Executive Director of Finance (Chief Finance Officer) in Neath

Swansea Bay University Health Board is seeking an exceptional financial leader to join its Board as Executive Director of Finance at a pivotal point in its journey. This is a very senior role with a competitive salary. Serving a population of approximately 390,000 across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, with a workforce of around 13,500 and an annual budget of over £1.1bn, Swansea Bay is one of the largest public sector organisations in Wales. The Health Board aims to become a high performing organisation delivering sustainable, high quality and affordable care for its population. This role will be central to shaping that future.

The Health Board is on an ambitious journey of recovery, improvement and transformation. You will be a full voting member of the Board and a key architect of the Health Board’s ongoing transformation, leading productivity, business improvement and long term financial sustainability, and working with the Chair, Chief Executive, Board colleagues and Welsh Government to shape resource deployment for high quality, affordable care.

You will provide authoritative financial leadership across the organisation, ensure robust financial governance and stewardship, and play a central role in service transformation, workforce planning and digital investment. You will lead the Finance, Procurement and Charitable Funds portfolios, develop long term financial strategies, and represent the Health Board at national level with Welsh Government, Audit Wales and system partners.

We are seeking a values led Executive leader with a proven track record of operating at Board level within a complex organisation. You will bring experience of financial recovery, large scale organisational transformation and change, alongside the credibility and collaborative style required to work effectively with clinical, operational and system leaders. You will be a visible and influential leader who can inspire high performing teams, champion transparency and governance, and contribute to the wider corporate leadership of the Health Board.

Swansea Bay offers an exceptional quality of life. The region combines vibrant city living with outstanding coastline and countryside, including the Gower Peninsula. This is an attractive place to live and work for senior leaders and their families.

This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic Board and Executive team and to help shape the next chapter for Swansea Bay University Health Board. If you are motivated by public service, transformation and making a tangible difference to population health, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Date posted: 29 January 2026
Pay scheme: Very senior manager (VSM)
Salary: Depending on experience – Competitive Salary
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
Reference number: H
Job locations: Swansea Bay University Health Board, Seaway Parade Industrial Estate, Baglan, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, SA12 7BR

• Essential experience of building personal and professional credibility with Board, management and clinical teams and staff.
• Excellent communication and ability to work effectively and co-operatively.
• Excellent leadership, influencing skills and demonstrate professional credibility.
• Capacity to think strategically and analyse and solve complex problems.
• Able to demonstrate sound judgement and decision making in a complex environment.
• Ability to communicate in Welsh and/or empathy with and commitment to learn and communicate in Welsh as part of core objectives.
• Ability to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear sense of direction and vision to a wide audience.
• Demonstrable leadership and ambassadorial skills with an ability to demonstrate a flexible leadership style - consensual and participative but decisive when warranted.
• Commitment and passion for citizen focused service with the ability to embed such an ethos at all levels of the organisation.
• Inspirational leader who demonstrates the ability to lead and manage change.
• Leads by example, promoting the highest standards of conduct, integrity and probity.
• Committed to the continuous development of staff and self.
• Commitment to developing culture of openness and partnership.
• Commitment to improving quality of patient care.
• Evidence of self awareness.
• Creative thinker.

• Essential experience in a Senior Finance role in a complex environment sector.
• Proven experience of working and contributing at Board level.
• Significant management and professional experience.
• Evidence of working across a range of organisations to achieve significant change.
• Experience of strategic financial planning and development.
• Experience of delivering challenging financial plans including large Cost Reduction Programmes.
• Advanced expert knowledge of UK and International Accounting Standards.
• Evidence of actively participating in service improvement and efficiency.
• Understanding of the financial challenges facing the NHS in the 21st Century, in the context of wider economic conditions.
• Understanding of the political agenda for Health and Social Care.

• Essential evidence of recent Management and Leadership Development.
• CCAB qualified accountant.
• Evidence of Continual Professional Development.
• Educated to Masters Degree level relevant to the field of expertise or equivalent senior level of work experience.
• Evidence of Management and Leadership Development geared towards very senior posts.
• Evidence of and a demonstrable commitment to Continual Professional Development with an active and varied CPD portfolio.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.