We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000 dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people's own homes. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated 'Outstanding' and Eastbourne DGH was rated 'Good' Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services. Job overview Applications are invited for an exciting opportunity for a Band 8c Pathology Network Head of Finance. This is a fantastic and rare opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills and support the delivery a programme of key projects within a developing Pathology network. The role will be hosted by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust but will be based across the Sussex Pathology Network (SPN) which includes three Trusts: East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (QVH) SPN is a Pathology Network across ESHT, UHSx and QVH. We are an innovative partnership of NHS pathology services, established to secure and develop pathology services for clinicians and their patients, Surrey and Sussex. We provide pathology services in a wide variety of settings, serving our founding Trusts, other NHS and private hospitals and primary care organisations. Main duties of the job The postholder will work closely with the SPN management team, leading on the provision of comprehensive financial advice and supporting it in delivering financial performance in line with the agreed financial plan to enable the achievement of its 10-year finance model. They will develop and provide reports at month end, and against capital allocations and will be key to business case development - financial and economic modelling. The postholder will understand and apply the requirements of operating in a growing and competitive market and the impact of a commercially-driven approach, and will contribute to the business planning process and service developments. The post holder may be required to work at any of the Network Provider sites across the footprint, in line with the needs of the programmes. The responsibilities and nature of the role may evolve as the implementation of the SPN progresses. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is the host organisation for the SPN, and is part of an NHS Provider Collaborative in Sussex. Working for our organisation A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation. In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year. There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today. Statement on the Use of AI We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective. Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application. We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please see the attached job description and person specification for the main and key responsibilities of this role Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria Full Consultative Committee Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) recognised qualification. Evidence of participating in Continuing Professional Development to the required level expected of a Professional Accountancy Body. Degree, plus further managerial qualification e.g. MBA. Member of an appropriate professional registration body, e.g. CIMA. Experience Essential criteria Significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance/management role (equivalent to Master's level), including Directorate Finance Manager experience Experience communicating complex financial and performance information to non-finance and senior audiences Experience building and maintaining relationships with senior managers across disciplines Desirable criteria Senior management experience within the NHS or a large, complex organisation Experience working in a commercial or business growth environment Skills Essential criteria Strong decision-making skills involving complex and sometimes conflicting information High level of IT literacy, including financial systems, spreadsheets, and databases Skilled in training non-financial managers in finance-related matters Ability to work autonomously while collaborating with management teams Understanding of how IT systems support planning and performance monitoring Desirable criteria Ability to work on a diverse set of projects at one time and to meet strict deadlines. Confidence to negotiate with other senior managers in the Trust to ensure financial plans are adhered to. Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Our vision is to be: The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex. Our mission is to: Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services. Our strategic objectives are to: Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority. Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients' experiences. Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable. Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are: Safe Effective Caring Responsive and Well led Employer certification / accreditation badges