Finance Business Partner - Plymouth, United Kingdom - University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Description

Job summary

To provide a comprehensive and high quality finance business partnering service to service lines.

To promote innovation and improvement by providing expertise and analysis to inform good financial decision making and optimal use of resources.

The Trust is one of the largest acute healthcare providers in the country. Our services include Emergency and Acute Assessment units, General Medical and Surgical Services, Cancer Care, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Ear Nose and Throat, Neurosciences and Renal services. We offer a full range of general hospital services to around 450,000 people in Plymouth, North and East Cornwall and South and West Devon. These include emergency and major trauma services, maternity services, paediatrics and a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical sub-specialties.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and hardworking individual to join an established Finance team.

You will be the interface between finance and operations, where you will actively influence day to day decisions and help shape strategic and business planning of the Trust which will include undertaking Demand and Capacity planning, understanding Service Line Viability, Benchmarking, developing Transformational Savings Plans and support the production of large Business Cases for capital and/or revenue investments.

You must be able to manipulate, analyse and interpret data appropriately for your audience with excellent communication skills, and be a Professionally Qualified Accountant.

Consideration will be given to applicants who do not fully meet the person specification but who have the relevant demonstrable experience for the role and would meet the person specification in a short timeframe. These applicants would be offered a training role at the band below the position advertised.

For an informal discussion please contact Yazmin Roberts, Care Group Finance Business Partner ( or Steve Cavendish, Associate Director of Finance - Financial Performance (

Interview date TBC.

About us

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a dynamic and challenging environment, which provides acute healthcare for people in Plymouth, South West Devon and South East Cornwall, and has more than 6,500 staff working in its services.

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online or need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS Tariff guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness, for individual Services to:

o Provide strategic and business planning advice to Service Line and Care Group Management teams;

o Encourage and influence Service Line Management Teams to ensure cost-effective decision making by management, using high developed persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills;

o Investigate highly complex financial queries on income and expenditure, carrying out regular complicated analytical reviews of the Service Line financial position, predicting income, developing and using complex models and multiple inputs including activity projections and case mix issues;

o Interpret highly complex financial data and give advice on financial risks to ensure the budgets are achievable and owned by the Service Line Managers and Budget Holders.

o Assist and advise Service Line Management Teams in the execution of plans to achieve the performance targets set out in the Trusts Annual Plan, within the financial resources allocated to the Service Line for that purpose

o Oversee the accuracy and integrity of Service Line financial information relating to service line reporting and reference costs in particular;

o Identify business opportunities and threats arising out of market analyses and work with service lines to identify financial impacts and mitigating actions

o Thoroughly review monthly contract monitoring reports with service lines to ensure robust capture and coding of income. Work with service lines and Accountants to develop robust activity and income forecasts based on changes to demand, RTT requirements and capacity constraints.

o Benchmark the Service Lines against other similar hospitals using nationally recognised activity and management information and peer data (such as GIRFT and the Model Hospital) - identify areas for improvement and advise Service Line Management Teams and work closely with Service Line Management teams to effect such changes.

o Ensure best practice is developed and delivered at department and organisational level, challenging ways of working and motivating and influencing others.

o Provide financial support for revenue and capital business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.

o Take a lead role in developing contract issues papers with Service Lines, utilising detailed knowledge of NHS Tariff guidance and contractual requirements.

o Utilise knowledge of coding and NHS Tariff guidance to ensure Service Lines are being appropriately paid for all activity performed.

o Represent the Trust at meetings with Commissioner colleagues as required to support the contract setting and in year monitoring process.

o Provide information and advice to support the allocation of resources, Service Line reporting and improve the accuracy of Reference Cost returns.

o Work with the Costing Team to develop Service Line Management Teams understanding of the in-year funding mechanisms for support services and their implications for cost control and savings measures. The development and refinement of Service Line Reporting (SLR) is a key tool upon which both operational and strategic decisions can be based.

o Produce or assist in the production of reports to the Trust Board, as required, using spreadsheets, databases, presentations and report writing skills.

o Work with Service Lines and the Accountant to ensure an in depth understanding of the income position, any action plans to address variances and ensure accurate income forecasting. Understanding the impact of other performance measures eg RTT on this.

o Liaise with the Accountants with the activity and Income analysis to refine monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts of Service Line financial performance as required, taking into account likely profiles of activity, cost behaviours, savings plans and other influencing factors.

o Identify and maximise the financial impact of Trust Wide Financial Improvement Programme (FIP) schemes.

o Produce financial information to support Trustwide projects and business cases;

o Assist in the completion of the financial dimensions of the Trusts planning in accordance with the timetable set by NHS Improvement/Executive and ensure compatibility with the Trusts long term financial plans.

Utilising professional and specialist finance knowledge and general management skills, for the Finance Directorate to:

o Manage all aspects of own workload and the organisation of the teams workload to balance frequently changing priorities to deliver work within tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality of information and meeting the needs of Service Line Management Teams. This will include using time management skills to ensure that workload and individual projects are delivered in a timely and accurate manner and balancing the demands of the Service Lines requirements with month end and year-end financial reporting timetables.

o To coordinate with Service Line staff and Finance staff to ensure smooth delivery of deadlines for all aspects of work.

o Take responsibility for developing and implementing discrete areas of financial policy and processes in line with latest accounting standards.

o To act in a professional manner at all times and instil the same standards in members of staff.

o To input and manipulate financial data in highly complex computer spreadsheets and reports, where speed and accuracy are essential.

o To undertake light physical effort and extended periods of computer use in an office environment.

o To concentrate when inputting data, checking and reconciling information and making calculations.

o To cope with unpredictable work patterns and respond flexibly to queries and requests from Senior Finance, Service Lines, Care Groups and Clinical Directors.

o To work under intense pressure on occasions and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis.

o To supply internal and external auditors with any information and explanations they require with regard to any aspects of the above.

o To act on own initiative and to carry out the above duties in accordance with broad professional accounting standards without reference to line manager.

o The postholder will be required to travel on occasion.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential