Deputy Directorate of Finance – Productivity & Efficiency

Deputy Directorate of Finance – Productivity & Efficiency

This role is offered on a secondment basis for up to 9 months, with a proposed end date of 31 March 2027. The Deputy Director of Finance will lead all aspects of productivity and efficiency support for systems in the East of England, working collaboratively with senior subject matter experts across systems and within the regional team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide expert, evidence‑based financial and business advice to regional and national colleagues.
• Maintain the primary financial relationship with systems and organisations, establishing effective operating models and providing appropriate support and escalation.
• Lead and provide strategic direction for the Financial Oversight and Delivery team, managing work in a matrix or direct line management approach.
• Lead financial planning, performance management, assurance and oversight for revenue, capital and cash across multiple systems.
• Support systems and organisations to achieve financial targets and service plans, ensuring compliance with national frameworks and policies.
• Ensure compliance with all national reporting requirements to support month‑end and year‑end processes.
• Advise on national approaches to financial planning and performance for both capital and revenue.
• Appraise system and organisational financial plans rigorously to assess viability, soundly evaluating and mitigating financial risks.
• Monitor financial performance, providing robust forecasts, risk predictions and mitigation strategies.
• Develop processes that provide early warnings of potential failures in service quality, financial management, partnerships and performance, taking a risk‑based approach in line with national frameworks.
• Lead financial intervention processes where material concerns about financial performance arise.
• Support national teams on planning, reviewing and agreeing cash requirements within national policy.
• Oversee and assure the financial planning and redesign of services, particularly large‑scale and complex reconfigurations, ensuring rigorous financial appraisal and value for money.
• Represent NHS England at national and public meetings, events and sensitive situations, delivering difficult messages when required.
• Promote highest standards of finance professionalism, developing and implementing new initiatives.
• Live and promote NHS values, leading with compassion and supporting the priorities of the Finance Directorate.

Qualifications and experience

• CCAB qualified accountant with a minimum of 8 years post‑qualification experience.
• Proven senior leadership skills with evidence of gravitas, influencing and strategic thinking at a senior level.
• Experience leading and delivering key business processes across multiple systems/organisations in a matrix environment to meet regional targets.
• Robust stakeholder management to secure acceptance of regional proposals, including representation of differing views.
• Line management experience ensuring a high‑performing team.

The role requires excellent interpersonal, communication and analytical skills and the ability to handle uncertainty and conflict in a positive and professional manner.

Skills, capabilities and attributes

• Analyse complex problems qualitatively and quantitatively to facilitate plan development and cross‑team delivery.
• Address challenging situations in a formal setting.
• Strong external communications skills in politically sensitive environments, including media relations experience.
• Prepare concise yet insightful communications for senior stakeholders.
• Analyse highly complex, conflicting issues from multiple sources.
• Make decisions on incomplete information using experience and inference.
• Analyse numerical and written data, assess options and propose initiatives.
• Demonstrate leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning across short, medium and long‑term timeframes.
• Provide informative financial reporting and impact to board management.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

This role can be based in any NHS England East of England office, with regular attendance to Fulbourn – Victoria House.

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