greenwich
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust serves a diverse and vibrant population across South East London, delivering a wide range of acute and community healthcare services to over one million residents. The Trust operates from University Hospital Lewisham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, and a network of community sites, and is recognised for its strong clinical services and commitment to integrated care. The local area offers a unique blend of urban energy and green space, with excellent transport links into Central London, a rich cultural scene and ongoing regeneration across Lewisham, Greenwich and surrounding boroughs.
#J-18808-Ljbffr”, “datePosted”: “2026-05-16”, “hiringOrganization”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “MLC Partners”, “sameAs”: “https://uk.whatjobs.com/pub_api__cpl__433586253__4861?utm_campaign=publisher&utm_medium=api&utm_source=4861&geoID=33” }, “jobLocation”: { “@type”: “Place”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “addressLocality”: “London” } } }Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust – Director of Operational Finance
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional senior finance leader for the role of Director of Operational Finance. This critical Board‑facing role leads the Trust’s operational finance function, ensuring robust financial control, high‑quality reporting and strong financial performance across all services. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the postholder plays a central role in financial leadership across the organisation, working closely with Executive colleagues, clinical divisions and external partners.
The role
This position leads the operational finance agenda across the Trust, overseeing financial management, reporting, planning delivery and performance support to clinical and corporate services. The day‑to‑day leadership of a large, high‑performing finance function is required, ensuring financial information is accurate, timely and insightful, and that budget holders are effectively supported and challenged. The role has a strong strategic component, contributing to financial planning, transformation programmes, system‑wide working, and deputising for the Chief Financial Officer as required. The role operates at both strategic and operational levels, ensuring financial governance is robust, cost improvement programmes are delivered and the Trust maintains strong relationships with commissioners and system partners.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the Trust’s operational finance function, ensuring high‑quality financial management, reporting and control
- Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer, including at Board and Committee level where required
- Lead the annual budget setting process and ensure alignment with the Trust’s financial strategy
- Oversee financial performance reporting, forecasting and analysis, ensuring clear insight into drivers and risks
- Provide expert financial advice and challenge to clinical and operational leaders across the organisation
- Champion and drive delivery of the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme, ensuring robust governance and reporting
- Lead financial input into business cases, service developments and transformation programmes
- Act as the senior operational finance lead for contracting and commissioning processes
- Build and maintain effective relationships with ICBs, regulators and partner organisations
- Ensure robust financial governance, compliance with statutory requirements and continuous improvement of systems and processes
- Lead, develop and motivate a large finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, high performance and continuous improvement
About you
We seek a highly experienced senior finance professional with a strong track record of operational financial leadership within an NHS provider environment. Applicants should be CCAB or CIMA qualified and able to demonstrate substantial experience operating at or near Board level. You will bring deep expertise in financial management, reporting and planning, alongside the credibility to influence senior stakeholders across clinical, operational and system settings.
Required skills and experience
- Significant senior‑level experience in operational finance within a complex NHS organisation
- Strong understanding of NHS financial frameworks, governance and regulatory requirements
- Experience of leading large finance teams and driving high performance
- Proven ability to deliver robust financial reporting, forecasting and budgetary control
- Experience of supporting and challenging senior operational and clinical leaders
- Strong knowledge of contracting and commissioning processes within the NHS
- The ability to interpret complex financial and activity data and translate it into clear insight and action
- Experience of leading cost improvement and financial recovery programmes
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, including at Board level
- Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment
About Lewisham and Greenwich
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust serves a diverse and vibrant population across South East London, delivering a wide range of acute and community healthcare services to over one million residents. The Trust operates from University Hospital Lewisham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, and a network of community sites, and is recognised for its strong clinical services and commitment to integrated care. The local area offers a unique blend of urban energy and green space, with excellent transport links into Central London, a rich cultural scene and ongoing regeneration across Lewisham, Greenwich and surrounding boroughs.
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