Full Time – Head of Finance – Mental Health & Community – Band 8C

Overview

In this role you will lead financial planning and in-year management for mental health and community portfolios within the ICB. You will partner with executive directors, budget holders, and programme leads to deliver robust financial planning, reporting, and cost-improvement initiatives. The position involves close collaboration with contracting, procurement, and local authorities to support pooled budgets and new models. You will drive compliance with NHS requirements and contribute to strategic frameworks for neighbourhoods, alliances, and collaboratives. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role that shapes financial strategy in a large, mission-driven healthcare system.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual financial plans aligned to ICB medium-term plans
• Provide leadership for in-year financial management and ensure delivery of plans, budgeting, efficiency, performance and risk
• Produce integrated monthly financial reports focusing on delivery and risk management
• Provide expert financial inputs to contract development, management and performance reporting
• Adjust allocations and spending to stay within control totals
• Support joint commissioning and pooled budgets with local authorities
• Provide high-quality financial advice to the CFO, Executive Directors and programme leads on budget issues and cost pressures
• Support development and delivery of efficiency and cost-improvement programmes
• Ensure compliance with NHS England requirements for in-year financial monitoring
• Support development of new financial frameworks for emerging models such as neighbourhoods, alliances and collaboratives

Key requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent senior-level experience
• Extensive knowledge of health and care policies, priorities and strategy in ICBS
• Proven experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting at senior level
• Experience with contract development, performance reporting and stakeholder engagement
• Strong analytical ability to identify risks and provide solutions
• Excellent communication and presentational skills with senior stakeholders
• Ability to work with partners including County Council and national bodies (NHSE)
• Membership of relevant professional body

• Analytical thinking
• Clear communication with senior stakeholders
• Influencing and persuasive skills
• Financial planning and budgeting
• Management reporting
• Cost improvement and efficiency programmes

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