Associate Director of Finance - Financial Improvement Band 8DNHS

Job summary

Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) is seeking an exceptional finance leader to join our senior leadership team as Associate Director of Finance - Financial Improvement. This pivotal role will lead the Group's financial improvement, productivity, efficiency and costing agenda across a complex NHS organisation with an annual turnover of approximately £1.1 billion.

Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Group Deputy Director of Strategic Finance and Executive colleagues, you will provide strategic leadership for the delivery of financial improvement programmes, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while supporting high-quality patient care. You will lead the Group's Cost Improvement Programme, drive productivity initiatives, oversee costing and service line management, and provide expert financial advice to senior leaders, Board Committees and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be a qualified CCAB accountant with significant senior-level NHS finance experience, a strong understanding of the NHS financial regime, and a proven track record of delivering financial transformation and change.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest level, help shape healthcare services across Lincolnshire, and play a key role in developing a high-performing, innovative and inclusive finance function

Main duties of the job

Lead the development and delivery of the Group's financial improvement, productivity and efficiency programmes, ensuring long-term financial sustainability across a £1.1bn NHS organisation.

Provide strategic leadership for the Group's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), supporting the identification, delivery and monitoring of savings and transformation opportunities.

Lead the costing function, including statutory costing requirements, National Cost Collection submissions and the development of service line management information to support decision-making.

Work closely with Executive Directors, Care Group leaders, clinicians and corporate teams to drive financial performance and support strategic objectives.

Present complex financial information and recommendations to senior committees, Board members and external stakeholders, providing expert advice on financial sustainability and improvement.

Build strong relationships with NHS England, the ICB, auditors and wider system partners, representing the Group on financial improvement and costing matters.

Provide leadership to finance teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional development and high performance.

Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, contributing to corporate leadership and key organisational decision-making

Job description

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and delivery of the Group-wide financial improvement, productivity and efficiency agenda, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable and achieves its strategic objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the Group's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), including the development, monitoring and delivery of financial recovery and efficiency plans.
• Lead the Group's costing function, ensuring compliance with all mandatory costing requirements, including the National Cost Collection and associated regulatory submissions.
• Develop and promote the use of costing, benchmarking and service line management information to support evidence-based decision making and improve operational and financial performance.
• Support the Finance & Performance Committee and Board in providing assurance on financial performance, sustainability and delivery of improvement programmes.
• Provide expert financial advice and challenge to Executive Directors, senior operational leaders and clinical teams to support strategic and operational decision making.
• Actively identify opportunities for financial improvement and intervene to support the resolution of issues that could impact the organisation's financial position.
• Lead and develop high-performing finance teams, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional excellence and staff development.
• Provide leadership and line management for the Financial Improvement, Costing and Capital Finance teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and outcomes.
• Deputise for the Group Deputy Director of Finance as required, representing the organisation at internal and external meetings and supporting wider corporate leadership responsibilities.

Key Relationships The post holder will work closely with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders across the organisation and wider NHS system, including:

Internal

• Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
• Deputy Chief Finance Officer / Group Deputy Director of Finance
• Executive Leadership Team
• Board of Directors and Board Committees
• Care Group and Corporate Directors
• Clinical Leaders and Senior Operational Managers
• Senior Finance Leadership Team
• Finance, Costing and Capital Teams
• Internal Audit Services

External

• NHS England
• Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (DLN) ICB Cluster and system partners
• Peer Finance Directors and Deputy Directors across the NHS
• Internal and External Auditors
• National Costing and Regulatory Bodies
• Benchmarking and Professional Networks
• Wider NHS and healthcare partners across the local health economy

Accountability The Associate Director of Finance Financial Improvement is a senior member of the Finance Leadership Team and is accountable for leading the Group's financial improvement, productivity, efficiency and costing agenda. The role provides strategic leadership across a complex NHS organisation and contributes directly to organisational sustainability, transformation and performance

About us

Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.

This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.

The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).