Bank - Senior Finance Business Partner in Milton Keynes

Department: Finance

Band: 8b – £34.05 – £39.57 per hour

Hours and working arrangements: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the month-end close and budget setting for the Surgical Division, ensuring team resources are deployed effectively to meet key deadlines.
• Build relationships with divisional and service managers and clinicians to support the management of resources within the income generated by services.
• Work closely with divisions on budget setting, budgetary management, forecasting and efficiency plans, and lead on Trust-wide developments and business cases.
• Provide expert, specialist and in-depth financial advice and support to the Surgical Division, Director of Finance, Deputy Directors of Finance and other managers.
• Promote a professional approach within the clinical Division ensuring financial consequences of service change/development are fully considered and evaluated, providing direction and support to enable the achievement of Divisional, Trust and national targets.
• Lead on Trust-wide improvement projects: define current processes, facilitate discussions, advise colleagues, document processes and oversee delivery.
• Produce monthly financial reporting packs that outline performance, identify actions to improve financial performance and secure buy-in from divisional operational management.
• Produce monthly forecasts on activity and expenditure with CSU colleagues, present forecasts in formal meetings and mitigate risks while exploiting opportunities.
• Develop business cases in line with Trust format and process, ensuring robust, evidence-based content that delivers best value.
• Present highly complex information about projects, initiatives and services to a wide range of stakeholders in formal settings.
• Encourage, support and facilitate staff to innovate for the improvement of patient care and the efficiency, safety, quality and effectiveness of services.

Qualifications and knowledge – Essential criteria:

• Professional Accountancy qualification.
• Educated to postgraduate level (or equivalent) or working toward.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Knowledge and experience in a management accounts setting, including month-end and year-end procedures and forecasting.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, NHS finance policies, QUIP, CIP, SLR and related disciplines.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of Standing Orders, Financial Instructions, Directives, IFRS, EAP, VAT, EU Procurement Directives, NHS guidance and employment law.
• Understanding of NHS income and proven ability to analyse variances.

Experience – Essential criteria:

• Significant experience working at a senior level within a finance department.

Skills – Essential criteria:

• Analyse technical issues and provide practical guidance to executives and users on capital investment, business cases and savings plans.
• Operate with discretion and without direct supervision, balancing competing priorities.
• Manage conflicting priorities and make judgements to deliver best service to stakeholders.
• Highly numerate; analyse reports and complex data sets.
• Deliver demanding tasks and objectives against deadlines.

Personal and people development – Essential criteria:

• High personal conduct and behaviour, acting as a role-model encouraging respect and accountability.

Desirable criteria – Personal and people development:

• Build and develop multidisciplinary teams and maintain constructive working relationships at all levels and disciplines.

Communication – Essential criteria:

• Communicate clearly and effectively to a wide range of individuals, including preparing and presenting financial information to Management Board members, staff groups, senior managers and auditors.
• Show personal insight and willingness to adapt communication style.
• Communicate highly complex information to stakeholders to ensure understanding and buy-in.
• Communicate contentious issues with sensitivity and empathy.

Benefits:

• Free on-site parking including EV charging.
• Complimentary refreshments.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme.
• Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement.
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.
• On-site nursery (charges apply).
• Wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP.
• VIVUP products to support mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

EEO statement: We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.