Finance Manager in Barnsley

The Finance Manager is the most senior member of the Finance Team and is responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and insightful financial information that supports effective decision making across the organisation. The role provides high quality management accounts, advanced financial analysis, and robust financial controls. The post holder plays a key role in budgeting, forecasting, cost improvement, and performance monitoring, using advanced Excel, automation tools, and AI enabled analytics to enhance efficiency and insight. They ensure strong financial governance, support operational leaders, and contribute to organisational sustainability and value for money. The Finance Manager is responsible for leading and managing the Finance Team.

Main duties of the job include:

• Lead and develop the Finance Team, ensuring effective recruitment, supervision, appraisal, and professional development.
• Produce monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and financial dashboards.
• Support annual budget setting, quarterly forecasting, and long term financial planning.
• Provide financial insight, modelling, and scenario analysis to support decision making.
• Use advanced Excel, macros, and AI enabled tools to improve reporting and efficiency.
• Maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and compliance frameworks.
• Support financial processing including reconciliations, payroll oversight, and income/expenditure monitoring.
• Prepare year end schedules and support the external audit process.
• Partner with operational and clinical leaders to improve financial understanding and performance.
• Contribute to business cases, service development, and organisational growth initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement of financial systems, processes, and reporting tools.

About Barnsley Healthcare Federation (BHF): BHF is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people across Barnsley. We work collaboratively with GP practices, partners, and local communities to deliver high quality, accessible primary care services. Our mission is simple: to make healthcare better for everyone in Barnsley. We are proud of our innovative approach, our commitment to patient-centred care, and our supportive, values-driven culture.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Produce high quality management accounts, variance analysis, and financial insight to support strategic and operational decision making.
• Use advanced Excel, macros, and AI driven tools to enhance modelling, forecasting, and scenario planning.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable recommendations for non-financial managers.
• Support business planning, service development, and investment decisions through robust costing and financial evaluation.
• Contribute to long term financial sustainability through proactive analysis of trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and multi-year financial plans.
• Monitor income, expenditure, cash flow, and key performance indicators, ensuring timely identification of variances and risks.
• Maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and assurance processes to ensure accuracy, probity, and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to statutory reporting requirements and organisational financial frameworks.
• Promote value for money and financial discipline across all departments.
• Support financial risk management, including maintenance of risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, financial dashboards, and performance reports for senior leaders and committees.
• Support year end processes, audit preparation, and production of audit ready working papers.
• Ensure financial transactions are accurate, complete, and processed in line with governance and control requirements.
• Support payroll, supplier payments, HMRC submissions, pensions, and other financial outflows as required.
• Lead improvements to financial systems, reporting tools, and automation processes, including Excel based macros and AI enabled reporting.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management:

• Build strong working relationships with internal teams, external partners, auditors, suppliers, and commissioners.
• Provide clear financial reporting, guidance, and challenge to budget holders and service leads.
• Support contract management, including financial elements of service agreements, tenders, and partnership arrangements.
• Provide financial insight at internal and external meetings, representing the finance function professionally.

Leadership & Support:

• Lead and develop the Finance Team, ensuring effective recruitment, supervision, appraisal, and professional development.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and support to finance colleagues, promoting continuous improvement and professional development.
• Foster a culture of accuracy, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Support the development of financial capability across the organisation through training and guidance, including Excel and analytical skills.
• Ensure delivery of high quality, timely financial information and customer focused support.

Knowledge, Training & Experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA) or equivalent experience.
• Strong experience in management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Understanding of financial governance, statutory reporting, and internal control frameworks.
• Experience developing financial systems, processes, and assurance mechanisms.
• Evidence of supporting strategic decisions and influencing stakeholders.
• Experience with financial modelling, audit processes, and risk management.
• Advanced Excel skills including formulas, pivot tables, macros, automation, and data modelling.
• Experience using AI enabled tools (e.g., Power BI AI visuals, Copilot, predictive analytics) desirable.
• Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills.
• Strong financial modelling and Excel/VBA capability.
• Effective communicator, able to present financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Strong relationship building and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• High degree of professional integrity, judgement, and resilience.
• Ability to use AI enabled tools to enhance reporting and forecasting.

Effort Factors:

• Mental Effort: Sustained concentration required for financial analysis, modelling, and decision support.
• Emotional Effort: Occasional exposure to challenging conversations and high pressure decision environments.
• Physical Effort: Occasional travel across sites.

Person Specification:

• Knowledge of procurement and value for money frameworks.
• Understanding of Companies House or charity reporting requirements.

Qualifications:

• Fully qualified CCAB (ACCA, ACA, CIMA).
• Degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Training in Excel, automation, or AI tools.

Experience:

• Previous experience of managing and leading a team.
• Management accounting in a complex organisation.
• Budget setting, forecasting & financial modelling.
• Supporting audit processes.
• Experience with automation, macros, or AI tools.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.