Job overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Divisional Finance Manager specialising in supporting the One LSC Corporate Services which includes Digital, Estates & Facilities, Finance, People and Procurement. This role will support the host organisation, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in accounting for and reporting accurately the financial position for One LSC delegated budgets. This role will support the One LSC Director of Finance in establishing a clear budget for all services and monitoring actual costs incurred on a monthly basis.
This post is Internal only across Onelsc staff, within the finance function.
Main duties of the job
This role will require the postholder to;
· Foster a strong partnership with the corporate area leads ensuring the data and information provided accurately reflects the expected position in terms of run rate and waste reduction delivery each month.
· Ensure all internal and external reporting requirements are delivered, in an accurate, timely, and relevant manner that will enable managers to provide an efficient and effective service within the resources available.
Working for our organisation
One LSC Finance Function - hosted by ELHT
Finance is part of One Lancashire and South Cumbria, hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The team provide services to:
* Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
* Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
* East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
* University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
* Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties
Financial Planning & Budgeting
Ensure that the resources required to deliver the One LSC service plans and targets are accurately identified, costed and translated into budgets, and that they are realistic yet challenging and demonstrate improvements in efficiency.
Responsibility for providing financial advice, analysis, and reporting of the One LSC Waste Reduction Programme (WRP), both to the Host Trust and centrally to the One LSC Senior Leadership Team. Ensuring mandates are completed and the schemes are worked through and reconciled.
Responsibility for providing direction on the One LSC budgets, consistent with the overall financial framework, and to the Finance staff during the annual budget setting process.
Ensuring the budget setting outputs are a true representation of One LSC’s financial requirements.
Responsibility for the maintenance and reconciliation of the recurring and non-recurring budgetary position for both the financial and staffing budgets on a monthly basis
Performance Management and Reporting
Provide budget holders with expert financial advice, support and information to assist them in the achievement of their annual financial objectives. This advice should encompass budget, expenditure, income, service level reporting, PLICS and procurement issues. It may involve the analysis of a range of options, highlighting the advantages/disadvantages of each with an assessment of any potential risks. Issues may be complex or sensitive, may require in depth analysis or judgement or may be confidential or contentious in nature. It may also involve resolving queries at short notice.
Provide budget holders with timely and accurate monthly budget reports including interpretation and advice, and to meet regularly with them to ensure that any potential financial problems are identified early, and to provide recommendations on corrective action as necessary.
Provide a written and verbal monthly report on the financial position of One LSC, identifying all key overspending areas, and actions being taken to address them. This will include explanation of significant variance movements for inclusion in monthly reports.
Provide detailed forecast outturn reports on a monthly basis, with identification of any emerging pressures, or other threats to financial viability, and an assessment of corrective action being taken.
Develop information systems to enable budgetary control, and financial reporting information to enable analysis of variances to be linked to performance against key activity, manpower and quality targets. In particular, providing an overall coordination of income, activity and cost.
Identify potential areas for improved efficiency and provide direction in the delivery and monitoring of cash releasing efficiency savings.
Develop systems to monitor and maximise income opportunities.
Attend performance management meetings at both strategic and operational levels; provide financial input and advice, as well as giving regular reports either verbal or written on the division’s financial position. Participating in discussions and debates as appropriate.
Contribute to and be able to explain the reference cost and the service line management position of the services within One LSC.
Monitor and review the method of allocating overhead or support costs as part of the monthly reporting cycle.
Business Planning
Actively participate in and contribute to the formulation and implementation of the One LSC Business Plans in accordance with the agreed strategic aims and objectives.
Leading on the preparation of bids for funding to service commissioners and other external agencies, ensuring that robust costing and a robust financial appraisal is undertaken.
Ensure that all changes in service, or developments, are properly quantified and accounted for in the budgets.
Create a financial framework that enables the benefits of services changes or developments to be measured and monitored in order to ensure effective use of resources.
Income and Activity
Be instrumental in supporting operational managers to maximise the business performance of their services with an understanding of the income and activity position.
Ensure that all One LSC budget holders adhere to the Trust Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions and financial procedures.
Ensure that authorised signature lists and delegated of authority are maintained for One LSC.
Review One LSC’s processes and where appropriate identify and implement improvements to efficiency and internal control.
Work with internal and external auditors as required ensuring that agreed recommendations are implemented in a timely manner.
Staff Management
To play an active role in the leadership, support and development of the wider financial management team.
To be responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of staff working within the department in accordance with the Host Trust's employment policies and procedures and legal requirements.
To actively participate in an annual review and using a personal development plan, develop own knowledge and skills and support the development of others in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework requirements for the post.
To act in a way which supports equality and diversity and encourages others to do so.
To contribute towards our Finance Staff Development agenda, ensuring that work is undertaken to maintain our Level 3 Finance Staff Development accreditation. Ensure involvement in Future Focused Finance and take an active participation in relevant groups both internal and external to the organisation.
Finance Continual Improvement
To contribute towards the continual improvement agenda, and encouraging others to do so, often leading on projects to improve the way the function operates and ensuring that an improvement culture is engendered within the team.
Communication
Use motivational skills to encourage collaborative working to improve services and performance.
Use motivational and influencing skills to combat resistance to change.
Use communication and empathy skills to discuss highly sensitive and emotive issues with staff groups, in particular around performance and service improvement within their departments.
Encourage innovation and identify opportunities for continual improvement through existing communication mechanisms or undertake their development when none is in existence
Training and Development
To ensure all mandatory training requirements are met
To ensure all professional development needs are met
To ensure staff who directly report to the role all their mandatory training requirements are met
To ensure staff who directly report to the role all their all professional development needs are met
To work with the finance team as a whole to ensure a standard financial approach is taken
Deputise for the Finance Staff Development Lead when required
Provide training and coaching support to the finance team
Provide training to the wider Trust as required in relation to, finance and performance management, measurement and other subjects as agreed
To train non finance managers the financial responsibilities of the Trust and of individuals.
Plan, deliver and review interventions to enable people to learn and develop
Professional Responsibilities
To maintain a professional registration with a UK recognised accounting body
To follow the accounting bodies professional code of conduct
Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the Trust’s corporate agenda
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
* Qualifications Degree (Honours) or equivalent qualification Qualified CCAB accountant with evidence of continued professional development
* Experience An extensive range of post qualification experience Experience of staff management
* Knowledge and Skills Number Skills Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills
* IT Skills Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft office products Competent of computerised ledger systems
* Technical Skills Have a robust understanding, and the ability to apply financial management and financial accounting principle in practice
* Knowledge and Experience Knowledge and Experience of budgetary control and business
* Personal Skills Communication Have the ability to communicate complex financial information effectively, using verbal, written, or presentational skills, required to inform decision making.
* Proven negotiation skills with the ability to secure co-operation and agreement with budget holders
* Organisational Self-motivated and able to manage time effectively, prioritise and organise short, medium and long term agenda and deliver to agreed deadlines
* Flexible approach to working hours to meet the demands of the department
* Personal Attributes Self-confident and able to maintain composure under pressure.
* People Skills Ability to work either autonomously or as part of a multi-disciplinary team