Job summary
- Main area
- Finance
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 188-THQ250726
- Employer
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Southampton General Hospital
- Town
- Southampton
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 pa or pa pro rata
- Closing
- 24/08/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 04/09/2026
Employer heading
Senior Cost Improvement Manager
Band 8a
Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for the detailed job description of the role
Main duties of the job
UHS is investing in Financial Improvement - join our expanding department, roles available within our Project Management Office
We are recruiting Senior Cost Improvement Managers, who lead and support strategic work to improve the value for money delivered within our health services.
You will:
• Work with colleagues in both our clinical services and trust headquarters,
• Propose and progress a variety of projects to improve cost effectiveness, and
• Ensure that the financial value of improvements is reported accurately.
These roles would suit applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including operational management, clinical, financial or project management. Applicants with experience in the NHS or with transferable skills from other employment would both be welcome.
We are looking for people who are:
• Proactive and inquisitive about how services are delivered
• Motivated to improve NHS services and the way NHS money is spent,
• Can successfully work with and influence others in senior positions
• Have a good standard of numeracy and computing skills (including Excel)
• Enjoy variety and a dynamic environment.
We would urge you to seek an informal discussion to find out more. Contact details are provided below.
Our team is part of the Finance Directorate based at Southampton General Hospital, and you would be able to work a combination of on-site and remotely.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Your Responsibilities - What you will do:
-
As a Senior Cost Improvement Manager, you will be responsible for leading and supporting strategic work to improve the value for money delivered within our health services.
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You will drive the development and implementation of proposed projects to improve cost effectiveness.
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In doing so, you will work with colleagues across a range of departments within our organisation, including those in both more senior and junior roles.
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You will identify improvement opportunities by (for example) proactively benchmarking services with peer organisations, agreeing areas for investigation with leaders/experts, analysing our service expenditure and performance, and talking with and observing the members of staff who deliver the service.
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You will ensure that the financial value of improvements identified and delivered is reported accurately. You will do this by working accurately, systematically and in some detail, and by collaborating with colleagues within clinical departments, the Project Management Office and the wider financial department.
What we are looking for
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These roles would suit applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including operational management, clinical, financial or project management.
-
Applicants with experience in the NHS or with transferable skills from other employment would both be welcome.
-
Formal financial qualifications may be advantageous but are not essential; this is not a traditional ‘accountancy’ role.
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Most important will be your proactive and inquisitive approach to work, desire to make a positive contribution to our department and the hospital as a whole, and an ability to work with and influence others.
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Working accurately, systematically and in some detail is important to ensure that the financial value of improvements is reported correctly by the organisation.
Person specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential criteria
- Masters Degree or equivalent experience/diplomas in relevant field
- Detailed knowledge of multiple recognised cost improvement techniques
- Evidence of further training/study/leadership courses to post graduate level or equivalent experience
- Significant experience in industry or healthcare sector; including at a senior level
- Evidence of strong leadership qualities
- Experience in identifying efficiencies through innovation, change in working practice or service redesign
- Evidence of leading and implementing change, influencing behaviour, collaborative working with others
- Evidence of significant structured programme management skills and experience
- Previous experience in healthcare setting
- Knowledge of quality improvement and service redesign methodologies
- Strategic awareness and judgement
- Resilience and ability to perform under pressure
- Ability to communicate complex messages to senior audiences and respond to question and challenge
- Ability to prioritise objectives (large and small) and multi-task
- Ability to analyse problems in detail and develop practical and workable solutions to address them
Desirable criteria
- Strong knowledge of NHS planning and finance landscape
- Project or change management qualification
- Good understanding of financial recovery and cost improvement
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Deborah Buckingham
- Job title
- Head of Cost Improvement PMO
- Email address
- [email protected]
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