Finance Business Partner Norwich, England
Job description
Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust (NCHC) are looking for a self-motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic individual to be our next Finance Business Partner. The post-holder will be responsible for providing first-class financial expertise and business support to all the Trust's Specialist (including Palliative Care), Children's & Young Persons areas and Inpatient Units. This is a broad and fundamental area of the Trust with a budget in excess of £35m
Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.
The successful applicant will work to the highest professional standards, be a team player with strong leadership skills and be able to communicate complex finance issues to a range of finance and non-finance staff including Operation Directors and the Trust's Executive Team. The post-holder will ensure an accurate financial position is reported monthly whilst supporting senior leaders to deliver and develop their services. This role requires financial and budgetary expertise underpinned by excellent communication skills.
Enthusiasm, self-motivation, the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines is essential.
NCHC provides community-based NHS health and care via more than 70 different service locations across Norfolk, serving a population of nearly 900,000 people.
The Trust believes that people are better looked after locally and this belief drives the organisation to work hard to bring expert care to patients in seven community hospitals, within GP surgeries and in patients' own homes.
The Finance Team sits within Corporate Services and has 26 staff which is split into Corporate and Financial Management.
Training and development is a key feature in the team with apprentices, graduate and undergraduate trainees as well as supporting staff to complete their professional qualifications where appropriate.
We are proud to promote equality, diversity and flexible working. The team scores highly in national and local staff engagement surveys.
The team has a Future Focused Finance accreditation level 1 (FFF - a Nationally run Finance initiative run within the NHS for the benefit of maintaining and growing finance skills) we are currently working towards level 2.
The team's vision is: Supporting colleagues and partners to improve the quality of people's lives, in their homes and community by providing relevant and timely financial insight, information and advice.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for:
Staff Management:
1. Providing direct and indirect day-to-day management of a team of up to 5, including recruitment, training and discipline.
2. Appraising each member of their staff in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)
3. Agreeing and developing annual personal development plans with staff and support them with any training or development requirements in order to fulfil their role.
4. Planning the workload of the team over the financial year and ensure that the resources are in place to deliver the plan.
5. Co-ordinating the workload of staff, re-distributing and prioritising in line with changing demands and in conjunction with the Head of Financial Management as required.
Management Accounting
1. To provide financial intelligence, advice and to make recommendations to the Executive Director, Assistant Directors and other senior managers within the Directorate. To meet regularly with these managers to ensure that any potential financial problems are identified early enough for corrective action to be taken. To meet frequently with the Senior Finance Team, including the Director of Finance & Performance, to discuss the financial position of the relevant division and escalate any issues / risks as appropriate.
2. Ensure that monthly revenue and capital accounts are prepared in line with the Department of Health Manual for Accounts and Trust policy. Undertake quality checks of the information being reported. Agree draft financial reports with senior finance colleagues prior to reports being published, ensuring that they present a true and fair view of the Business Unit’s financial
3. Monitor and forecast expenditure trends, budget variances and cost pressures on a monthly basis, identifying significant matters and acting as a catalyst when discussing corrective action with senior managers.
4. To act in an entrepreneurial and innovative manner, ensuring that all financial opportunities and strategic threats are identified, investigated and acted upon to deliver a balanced financial position for the division, including advising on new ways of working to ensure the division is utilising its resources in the most efficient manner and operations are conducted in accordance with the Trust’s prevailing financial procedures and controls which are in operation
5. Work with the Executive Director and operational managers for the assigned Directorate(s) to prepare the annual revenue and capital budgets in accordance with the departmental framework and timetable, ensuring budget proposals are consistent with organisational objectives and Trust policies. Ensure budgets are signed off before the start of the financial year.
6. To develop new costing and budgeting methodologies to provide information for both managerial and commercial purposes. Always looking strategically to ensure such processes will assist the local delivery plan.
7. Produce financial models for Cost Improvement Plans (savings plans) that are identified by operational managers. Support operational managers to identify areas where expenditure can be minimised and income maximised to achieve savings. Monitor and report delivery against plans in accordance with the departmental framework and timetable.
8. To ensure robust establishment control procedures are in place, ensuring that all posts are costed correctly and that no posts are advertised without financial authorisation.
9. To take the financial lead for the Directorate business cases in accordance with the Trust’s strategic aims and To make the Head of Financial Strategy and other Senior Finance Team members aware of the risks and benefits of business cases. To advise & recommend options on financial and non-financial aspects of the business plans, including assessment of financial risk and advice regarding the allocation of financial resources.
10. To assist in the preparation of option appraisal reports for presentation to the Trust’s Investment Committee incorporating recommendations and where necessary conveying complex financial issues clearly and persuasively.
11. Provide appropriate financial support to operational managers undertaking negotiations with external bodies.
12. To monitor, analyse and report to the division management team on divisional financial performance and corresponding income generation. Recommending new ways of working. Developing an understanding of the divisional trading accounts and advising on often contentious aspects of financial performance.
13. Undertaking specific financial management tasks or projects across the Trust as required.
14. Producing any other ad-hoc reports (internal and external) as required.
Financial Accounting
1. Supporting the delivery of the Trust’s statutory annual accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as interpreted for the NHS by the Department of Health’s Manual for Accounts.
2. Ensuring that monthly and annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as interpreted for the NHS by the Department of Health’s Manual for Accounts.
General
1. Using experience to provide financial advice to all stakeholders in the organisation to enhance the performance of the Trust.
2. Ensuring that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard.
3. To ensure that all financial training and budget management is provided to all budget managers, and monitoring how well this education has been absorbed when reviewing budget statements.
4. Arranging and taking part in training sessions for budget managers.
5. Reconfigure the financial system following any change in provider or systems upgrade;
6. Adapt the financial system to reflect changes within the structure of the Trust
