Associate Director of Finance - Business Support Services

Job Overview

This is a senior leadership role within the Finance Directorate, providing strategic and operational financial leadership to support the delivery of the Trust's objectives. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Director of Operational Finance, the post holder will play a key role in shaping the Trust's financial strategy, ensuring financial sustainability, and supporting the delivery of high-quality patient care.

The role is responsible for leading the operational finance and business support functions, providing expert financial advice to the Trust Board, Executive Team, clinical and corporate divisions, and external stakeholders across the wider Integrated Care System. The post holder will oversee financial planning, performance reporting, forecasting, governance and business case development, ensuring robust financial management across the organisation.

As a senior finance leader, you will drive continuous improvement, champion the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and support major transformation programmes and service developments. You will also contribute to the development of high-performing teams and deputise for senior finance colleagues as required.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide strategic financial leadership to ensure the Trust delivers robust financial plans, strong financial performance and effective governance. They will lead the annual financial planning cycle, financial forecasting and performance reporting, supporting informed decision-making across the organisation.

The role will provide expert financial advice on major service developments, transformation programmes, capital investments and business cases, ensuring proposals are financially sustainable and deliver value for money. It will also lead the Business Support Department, ensuring resources are effectively deployed and finance services continually improve to meet organisational needs.

Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and partner organisations, the post holder will support the delivery of Trust and system priorities while promoting innovation, efficiency and the effective use of digital and AI-enabled solutions.

Working for our organisation

Why Join Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust?

At Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

As a Disability Confident Employer and recipient of the Gold Award in the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme, we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build rewarding careers within the NHS.

We also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. By supporting flexible working arrangements wherever possible, we enable our colleagues to balance their professional and personal commitments while continuing to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Whether flexibility means adjusted hours, part-time working, hybrid arrangements or alternative working patterns, we work in partnership with our staff to meet both individual and service needs.

Join Us

Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for your next challenge, Frimley Health offers the opportunity to be part of a inclusive, forward-thinking organisation that is committed to excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare and make a real difference to the lives of the communities we serve.

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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• A comprehensive and detailed job description can be found in the attached JD and Person Specification
• Person specification
• Experince
• Essential criteria

• Significant senior financial leadership experience within a large, complex NHS organisation or equivalent public sector environment.
• Extensive experience leading financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, statutory reporting and financial governance functions.
• Proven track record of delivering financial sustainability, efficiency programmes and service transformation initiatives.
• Experience of providing expert financial advice to Executive Directors, Boards and senior leadership teams.
• Significant experience of managing financial risks and ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and NHS financial requirements.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrable experience of influencing strategic decision-making through the provision of robust financial analysis and business cases.

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• CCAB qualified with a minimum of 5 years post qualified experience (QBE will be allowed for acting and seconded roles only)
• Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
• Higher education to degree level

Desirable criteria

• An appropriate management qualification (DMS/MBA)

Leadership and Behavioural Attributes

Essential criteria

• Influences and negotiates effectively at Board, Executive and system level to achieve organisational objectives.
• Demonstrates visible, values-based leadership and a commitment to fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• Influences and negotiates effectively at Board, Executive and system level to achieve organisational objectives.
• Promotes innovation and continuous improvement, challenging existing practices where appropriate to improve performance.

Desirable criteria

• Highly self-aware, acts with integrity and demonstrates personal accountability for delivering results.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

Apply online now