Job vacancy: Deputy Finance Business Partner, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Stockton-on-Tees

Job summary

Main area

Finance

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 7

Contract

12 months (Fixed Term)

Hours

Full time
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

345-COR716655

Employer: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University Hospital of North Tees
Town: Stockton-on-Tees
Salary: £46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 15/06/2025 23:59

Deputy Finance Business Partner

NHS AfC: Band 7

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, our main priority is, and always will be, providing safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones.

If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital-based services to the population of Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and parts of East Durham and Sedgefield as well as community, therapeutic and screening to a wider population across Durham and Teesside.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Budgetary Control and Cost Efficiency

To provide the financial lead on Care Group budgets.

To undertake the budget setting process in conjunction with the Finance Business Partner and to monitor those budgets over the course of the year.

Responsible for ensuring the General Ledger and associated financial systems are designed and developed in order to improve the level of services (quality, relevance, accuracy and timeliness of information) and increased efficiency to allow the Care Groups to manage their budgets and deliver the FT financial regime. Key to this role will be significantly improving and standardising the financial closedown and reporting process.

Provide timely and accurate budget reports to the Head of Financial Management, Business Partner and Budget Managers within the Care Group. Providing advice and guidance in relation to financial and performance issues.

Ensure financial plans are accurate, feasible and guide management action where necessary to ensure delivery of financial balance and achievement of cost improvements / efficiency savings.

Maintain and develop the range and scope of reports, summaries and accompanying analyses, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and professional quality.

Responsible for maintaining the budgetary control system to produce annual budgets, reconciliation of budgets to the general ledger.

Lead on the month end close process and subsequent reporting.

Analysis and investigation of complex budget variances in relation to income, pay, non-pay and recharges, taking appropriate action where necessary.

Performance Management and Business Planning

Provide support and assistance in the development and review of business cases for service change, ensuring that financial modelling is robust.

Provide technical expertise in relation to the finance systems and support the benchmarking of services and the provision of complex multidimensional decision support analysis for scenario planning.

Supports Care Group Finance Business Partner with various planning, budget, forecasting, financial analysis, ratio analysis and reporting tools & reports. Develops and enhances the financial management team through training and identification of personal development plans.

Ensure regular meetings and communication with operational management to inform them of the financial position and address any queries raised.

To review cost improvement plans and advise on opportunities for further cost improvements, efficiency gains or income generation.

Assist the FBP in the development of the Care Group's annual business plan.

Financial Governance and Other Duties

Deputise for the Finance Business Partner as and when required.

Review, develop, communicate and implement financial policies and procedures across the organisation and monitor compliance against these.

Liaise with HR and Staff Records to maintain the integrity of the systems.

Maintain accurate and up to date establishment records to discuss to ensure pay expenditure remains within budget.

Ensure compliance with SOs, SFIs and Delegated Powers of the Trust across the care group and strict adherence to financial procedures.

Assists with the completion of the annual accounts and other financial returns required throughout the year, ensuring that financial systems in place can generate the required output automatically.

Deliver formal presentations to large groups of staff within the Care Group.

Ensure that training is provided to budget holders to ensure they understand their financial responsibility.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience in a complex finance dept
Knowledge/understanding of all aspects of NHS financial regimes/reporting

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of HR policies and procedures (Recruitment)
Evidence of supervisory skills /experience and ability to motivate , manage and develop staff

Skills/Knowledge

Essential criteria

Ability to interpret financial guidance/policies /procedures
Understanding of year end close down process
Knowledge of benchmarking techniques /KPIs
Excellent IT skills (office)
Understanding of payroll/ accounts payable /accounts receivable

Desirable criteria

Experience of Oracle cloud report writing software
Understanding of tendering process

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Part qualified CCAB with proven experience or equivalent extensive experience

Desirable criteria

CCAB Qualified Accountant

Please be aware: Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)

It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBs check will be undertaken during the pre-employment check screening.

Qualifications
Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted. You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period

For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The details in the Monitoring Information section of your application will be used for monitoring our recruitment process and will not be seen by the interview panel. The information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence. To meet its commitment to promoting equality of opportunity, the Trust’s policy is that individuals will be recruited, trained and promoted according to ability and job requirements only. As such we welcome your application irrespective of your gender, race, disability, colour, ethnic or national origin, and nationality, and marital status, responsibility for dependants, religion, trade union activity and age.

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless they have permission to work via another route. Non UK/RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here:Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

Disability

The Trust gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment received from disabled people. We are a “Positive about Disabled People” employer, and we hold the ‘two ticks’ Disability Symbol, which is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people. If you have a disability, which makes it difficult for you to complete our application form, please do not hesitate to contact the recruitment team on 01642 383200.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.

We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.

Further Important Information

Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to email via this method.

Please ensure you read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document attached to this advert before completing and submitting your application.