Job overview

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) serves a diverse population of over 2.7 million people across nine local authority areas, with a system budget of £7bn and a workforce of more than 80,000 colleagues. We are one of the largest and most complex health systems in England, with a clear mission to improve health outcomes, tackle inequalities and deliver joined-up, person-centred care in partnership with local authorities, providers and communities.

This is a pivotal moment for Cheshire and Merseyside. Following a period of uncertainty for Integrated Care Boards, new national frameworks such as the Model ICB Blueprint and the NHS 10 Year Plan have brought much-needed clarity and stability. At the same time, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is operating under enhanced oversight arrangements from NHS England, reflecting both the scale of our financial challenge and the critical importance of this appointment in driving recovery.

We are seeking an exceptional Executive Director of Finance & Contracting to shape and lead our financial strategy at a time of both significant challenge and opportunity. This is a rare and career-defining role for a qualified and experienced finance leader to influence across one of the largest NHS systems in the country, building financial sustainability, enabling transformation, and making a lasting difference for the communities we serve.

Main duties of the job

You will thrive in complexity, want to make a lasting difference to communities and outcomes at scale, and share our ambition is to deliver financially sustainable, high-quality and equitable care for every community we serve.

As a key member of our Board, you will:

• Lead financial strategy and governance for the ICB, ensuring system balance, transparency, and value.
• Collaborate with local places, provider collaboratives and system partners to deliver bold transformation, underpinned by robust financial discipline.
• Take strategic oversight of ICB planning, estates and performance.
• Provide financial assurance to the ICB Chief Executive and NHS England Regional Finance Director.
• Represent Cheshire and Merseyside at national forums and influence the wider finance profession across the NHS.
• Drive cultural change through inclusive leadership, mentoring, and system-wide engagement.

Working for our organisation

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is the Integrated Care Board for a population of over 2.7 million people across nine boroughs: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.

We are responsible for the planning and oversight of NHS services across the region. Our £7bn system budget supports a diverse population and a network of high-performing partners across primary, community, acute and mental health services. With over 80,000 people working in the NHS locally, we are both a major employer and a key contributor to the social and economic health of our region.  We are proud of our culture of collaboration, our clear geographic identity, and our readiness to lead transformative change across complex system boundaries.

 Our Values and Culture

We are committed to creating a values-led, inclusive leadership culture across the ICB and the wider system. As a Board, we role-model compassion, inclusion and mutual accountability, working closely with partners and communities to make a real difference.

We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements and actively support professional development for all our leaders.