MRP- Deputy Director of Operational Finance

We are seeking an experienced senior qualified accountant to lead operational finance work across the Midlands. You will support regional leaders to improve financial sustainability, deliver transformation, and meet NHS priorities.

The role offers broad experience and the opportunity to influence local systems, support major transformation programmes and contribute to regional and national priorities. Key responsibilities include financial planning, income, contracting, cost improvement, capital investment, audit, business intelligence, and financial assurance.

You will have substantial senior management experience in the NHS or a related public healthcare organisation. You will have led complex change and developed strategies in challenging environments.

You will develop clear financial strategies for NHS organisations facing significant challenges. You will identify and manage risks, escalating issues or supporting intervention when needed.

You will lead the regional finance team, set high standards and develop staff. You will build strong relationships with senior leaders and influence the delivery of financial plans and performance.

You will make finance a trusted partner to clinical and operational colleagues. We are looking for sound judgement under scrutiny, confident leadership in challenging circumstances, and a strong commitment to NHS values and purpose.

There are currently 3 vacancies for this post we are looking to fill.

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Essential: - The postholder must be a qualified accountant and CCAB member.; - Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.; - Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful Projects

Essential: - Develop a coherent and credible system financial strategy and annual financial plans for a range of distressed and failing NHS organisations to proactively manage the key risks and issues associated with delivery of financial plans ensuring appropriate actions including escalation and intervention are taken; - Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry including proven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.; - Provide leadership and management of the finance team through being an effective people manager, who sets high standards, motivates and develops staff and stakeholders and promotes personal, organisational and cultural development.; - Interact, influence and persuade key leaders within organisations to ensure delivery of the financial strategy and in year performance; - The postholder should be able to demonstrate experience and significant knowledge of the NHS Financial regime gained ideally across both commissioning and provider sectors.; - The postholder should have a minimum of 5 years senior management experience.

Essential: - The postholder will be able to demonstrate well developed analytical, business and influencing skills specifically but not solely in the areas of investment case development and review, financial planning (both revenue and capital) and cost improvement programmes.

Essential: - Demonstrable commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations; - Self -awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness; - Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.