Job summary NHS Northamptonshire ICB are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced CCAB qualified Accountant to take up the position of Head of Financial Strategy. The role is an integral part of the finance system within Northamptonshire, part of the Financial Strategy team delivering System and ICB financial planning and reporting whilst facilitating business support for transformation. Ensuring strategic resource allocation both to ICB and Provider services which will facilitate the best outcomes for the population. This role is expected to be working from the office one fixed day per week (currently Mondays) and other days of the week as the role requires. The other days can be worked remotely or in the office. - The post holder will be required to be part of the On-call tactical rota for the ICB. To note this is a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity. Main duties of the job - To lead on all financial aspects of collating system financial planning - Introduce system to ensure the monitoring of QIPP / CIP across the System are aligned financially, and evidenced values are included within the ICS Financial Plan. - Ensure that the financial support to Population Health Management is cohesive and aligned to all financial decision making. - Completion of the ICS monthly returns, in accordance with national and local guidance and timetables. Adhere to and interpret accepted accounting standards and principles. - Operate as a senior lead working internally and externally to deliver projects, initiatives and services. - Assess the merits of different policy positions, undertaking analysis, synthesising into a single view and making recommendations. Clearly articulating the position on a range of policy issues to the directorate and wider organisation. - Undertake key projects involving analysis and interpretation and assessment of options including performance and service delivery, policy development and implementation. Responsible for the range of line management matters, including supporting appraisals, development of staff, recruitment and where necessary employee relations issues. The post holder will be required to be part of the On-call tactical rota for the ICB. About us Our integrated care system, Integrated Care Northamptonshire (ICN), is overseen by Northamptonshire Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and NHS Northamptonshire ICB. The ICP includes NHS and council representatives as well as representatives from various voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations. The ICB is a smaller body, including NHS provider organisations and senior representatives from both local councils. NHS organisations and local government partners on the Northamptonshire ICB include: o Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which provides community and mental health services o North Northamptonshire Council o Primary care providers, including general practice, dentists, pharmacy and ophthalmology (eye health) o University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, which includes Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust o West Northamptonshire Council Date posted 22 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £62,215 to £72,293 a year per annum Contract Secondment Working pattern Full-time Reference number 086-6935597 Job locations Haylock House Kettering Parkway, Venture Park Kettering NN15 6EY Job description Job responsibilities Your responsibilitiesFinancial PlanningTo lead on all financial aspects of collating system financial planning: Support the Associate Director of Financial Strategy to coordinate and develop all financial aspects of the business planning cycle, incorporating local and national priorities and reflecting financial planning guidance and best practice requirements. Manage inputs to the long term financial model for both the ICB and the ICS which reflects the agreed decisions of the ICB and System Partners Work with the Associate Director of Financial Strategy to manage the construction of both the ICB and ICS strategic and operational financial plan. Ensuring that financial analysis and projections are underpinned by accurate modelling and are based on best practice, documented and auditable. Provide input to ensure an effective contribution to the ICBs financial strategy planning, including contributing to annual and medium-term plans. Ensure the effective use of resources, and identification & management of risks. Introduce system to ensure the monitoring of QIPP / CIP across the System are aligned financially, and evidenced values are included within the ICS Financial Plan. Ensure that the financial support to Population Health Management is cohesive and aligned to all financial decision making. Interpret changes to complex national and local policies and guidance to assess and amend local plans as appropriate.Financial Management Manage the day-to-day process for the accurate completion of the ICS monthly returns, in accordance with national and local guidance and timetables. Adhere to and interpret accepted accounting standards and principles. Complete the monthly financial monitoring and intelligence reporting on the performance of the ICS budgets. Establish, implement and deliver systems that enable the effective and timely monitoring of financial performance related to agreed System budgets. Provide expert advice and leadership in the setting of ICB and System budgets for multiple organisations and service lines. Manage the collation of financial information to ensure the timely and accurate in year monthly reporting/returns both internally and externally to NHS England. Ensure that all relevant processes are completed and information available to produce the monthly finance report for the ICS. Drive continuous improvement in the team and new systems.Planning & Organising Deliver an effective support service to the Associate Director for Financial Strategy and the Deputy Director of Finance through leadership of the support function and providing strategic and operational management of the function and its processes. Ensure that the directorate operates efficiently and effectively, advising on and progressing significant work streams and leading on specific time limited projects. Keep up to date with policy developments across health and care. Be mindful of the impact of policy development on others, including patients and the public. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement and prioritise them across the directorate. Keep patient interest at the centre of all activities and involve patients and public in policy development where appropriate. Determine strategic planning of projects, identifying interdependencies across projects and potential impacts on the wider organisation and building in contingency and adjustment where necessary. Develop short, medium, and long-term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.Service Improvement Define current processes, facilitate discussions and advise colleagues as to how best practice might be adopted in the definition of future processes, document those processes as they are agreed and oversee their delivery. Operate as a senior lead working internally and externally to deliver projects, initiatives and services. Support the identification of best practice and proactively identify business improvement opportunities. Prioritise improvement activities across the directorate, analysing and proposing projects where value can be added. Develop and embed an approach, methodologies and tools to establish a continuous improvement capability within the directorate. Assist and direct the teams in analysing and understanding the root causes of operational issues using expert knowledge and continuous improvement methodologies. Operate intelligently in a highly political and sensitive environment. Develop and embed information sharing systems. Continuously improve office information systems and procedures. Regularly review procedures and /or systems to identify improvements and simplify processes and decision making. Determine the development of performance and governance strategies and the development of improvement programmes.Analysis & Judgment Assess the merits of different policy positions, undertaking analysis, synthesising into a single view and making recommendations. Clearly articulating the position on a range of policy issues to the directorate and wider organisation. Ensure projects, services and initiatives are delivered on time, in a cost- effective manner and to quality standards, adjusting plans as required. Highlight exceptions and risks, ensuring mitigating action is taken. Undertake key projects on behalf of the Associate Director of Financial Strategy and Deputy Director of Finance involving analysis and interpretation and assessment of options including performance and service delivery, policy development and implementation. Collate qualitative and quantitative information and lead in depth analysis and interpretation to develop robust business cases. Provide in depth analysis and interpretation into the production of complex and multiple reports. Analyse interpret and present data to highlight issues and risks and support decision making. Monitor, interpret and quality assure progress against deliverables in relation to the business agenda and strategic objectives.People Management Responsible for line management matters, including supporting appraisals, development of staff, recruitment and where necessary employee relations issues. Responsible for own and individual team members development, including ensuring the training and induction of new staff.Policy & Service Development Provide high quality strategic and operational policy advice to the Associate Director of Financial Strategy and directorate and ensure implementation with teams. Responsible for developing policies and procedures within own field of expertise/portfolio of work which impact the directorate. Responsible for proposing and drafting changes to policy, managing implementation and providing interpretation to policies, guidelines and service level agreements for a major area of activity. Contributes to and ensures compliance with corporate policies. Develop high quality policy advice drawing on latest qualitative and quantitative evidence from a range of sources.Communications Providing and receiving highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information, where developed persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance skills are required. This may be because agreement or co-operation is required or because there are barriers to understanding Responsible for providing professional expertise to the outcomes of the business processes for the System. Communicate and provide highly complex information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Build relationships and influence across the Directorate and with other key stakeholders, both internal and external. Nurture key relationships and maintain networks internally and externally, including national networks. Lead on the preparation and delivery of internal and external presentation materials which are consistent and effective at delivering key messages. Draft reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes and providing progress reports.The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager. Job description Job responsibilities Your responsibilitiesFinancial PlanningTo lead on all financial aspects of collating system financial planning: Support the Associate Director of Financial Strategy to coordinate and develop all financial aspects of the business planning cycle, incorporating local and national priorities and reflecting financial planning guidance and best practice requirements. Manage inputs to the long term financial model for both the ICB and the ICS which reflects the agreed decisions of the ICB and System Partners Work with the Associate Director of Financial Strategy to manage the construction of both the ICB and ICS strategic and operational financial plan. Ensuring that financial analysis and projections are underpinned by accurate modelling and are based on best practice, documented and auditable. Provide input to ensure an effective contribution to the ICBs financial strategy planning, including contributing to annual and medium-term plans. Ensure the effective use of resources, and identification & management of risks. Introduce system to ensure the monitoring of QIPP / CIP across the System are aligned financially, and evidenced values are included within the ICS Financial Plan. Ensure that the financial support to Population Health Management is cohesive and aligned to all financial decision making. Interpret changes to complex national and local policies and guidance to assess and amend local plans as appropriate.Financial Management Manage the day-to-day process for the accurate completion of the ICS monthly returns, in accordance with national and local guidance and timetables. Adhere to and interpret accepted accounting standards and principles. Complete the monthly financial monitoring and intelligence reporting on the performance of the ICS budgets. Establish, implement and deliver systems that enable the effective and timely monitoring of financial performance related to agreed System budgets. Provide expert advice and leadership in the setting of ICB and System budgets for multiple organisations and service lines. Manage the collation of financial information to ensure the timely and accurate in year monthly reporting/returns both internally and externally to NHS England. Ensure that all relevant processes are completed and information available to produce the monthly finance report for the ICS. Drive continuous improvement in the team and new systems.Planning & Organising Deliver an effective support service to the Associate Director for Financial Strategy and the Deputy Director of Finance through leadership of the support function and providing strategic and operational management of the function and its processes. Ensure that the directorate operates efficiently and effectively, advising on and progressing significant work streams and leading on specific time limited projects. Keep up to date with policy developments across health and care. Be mindful of the impact of policy development on others, including patients and the public. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement and prioritise them across the directorate. Keep patient interest at the centre of all activities and involve patients and public in policy development where appropriate. Determine strategic planning of projects, identifying interdependencies across projects and potential impacts on the wider organisation and building in contingency and adjustment where necessary. Develop short, medium, and long-term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.Service Improvement Define current processes, facilitate discussions and advise colleagues as to how best practice might be adopted in the definition of future processes, document those processes as they are agreed and oversee their delivery. Operate as a senior lead working internally and externally to deliver projects, initiatives and services. Support the identification of best practice and proactively identify business improvement opportunities. Prioritise improvement activities across the directorate, analysing and proposing projects where value can be added. Develop and embed an approach, methodologies and tools to establish a continuous improvement capability within the directorate. Assist and direct the teams in analysing and understanding the root causes of operational issues using expert knowledge and continuous improvement methodologies. Operate intelligently in a highly political and sensitive environment. Develop and embed information sharing systems. Continuously improve office information systems and procedures. Regularly review procedures and /or systems to identify improvements and simplify processes and decision making. Determine the development of performance and governance strategies and the development of improvement programmes.Analysis & Judgment Assess the merits of different policy positions, undertaking analysis, synthesising into a single view and making recommendations. Clearly articulating the position on a range of policy issues to the directorate and wider organisation. Ensure projects, services and initiatives are delivered on time, in a cost- effective manner and to quality standards, adjusting plans as required. Highlight exceptions and risks, ensuring mitigating action is taken. Undertake key projects on behalf of the Associate Director of Financial Strategy and Deputy Director of Finance involving analysis and interpretation and assessment of options including performance and service delivery, policy development and implementation. Collate qualitative and quantitative information and lead in depth analysis and interpretation to develop robust business cases. Provide in depth analysis and interpretation into the production of complex and multiple reports. Analyse interpret and present data to highlight issues and risks and support decision making. Monitor, interpret and quality assure progress against deliverables in relation to the business agenda and strategic objectives.People Management Responsible for line management matters, including supporting appraisals, development of staff, recruitment and where necessary employee relations issues. Responsible for own and individual team members development, including ensuring the training and induction of new staff.Policy & Service Development Provide high quality strategic and operational policy advice to the Associate Director of Financial Strategy and directorate and ensure implementation with teams. Responsible for developing policies and procedures within own field of expertise/portfolio of work which impact the directorate. Responsible for proposing and drafting changes to policy, managing implementation and providing interpretation to policies, guidelines and service level agreements for a major area of activity. Contributes to and ensures compliance with corporate policies. Develop high quality policy advice drawing on latest qualitative and quantitative evidence from a range of sources.Communications Providing and receiving highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information, where developed persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance skills are required. This may be because agreement or co-operation is required or because there are barriers to understanding Responsible for providing professional expertise to the outcomes of the business processes for the System. Communicate and provide highly complex information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Build relationships and influence across the Directorate and with other key stakeholders, both internal and external. Nurture key relationships and maintain networks internally and externally, including national networks. Lead on the preparation and delivery of internal and external presentation materials which are consistent and effective at delivering key messages. Draft reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes and providing progress reports.The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager. Person Specification Qualifications Essential CCAB or CIMA qualified NHS senior finance experience Person Specification Qualifications Essential CCAB or CIMA qualified NHS senior finance experience Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board Address Haylock House Kettering Parkway, Venture Park Kettering NN15 6EY Employer's website https://www.icnorthamptonshire.org.uk/icb (Opens in a new tab)