Band 9 - Director of Operational Finance in Watford

Help shape the future of one of the NHS's most ambitious and successful Trusts. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional finance leader to join our executive leadership team as Director of Operational Finance. This is a rare opportunity to take on a pivotal role within an organisation that is delivering significant transformation, quality improvement, and performance recovery. Recognised nationally as HSJ Trust of the Year 2025 and winner of the HSJ Performance Recovery Award 2025, we are proud of our achievements and even more ambitious about our future.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and acting as Deputy CFO, you will play a central role in driving financial sustainability, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring that our resources are used effectively to deliver outstanding care for our patients and communities.

Main duties of the job

As Director of Operational Finance, you will lead all aspects of operational financial management across the Trust. You will provide strategic and professional leadership to the Finance Directorate, working closely with executive colleagues, divisional leaders, clinicians, and system partners to support the delivery of our organisational objectives. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic financial leadership across a large and complex acute teaching hospital.
• Leading financial planning, reporting, budgetary control, investment appraisal, cash management, and financial risk management.
• Supporting delivery of the Trust's financial sustainability and transformation programmes.
• Ensuring strong governance, financial control, and regulatory compliance.
• Developing high-performing finance teams and driving service excellence across finance business partnering functions.
• Representing the Trust across the Integrated Care System and with regional and national NHS stakeholders.
• Deputising for the Chief Financial Officer when required.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

About you

We are looking for an inspirational leader with the credibility, resilience, and strategic vision to operate at the most senior levels of the NHS. You will be:

• A professionally qualified accountant (CCAB, CIPFA, ACCA or equivalent).
• An experienced senior finance leader with a successful track record in complex organisations.
• Skilled in leading large-scale financial improvement, productivity, and transformation programmes.
• A strong relationship builder, able to influence across organisational and system boundaries.
• Commercially astute with exceptional analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
• Passionate about developing people and creating high-performing teams.
• Driven by a commitment to delivering excellent patient care through effective stewardship of public resources.

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Professionally qualified accountant e.g. CCAB, ACCA, CIPFA.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Postgraduate management or other relevant postgraduate qualification.

Experience

• Significant post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation.
• A proven track record of strong leadership at a senior level, both within the financial brief and more broadly as a corporate leader.
• Expert specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies.
• Evidence of supporting sizable operational productivity programmes and of supporting organisations through ongoing change and development programmes; linked to this, experience of implementing or developing effective service-line-reporting models.
• Ability to engage with and develop partnership relationships across organisational boundaries in pursuit of shared objectives.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.