Deputy Director of Finance – Operations | Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe

Deputy Director of Finance – Operations | Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Employer:

Location:

Crewe, CW1 6ZQ

Pay:

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

21/06/2026

About this job

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Deputy Director of Finance Operations to join its newly established senior finance leadership structure at a pivotal stage.

Reporting to the Director of Operational Finance, the post is a key member of the Finance Leadership Team with responsibility for Financial Management, Accounting, Payroll, Pensions, Treasury and Charitable Funds.

The role provides professional leadership across the full financial lifecycle, ensuring strong governance, regulatory compliance, high-quality operational finance support and long-term sustainability.

It plays a central part in the Trust’s financial recovery and transformation, strengthening operational finance and supporting the development of a modern, high-performing finance function.

Operating within a challenging NHS environment of rising demand and financial pressures, the Trust remains one of the more stable providers locally, maintaining compliance, robust governance and clear recovery plans.

With plans for a £1.5bn new Leighton Hospital and wider transformation programmes, this is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to major capital investment, organisational change and system collaboration.

The role suits an experienced NHS finance leader seeking broader operational leadership and an opportunity to shape the future finance model of an ambitious organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across Financial Management and Financial Services, ensuring strong governance, assurance and financial stewardship.
• Lead the continued development of the Trust’s financial management framework, ensuring robust financial planning, forecasting, reporting and operational support aligned to NHS and organisational priorities.
• Oversee the production of high-quality monthly financial reporting including forecasting, risk analysis, recovery actions and linkage between finance, workforce, activity and operational performance.
• Support delivery of the Trust’s financial recovery plans and Cost Improvement Programme.
• Provide leadership and accountability across Financial Accounting, Treasury Management, Capital Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Pensions and Charitable Funds.
• Lead the timely production of statutory accounts, NHS returns and regulatory submissions, maintaining strong relationships with auditors, regulators and system partners.
• Support major strategic programmes including the New Hospital Programme and lead strategic reviews of transactional and back-office services.
• Act as a senior professional advisor to leaders, supporting effective financial decision-making.
• Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary finance teams, creating a positive, collaborative and improvement-focused culture.
• Deputise for the Chief Finance Officer and Director of Operational Finance as required.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a full range of hospital and community services for people across East Cheshire, West Cheshire and Chester. The Trust provides high quality planned and emergency care, cardiac, critical care, child health, maternity services and intermediate care at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.

The Trust provides over 500 beds and employs over 5,100 members of staff.

A comprehensive range of community services is provided across 26 medical centres and schools through our Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership.

Person Specification

We are seeking a senior finance leader with strong technical credibility, operational leadership capability and the ability to lead teams through change and transformation.

Essential Criteria

• CCAB-qualified accountant with current professional membership.
• Significant senior finance experience within a complex NHS organisation, ideally within an acute provider setting.
• Experience spanning both Financial Management and Financial Services functions.
• Strong operational understanding of NHS financial governance, statutory reporting and regulatory requirements.
• Experience of leading annual accounts, PFR returns and complex technical accounting processes.
• Demonstrable experience of leading teams and delivering service improvement within finance functions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior level.
• Strong analytical, leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience supporting major capital programmes or organisational transformation initiatives.
• Experience of finance systems development, automation or digital transformation.
• Experience of collaborative working across systems or shared service environments.
• MBA or equivalent management qualification.
• Leadership potential and ambition to progress towards Director-level operational finance leadership roles in the future.

Values and Behaviours

• Calm, credible and supportive leadership
• Strong technical judgement combined with pragmatism
• Commitment to developing people and building positive team cultures
• Curiosity, openness and a willingness to modernise and improve
• Resilience, professionalism and delivery focus under pressure
• Collaborative and values-driven leadership

This advert closes on Sunday 21 Jun 2026

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