Deputy Director of Operational Finance

Deputy Director of Operational Finance - Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The closing date is 06 February 2026. This vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received; applicants are encouraged to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

The Deputy Director of Operational Finance is an instrumental role to support the Director of Operational Finance and Chief Finance Officer. The post holder will support in the effective day to day management of the Trust's Commissioning and Contracts, Management Accounts, Financial Services and Capital functions, ensuring robust internal control systems are in place; delivering accurate and high-quality reporting; and driving an improvement culture for the finance team.

Main duties of the job The post holder will have a key supporting role in the development of the following strategies: commissioning; capital; finance, commercial development, financial planning & information. They will support the delivery of annual financial plans and their translation into agreed budgets across the organisation (including devolved financial management strategy) inclusive of required CIP targets. They will lead the information agenda to support continued operational performance. Accountable to the Director of Operational Finance, the post holder will work autonomously, be guided by and interpret national policy guidelines, occupational and professional standards and statutory regulations. Key relationships will be the Board of Directors and other senior managers across the Trust; internal and external audit; ICB partners and external bodies.

About us Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

People at the Heart

Listen and Involve

Kind and Respectful

ONE Team

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Job responsibilities To provide support to the Director of Operational Finance on advising the Trust on operational matters relating to all aspects of finance within the Trust. To translate financial governance and assurance guidance both for the short and medium term. To contribute to the financial planning activities of the Trust and, in particular, provide financial input to major capital developments including the corporate appraisal of differential options. To lead, from a corporate perspective, the business planning activities of the Trust and oversee negotiations with the commissioners so that plans and service level agreements meet the objectives of the Trust. To corporately lead the annual budget setting process and ensure that budgets set are reflective of agreed commissioner contracts and account for key issues such as cost pressures, developments and CIP delivery plans. To ensure that financial and budgetary information is available to all levels of the organisation in a timely and accurate manner. To provide support and advice to all those with budgetary responsibility and ensure that all budget managers receive appropriate training and development to facilitate the best possible standards of patient care within available resources. Training and support should also be extended to non budget holders such as Non executive Directors. To work with the Director of Operational Finance and direct reports to develop and review financial systems, procedures and controls to ensure that the budgetary, accounting, income and expenditure systems operate efficiently to the highest professional standards. To co-ordinate the monitoring of financial performance against plan and advise the Director of Operational Finance on major variances and year end projections. To oversee the preparation of monthly reports to the Trust Board and committees on all aspects of financial performance. To support clinical and non-clinical areas in the preparation of business cases, paying particular attention to the financial and economic appraisal of such cases and the linking of these cases to the overall financial strategy of the Trust. To manage the department daily and provide leadership, direction and motivation through objective setting, regular performance reviews, training and development. To interpret NHS guidance and ensure that Trust financial goals and standards are set to achieve the required guidance outputs. To provide corporate assurance on all financial governance issues. The Deputy Director of Operational Finance will be responsible for the coordination of delivery, to the Director of Operational Finance, of all statutory returns and required monitoring information e.g. Annual Accounts, Regional and National Submissions and National Cost Collection submissions. To lead on the development, production and submission of any financial planning models to our regulators or ICB. To deputise as required for the Director of Operational Finance & Chief Finance Officer at key meetings including both internal and external stakeholders. Responsible for production and maintenance of the Financial Risk Register. To analyse, interpret and evaluate a range of options for service developments, taking account of conflicting demands and complex facts. To ensure sound Financial Services (Debtors, Creditor Payments, Cashiers, Payroll, Procurement) are provided so as to meet statutory requirements, and customer expectations whilst providing value for money. To ensure income, expenditure and capital expenditure is correctly forecast to support the delivery of the financial plan. To ensure operation in compliance with the appropriate financial policies and procedures including Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Scheme of Delegation. To ensure that the statutory accounts for exchequer and charitable activities of the Trust are completed in accordance with required formats, timescales and professional accounting standards.

Person Specification Qualifications

• CCAB Qualified
• Demonstrable CPD as recognised by professional body
• Further managerial qualification e.g. MBA
• Completion of recognised leadership development program

Experience

• NHS finance knowledge or experience
• Experience at a senior level within any NHS organisation or equivalent
• Experience of contributing to strategic financial planning
• Experience in the preparation of statutory and non-statutory periodic and ad hoc financial returns e.g. final accounts, Ref Cost Submission, FIMs returns, capital charges returns
• Experience of strategic capital planning and the development of significant business cases
• Experience with dealing with commissioning organisations, NHSE and other health and non-health organisations
• Experience of dealing with non-NHS public bodies e.g. social care services
• Experience in securing value for money in the application of the Trusts resources
• Experience of delivering complex information to an organisation in a digestible and easily understandable way
• Experience of meaningful change management
• Experience of the provision of reports to a range of users including Trust Boards
• Experience in training non-financial staff in financial management
• Experience of leading, managing and developing teams
• Broad range of finance exposure covering financial services and financial management
• Experience of leading other professionally qualified staff.
• Experience, through regular attendance, of Audit Committees

Skills

• Highly numerate
• Excellent analytical skills
• Highly developed communication skills
• High degree of self-awareness
• Ability to influence a range of stakeholders including Directors and Non-Executive Directors of the Trust
• Ability to lead and motivate teams through complex activities such as service redesign
• Ability to balance strategic planning with delivery of short term annual targets
• Ability to adapt existing financial and activity models and the ability to develop new financial and activity models
• Ability to scan the horizon to identify and plan for potential financial and service risk.
• Proven ability to deliver difficult projects on time and with team buy in.

Knowledge

• Breadth and depth of awareness with regard to the issues facing the NHS e.g. NHS plan, Integrating Health and Care, Access Targets, Changing financial regimes

Additional

• Self motivated
• Innovative thinker in the development of alternative delivery methods
• Self reliant and able to deal with a high degree of ambiguity
• Works effectively to deadlines
• Dedication and high work ethic
• Motivational and a team player
• Ambitious and innovative with a goal to set the benchmark for excellence
• Flexibility around working hours notably around financial close
• Able to travel across the region, country as required to attend meetings
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