Choose Well - Choose WWL
Job overview
This is an exciting and influential opportunity to join WWL’s senior finance leadership team as Operational Director of Finance — a pivotal role at the heart of one of Greater Manchester’s most forward-looking provider organisations. Following the successful promotion of the current postholder to a role in the wider health economy, this position offers the chance to shape how we deliver sustainable, system-wide value in a fast-evolving NHS landscape.
You will lead a talented and well-established finance team and bring exceptional foresight — anticipating future pressures, interpreting emerging trends and shaping the Trust’s financial strategy over the medium term. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Tabitha Gardiner, you will ensure that robust financial control is matched by clear strategic planning, helping WWL remain financially agile and ready for the future.
Main duties of the job
You will be a CCAB-qualified (or equivalent) finance leader with significant senior experience in NHS finance or a similarly complex organisation.
You will combine a deep understanding of operational financial management with the strategic ability to see around corners — identifying early warning signs, interpreting national and system trends, and using data and insight to inform decision-making.
A natural collaborator, you will build trust and confidence across clinical, operational and system partners, using your analytical skills to support transformation and long-term planning. You will thrive in a dynamic environment, balancing assurance and innovation to help shape a sustainable financial future for WWL.
Above all, you will share WWL’s values — People at the Heart, Kind and Respectful, Listen and Involve, One Team — and you’ll role model these in the way you lead, influence and develop others.
Working for our organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud 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 ‘the WWL Way’.
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. With this in mind 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Operational Director of Finance has responsibility for strategic and operational finance on a day-to-day basis including financial management, financial services, financial planning, financial transformation, procurement, payroll and capital. The role will require the development and oversight of robust systems and processes to ensure financial probity. The post will provide leadership and oversight of Standing Financial Instructions, external assurance requirements and other relevant policies. The post holder is responsible for reporting the financial position to the Trust Executive and the Trust Board.
Beyond strong operational stewardship, this role is about looking ahead — bringing insight, foresight and strategic perspective to our financial leadership. We are seeking a professional who can combine operational excellence with the ability to anticipate challenges, interpret emerging trends and shape the Trust’s financial strategy over the medium term.
You will play a key role in horizon scanning across the local system and the wider NHS, helping WWL and its partners to plan with confidence amid changing demand, regulation and funding environments. By working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, you will help to ensure that financial sustainability is underpinned by strong strategic planning and proactive risk management, not reactive control.
As part of the Trust’s senior finance team, you will be instrumental in supporting WWL’s contribution to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System’s financial recovery and sustainability plans, ensuring that partnership working and shared foresight drive efficiencies, innovation, and value for patients.
The role requires strong working relationships with partners within the Wigan Locality including, Local Authority and ICB colleagues and will lead the commissioning negotiations with commissioners. WWL also has a strong collaborative working relationship with our neighboring Trust through a cluster working relationship which supports our operational and strategic objectives to be delivered.
The post holder has direct line management of the Senior Finance Team and will input into all key senior Trust meetings and decisions. They will continue the ongoing development of the Finance team to ensure it becomes the benchmark within the NHS of a professional, innovative, motivated, effective Finance team.
The Operational Director of Finance will lead 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.
When required, the role will also provide leadership for financial recovery including delivery. The post holder will also lead on improving the development of SLR/SLM with clinical engagement. The post holder will also have a key supporting role in the development of the following strategies: finance, commercial development, financial planning & information.
The Operational Director of Finance will deputise for the Chief Finance Officer as appropriate and undertake all duties in line with the requirements of the role to support the Chief Finance Officer. The post has corporate responsibilities as a senior member of the Trust including On-Call.
If you are a strategic finance leader who wants to make a lasting impact on a progressive, community-focused Trust — and play a system-wide role across Greater Manchester — we would be delighted to hear from you
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. CCAB Qualified
2. Demonstrable CPD as recognised by professional body
Desirable criteria
3. Further managerial qualification e.g. MBA
4. Completion of recognised leadership development program
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Significant post qualification experience
6. NHS finance knowledge or experience
7. Experience at a senior level within an acute setting or equivalent
8. Experience of leading budget setting
9. Experience of contributing to strategic financial planning
10. Experience of contributing to and leading the development and delivery of sustainable CIP/SAVI programs, using a “turnaround” approach
11. Experience of leading the financial aspect of contract negotiations
12. Experience in the preparation of statutory and non-statutory periodic and ad hoc financial returns e.g. final accounts, Ref Cost Submission, PFR returns, capital charges returns
13. Experience with dealing with locality partners
14. Experience of leading the Business planning functions of a large acute organisation or equivalent
15. Experience in the preparation of complex capital investment cases
16. Experience in securing value for money in the application of the Trusts resources
17. Experience of leading aspects of the provision of financial governance and assurance to the Trust Board and stakeholders or equivalent
18. Experience of delivering complex information to an organisation in a digestible and easily understandable way
19. Experience, through regular attendance at Board sub committees e.g. Audit Committees
Desirable criteria
20. Experience of meaningful change management
21. Experience of new business systems implementation
22. Experience of the provision of reports to a range of users including Trust Boards
23. Experience of leading, managing and developing teams
24. Broad range of finance exposure covering financial services and financial management
25. Internal or external Audit experience
26. Delivery of financial service within a shared services environment
27. Experience of dealing with non- NHS public bodies e.g. Voluntary sector
28. Experience of working within a shared services environment for the provision of Payroll, Business Systems and procurement as a minimum
29. Experience of leading other professionally qualified staff
30. Experience of leading multi- disciplined teams
Skills
Essential criteria
31. Highly numerate
32. Excellent analytical skills
33. Excellent communication skills
34. Ability to influence a range of stakeholders including Directors and Non-Executive Directors of the Trust
35. Ability to lead and motivate teams through complex activities such as service redesign
36. Ability to balance strategic planning with delivery of short term annual targets
37. Ability to identify new opportunities to build sustainable business developments and consider these within a “commercial” framework
38. Ability to scan the horizon to identify and plan for potential financial and service risk.
39. Ability to act as a senior corporate figure across the organisation
40. Innovative and creative to develop a culture of innovation and improvement
41. Achievement focused to “get things done”
Additional
Essential criteria
42. Sets high standards for self and others
43. Is confident taking charge and shows optimism and resilience to inspire others with positive messages.
44. Innovative thinker in the development of alternative delivery methods
45. Self-directing and Self reliant and able to deal with a high degree of ambiguity
46. Works effectively to deadlines
47. Motivational leader who works hard to ensure all the team deliver to their highest potential, and takes time to celebrate success.
48. Ambitious and innovative with a goal to set the benchmark for excellence
49. Able to travel across the region, country as required to attend meetings