Head of Strategic Finance: Projects in London

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated finance professional to join a high performing finance team. The focus of this role is to act as the finance lead and senior project team member for major strategic projects being undertaken by the Trust, including the Chelsea New Build Development and the associated business models through which it will be implemented. In this capacity, the postholder will work closely with relevant internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement major strategic projects in line with the Trust’s strategic needs. The postholder will promote and support appropriate financial governance and decision-making in relation to the Trust’s major strategic projects. The postholder will also ensure appropriate financial reporting to governance bodies in relation to the Trust’s major strategic projects.

Working for our organisation, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do. At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees' work-life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our ongoing achievements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Influencing the development and implementation of the Trust’s major strategic projects to ensure that they are aligned to the Trust’s strategic objectives.
• Leading the development, implementation and review of financial and investment policies and frameworks specific to the Trust’s major strategic projects, ensuring alignment with and contribution to the Trust’s wider strategic and financial objectives.
• Engaging with and influencing external stakeholders and partners, including both partners such as RMCC and the ICR, as well as regulatory bodies such as NHSE, in order to progress the Trust’s major strategic projects.
• Acting as the senior responsible officer for the financial governance framework underpinning the Trust’s major strategic projects, ensuring consistent application of agreed financial policies, controls and assurance arrangements across directorates and partner organisations involved in the programme.

Person specification

• Recognised chartered accountancy qualification (CCAB), or other suitable level of education with significant qualification experience.
• Extensive and relevant experience in a senior management role, demonstrating the ability to operate effectively at a strategic level within a complex organisation.
• Demonstrates substantial experience of working at a strategic level, with the ability to interpret organisational direction and assess the implications of policy decisions within a complex environment.
• Demonstrates highly developed interpersonal and communication skills to convey complex technical and strategic information clearly, concisely, and in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences.
• Involvement in complex change management programmes within the NHS and of delivery of benefits.
• Previous staff management experience and/or able to demonstrate an understanding of good personnel practice and its application.

Skills Abilities/knowledge

• Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the NHS as a whole, its strategic direction and implications of policy.
• Good knowledge of the Trust, its aims, targets to be delivered, structures and activities.
• Demonstrates the ability to interpret and communicate highly complex, contentious, and sensitive information clearly and appropriately to a range of audiences.
• Possesses advanced analytical skills, with the capability to manage and synthesise large volumes of complex financial and non-financial data, producing clear, evidence-based recommendations to inform decision-making.
• Regularly reviews policies and procedures and recommends and/or implements improvements to them.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application. All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease. The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the utmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.