Company: Ekhuft

Apply for the Deputy Chief Finance Officer – Governance

Location: Canterbury

Job Description:

Deputy Chief Finance Officer – Governance

Band 9

Main area Deputy Chief Finance Officer Grade Band 9 Contract Permanent Hours Full time – 37.5 hours per week Job ref 344-3669COR

Site Kent and Canterbury Hospital Town Canterbury Salary £112,782 – £129,783 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 06/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

East Kent Hospitals is a large and complex NHS Foundation Trust with a substantial financial deficit to be addressed alongside continued improvement required in performance and quality metrics of patient care and services. This critical role will support the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) in influencing and driving the strategic and operational development of the Trust. Reporting to the CFO, the Deputy Chief Finance Officer – Governance role will play a vital leadership role in ensuring we can steer a financially sustainable course in the coming months and years.

The Deputy Chief Finance Officer – Governance will support the CFO in the delivery of financial governance and assurance. The role will include leadership of Financial Services and Capital and will work closely with the Deputy Chief Finance Officer – Performance across the Finance portfolio.

As a senior member of the Finance leadership team, delivery against the Trusts corporate objectives is expected, in particular the Trust’s objectives to achieve financial sustainability

The Deputy Chief Finance Officer roles will have a strong track record of delivery, be able to manage multiple projects and drive change. The postholder will be able to lead and motivate teams effectively as well as building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners.

The post holder will work with the Deputy Chief Financial Officer – Performance to provide leadership across the Finance Team

Main duties of the job

Lead the development of Financial Services ensuring delivery of statutory financial duties including the submission of the annual consolidated accounts and take responsibility for ensuring that a robust control environment is in place and that corporate governance procedures are complied with.

Overseeing the financial accounting framework, ensuring that the financial accounting team provides a full accounting service to the Trust, its charity and subsidiaries. This will require up to date relevant knowledge of accounting standards and NHS accounting practice .

Provide leadership with regards to the Trust’s processes that are in place to prepare and monitor the Cash, Financing, Capital and Working Capital Management elements of the annual and longer-term plan.

Providing overall leadership of the Financial Services team, ensuring they are a high performing team by encouraging autonomy, innovation, and best practice in everything they do.

Ensuring the Trust’s financial position is reported accurately internally and externally, including meaningful analysis, evaluation and advice, suitable for non-financial stakeholders, to support robust decision making.

Lead the preparation and submission of the Trust’s Annual Accounts through to completion and sign off by External Audit and the Trust Board.

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is ‘great healthcare from great people’. Everything we do is guided by our values: ‘People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called ‘We care’. It’s about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We’re looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Qualifications and training

Educated to degree level
Professionally qualified accountant (Member of CCAB approved body – CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA) with 10 years post qualification experience
Evidence of relevant continued professional development

Skills, knowledge and experience

Significant post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation
Knowledge of NHS and the acute sector
Expert specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies
Extensive experience of collecting complex data from a number of sources, forming opinions, identifying options, making recommendations and presenting to diverse audiences
Experience of taking a finance team through transformational change to enhance the service provided to customers and stakeholders
Experience of representing and negotiating on behalf of a Trust
Experience of the NHS planning process, contracting environment and payment by results.
Significant staff and budgetary management experience.
Solid experience of managing a programme of project work, including major organisational and/or service change
Experience of annual report/account production
Significant experience at Deputy Director of Finance level
Significant experience within healthcare
Acute provider experience
Understanding of complex Group accounting

Personal/professional attributes

Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills. Highly developed communication and written presentation skills
Ability to work under pressure and be resilient in times of change
Ability to gain the trust and confidence of very senior colleagues
To be aware of and adhere to the Trust’s Vision, Mission and Values
Ability to challenge and effectively manage and deal with highly contentious situations and issues
A genuine team player competent at operating at all levels within an organisation.
Ability to lead, manage and mentor staff
Commitment to equal opportunities in employment and service delivery
Highest degree of honesty, probity and integrity

There are lots of great opportunities at East Kent Hospitals, where staff are caring and put patients first, innovation flourishes and you can develop your career. We’re on an exciting journey of transformation. With a local Medical School at the centre of our community, a focus on research, clinical leadership and making our trust a rewarding and friendly place to work,there’s never been a better time to join us. To find out more about east Kent visit our website . The Trust fully supports the SAS Doctors Charter and is committed to their development through its CPD Framework.

We have a relocation policy for eligible candidates, parking available at Trust sites but we encourage other options, like car sharing or public transport.

The Trust is committed to supporting flexible working to fulfil our pledge as part of The Trust’s People Strategy to help staff to achieve a healthy work/life balance. Please speak with your Recruiting Manager for further information on how this can be managed alongside department expectations and requirements.

The ability to converse easily and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for all customer facing roles.

Most positions require a Disclosure and Barring check and will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Posts working regularly or unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults require an enhanced check.

Applicants for eligible roles requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship must meet UK Visas and Immigration eligibility criteria.

We operate a no-smoking policy on all our sites and grounds.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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Posted: October 3rd, 2026