Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Head of Finance to join our finance team at Liverpool University Hospital.
Managing the Income team the successful candidate will report to the Head of Finance – Income, Contracts & Costing and be part of a finance team in one of the largest NHS Trusts in the North West.
The post has become vacant at an exciting time in the Trust following the opening of the New Royal Liverpool hospital and the introduction of a new hospital structure following the merger with Aintree Hospital.
The post holder will report to the Head of Finance, and will provide a lead role in the management of contracting and income. It is expected that the post holder will work closely with the other senior members of the team, including Costing, PLICs and Contracts and working flexibly to ensure key priorities are managed and delivered whilst also providing cross cover as required. The post holder will however have a particular focus in the area of income management and reporting.
Main duties of the job
Ongoing responsibilities will include supporting the financial aspects of hospital strategy in relation to income including outline business case and site-based developments. Accountable for producing comprehensive financial management information to meet Department of Health (DoH) and Trust deadlines. Investigates and advises on highly complex issues and provides advice on strategic financial planning.
While responsible to the Head of Finance the post holder works under minimum supervision, and is responsible for ensuring that a range of deadlines are met within DoH and Trust constraints including monthly reporting, year end and annual planning. This post requires a high level of initiative in dealing with all levels of personnel both within and outside the Trust, and in interpreting NHS guidelines as issued from the DoH. The post holder would be expected to take the initiative on many complex matters, and prioritise their own workload to ensure predetermined deadlines are met in a timely manner.
The postholder will use information from a variety of sources to develop complex planning models to support the financial analysis required for option appraisal to support business cases
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.
The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.
To hear more about our achievements click here
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook – Liverpool University Hospitals Careers
Instagram – @LUHFTcareers
Twitter – @LUHFTcareers
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post requires excellent communication and working relationships within the Finance Department, the Trust and externally. In particular the post holder has to communicate with the DoH and commissioners on many complex issues, specifically the understanding and interpretation of policy guidelines for the new finance requirements in the NHS, Payment by Results and API payment methods.
Develop current systems to produce a comprehensive integrated method of financial reporting for the Trusts Income. Ensure systems are fit for purpose given the changing NHS Financial requirements under PbR.
To assess the requirements and provide leadership in navigating the trust through changes to the NHS finance regime. To establish systems and processes to ensure the Trust recovers income due; and that it is reported appropriately both internally and externally.
Responsible for producing and coordinating the planning and timetable for the production of the Trust Reference Costs liaising with Finance, Information and DoH staff accordingly. Interpreting the complex guidance from the Department of Health for reference costs. Seeking Clarification and Challenging the Department on some aspects of the guidance to progress changes to the National System.
Ongoing responsibility in supporting the financial aspects of the hospital strategic outline business case, providing the lead financial input including the financial modelling and ensuring the development of an affordable financial plan. Develop financial and costing systems, to inform the decision making process throughout, and to provide lead financial support in the final submission.
Production of the Payment by Results work required by the Department of Health. Establishing detailed reconciliations and maintaining comprehensive information to ensure accurate completion within defined timescales. Liaise with commissioners, the NHS Improvement / England and Information staff at all stages of the process. The post-holder will provide a lead role for PBR within the Trust.
The post holder will assess the requirements and provide leadership in navigating the Trust through changes to the NHS finance regime post COVID-19. To establish systems and processes to ensure the Trust recovers income due; and that it is reported appropriately both internally and externally.
Provides advice on the commissioning implications of Business cases, Private Finance Initiatives proposals and any other special projects. Takes a long-term strategic view of commissioning to ensure that local health needs and value for money is met. Answers complex queries relating to Reference costs, option appraisal and PBR.
Initiates comparisons with the Trusts reference costs and national reference costs, benchmarking the Trust results so that action can be taken in Directorates to improve the cost effectiveness and utilisation of facilities within the Trust.
Expert knowledge of the SLAM system to develop comprehensive systems to monitor PBR comparing actual activity to plan to ensure the analysis of variance is complete. Quantify all resource implications, highlighting any issues and suggesting ways that issues could be addressed in a timely manner.
Develop reports to the Executive Team and Finance Committee on the impact of PbR as required.
Acquire a detailed knowledge of the information systems develop financial systems, in particular databases, which are compatible with the systems within the information department. Integrating information from one or more systems to provide the Divisional and Directorate Managers with timely information. The post-holder will seek opportunities to apply computer technology to improve finance operations to enhance decision-making and communications.
Provision of training support to non-finance managers as part of the Trusts training and development programme.
Play an active part in the training and development of staff within the finance function.
It is expected that the post holder will work closely with the other senior members of the team, working flexibly to ensure key priorities are managed and delivered whilst also providing cross cover as required. The post holder will however have a particular focus in the area of contract management, the development and negotiation of provider to provider contracts / SLAs and all other agreements involving charges between NHS bodies and providing a lead role in supporting response to tenders, service developments and integration schemes.
The postholder is an authorised signatory.
Any other duties as required
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post requires excellent communication and working relationships within the Finance Department, the Trust and externally. In particular the post holder has to communicate with the DoH and commissioners on many complex issues, specifically the understanding and interpretation of policy guidelines for the new finance requirements in the NHS, Payment by Results and API payment methods.
Develop current systems to produce a comprehensive integrated method of financial reporting for the Trusts Income. Ensure systems are fit for purpose given the changing NHS Financial requirements under PbR.
To assess the requirements and provide leadership in navigating the trust through changes to the NHS finance regime. To establish systems and processes to ensure the Trust recovers income due; and that it is reported appropriately both internally and externally.
Responsible for producing and coordinating the planning and timetable for the production of the Trust Reference Costs liaising with Finance, Information and DoH staff accordingly. Interpreting the complex guidance from the Department of Health for reference costs. Seeking Clarification and Challenging the Department on some aspects of the guidance to progress changes to the National System.
Ongoing responsibility in supporting the financial aspects of the hospital strategic outline business case, providing the lead financial input including the financial modelling and ensuring the development of an affordable financial plan. Develop financial and costing systems, to inform the decision making process throughout, and to provide lead financial support in the final submission.
Production of the Payment by Results work required by the Department of Health. Establishing detailed reconciliations and maintaining comprehensive information to ensure accurate completion within defined timescales. Liaise with commissioners, the NHS Improvement / England and Information staff at all stages of the process. The post-holder will provide a lead role for PBR within the Trust.
The post holder will assess the requirements and provide leadership in navigating the Trust through changes to the NHS finance regime post COVID-19. To establish systems and processes to ensure the Trust recovers income due; and that it is reported appropriately both internally and externally.
Provides advice on the commissioning implications of Business cases, Private Finance Initiatives proposals and any other special projects. Takes a long-term strategic view of commissioning to ensure that local health needs and value for money is met. Answers complex queries relating to Reference costs, option appraisal and PBR.
Initiates comparisons with the Trusts reference costs and national reference costs, benchmarking the Trust results so that action can be taken in Directorates to improve the cost effectiveness and utilisation of facilities within the Trust.
Expert knowledge of the SLAM system to develop comprehensive systems to monitor PBR comparing actual activity to plan to ensure the analysis of variance is complete. Quantify all resource implications, highlighting any issues and suggesting ways that issues could be addressed in a timely manner.
Develop reports to the Executive Team and Finance Committee on the impact of PbR as required.
Acquire a detailed knowledge of the information systems develop financial systems, in particular databases, which are compatible with the systems within the information department. Integrating information from one or more systems to provide the Divisional and Directorate Managers with timely information. The post-holder will seek opportunities to apply computer technology to improve finance operations to enhance decision-making and communications.
Provision of training support to non-finance managers as part of the Trusts training and development programme.
Play an active part in the training and development of staff within the finance function.
It is expected that the post holder will work closely with the other senior members of the team, working flexibly to ensure key priorities are managed and delivered whilst also providing cross cover as required. The post holder will however have a particular focus in the area of contract management, the development and negotiation of provider to provider contracts / SLAs and all other agreements involving charges between NHS bodies and providing a lead role in supporting response to tenders, service developments and integration schemes.
The postholder is an authorised signatory.
Any other duties as required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Qualified Accountant
- Evidence of Commitment to Continued Professional Development
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience
- Evidence of Innovative Approach in Analysing and Drawing Conclusions from Complex Financial and Performance Data
Desirable
- NHS Financial Management Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate In Depth Experience & Knowledge of: – Financial Planning – Budgetary Strategy & Control – Health Service Financial regime – Costing – Financial Support to Budget Holders – Payment by Results
- Knowledge of Acute Hospital Environment
- Knowledge and Understanding of HR Policies Equal Opportunities.
Desirable
- Demonstrate In Depth Experience & Knowledge of Corporate Finance Reporting
Skills
Essential
- Highly Numerate
- Evidence of Involvement in Dealing With Complex Change Issues
- Understanding of Structures of NHS
- Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills and the Ability to influence
- Ability to Lead & Motivate Staff
- Decisive and Able to Use Own Judgement
Desirable
- Evidence of Achievement & Success at a Senior Level in NHS Finance
Other
Essential
- Willingness to Work Flexibly
- Demonstrate Commitment to Staff Development.
- Consistent Professionalism and objectivity
- Able to Work Effectively as Part of a team
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Qualified Accountant
- Evidence of Commitment to Continued Professional Development
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience
- Evidence of Innovative Approach in Analysing and Drawing Conclusions from Complex Financial and Performance Data
Desirable
- NHS Financial Management Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate In Depth Experience & Knowledge of: – Financial Planning – Budgetary Strategy & Control – Health Service Financial regime – Costing – Financial Support to Budget Holders – Payment by Results
- Knowledge of Acute Hospital Environment
- Knowledge and Understanding of HR Policies Equal Opportunities.
Desirable
- Demonstrate In Depth Experience & Knowledge of Corporate Finance Reporting
Skills
Essential
- Highly Numerate
- Evidence of Involvement in Dealing With Complex Change Issues
- Understanding of Structures of NHS
- Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills and the Ability to influence
- Ability to Lead & Motivate Staff
- Decisive and Able to Use Own Judgement
Desirable
- Evidence of Achievement & Success at a Senior Level in NHS Finance
Other
Essential
- Willingness to Work Flexibly
- Demonstrate Commitment to Staff Development.
- Consistent Professionalism and objectivity
- Able to Work Effectively as Part of a team
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
