JOB SUMMARY The main objectives of the Finance Department are to provide accurate financial information, which supports effective decision making and to complete statutory annual accounts and monthly returns as required. Within this, there is a key focus on customer service to ensure that managers are provided with operational tools to both monitor and evaluate their financial performance. The Finance Department at CHS consists of core finance functions (Business Services, Financial Management, Financial Services and Procurement). There are around 70 staff within the overall finance department. Within this the Financial Management team comprises of 14 qualified and unqualified accountants and support staff. To act as a Senior Finance Manager to the clinical and non clinical directorates, delivering a first class, effective financial management service and expert advice. This will include monthly reporting to the Trust Board and Directorates through standard templates, completion of financial aspects of business cases for investment and support to identify, quantify and report Quality Innovation Productivity Prevention (QIPP), income, Service Line Reporting (SLR) and ad hoc reporting. To provide timely and accurate reporting of the financial position to the Associate Director of Finance, Deputy Director of Finance, Director of Finance, Executive Directors, Associate Directors of Operations, Associate Directors of Nursing, Clinical Leads, budget holders and other members of the trust. To provide support to the wider organisation to deliver operational responsibilities whilst ensuring that expenditure remains within budget. This includes providing advice, guidance and information on financial and business issues, particularly budgetary planning and control. To promote a customer focussed ethos for Financial Management and the wider financial department. To line manage and contribute effectively to the appraisal and development of the directorate finance teams. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To act as the principal financial advisor integrated into the management team of the Corporate Directorates to which the postholder is aligned, including making a significant contribution to the business planning and financial monitoring processes. To produce a monthly financial position that has integrity, accuracy, analysis and contains all financial information relevant to the Directorate, supporting both the Directorate and the Trust in achieving its financial objectives. To produce monthly variance analysis for the Directorates so that this can be used to take corrective action where appropriate. Enable them to understand the whole financial picture, including SLR, activity and income information Provide any relevant information to Business Partners, Senior Finance staff and the wider finance team, Budget Holders and Executive Directors to enable the upholding of statutory regulations, Standing Financial Instructions and Budget Holder Guide. Assist in completion of Department of Health, Trust Development Agency, and other external and internal returns. To further develop cost awareness, identifying and quantifying key cost drivers and being able to model the implications of changes in activity on these. Budgetary Control. To lead the annual and periodic budget setting processes in conjunction with budget holders and Associate Director of Finance for the corporate areas, endeavouring to ensure that resultant targets (both financial and non-financial) are realistic and are fully understood by budget holders. To ensure that budgets are congruent with Trust targets and activity plan. To oversee the production of monthly budget statements, variance analysis and associated monthly budgetary information. This includes information such as written commentary, yearend forecast, trend analysis and projections, staff listings and the overall Trust position. This will be both for standard monthly reporting and where required for other Trust purposes. To co-ordinate production of Directorate financial forecasts, using professional skill and judgement ensuring that the Directorates lead their forecasts. Business Case Production, where required to provide financial input into the preparation of Directorate or Trust wide business cases, working with both financial and operational managers. QIPP, to support the development and reporting of QIPP, working with Corporate leads to identify opportunities and encourage focus on efficiency and cash releasing productivity initiatives. Financial Training & Support To provide advice, guidance and support to all staff on financial, and where appropriate operational, issues both formally and informally. Deal with queries from Trust staff and advise accordingly. Interpret and implement, where appropriate, financial policies, procedures and budgetary controls, providing advice on remedial courses of action, identifying the financial consequences. Ensure that effective budget holder meetings are being held in line with the departments KPI's. Line Management the directorates finance team, leading the appraisal process and where necessary supporting with training and development needs. Professionalism to act at all times as a representative for the Finance Directorate ensuring that the professional reputation of the Directorate is upheld. Experience: A qualified / Part Qualified Accountant with prior NHS experience