Business Advisor, WRH

at  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Key Duties (see full Job Description attached under supporting information) Financial Reporting Responsible for providing accurate, timely, detailed budget management reports + supporting information to all budget managers within the Divisions, in a format that enables complex information to be understood by non-finance staff. Take responsibility for the adapting/designing, review, maintenance, modification and update of financial systems for reporting Divisional positions. Ensure that reports are of the highest quality by actively contributing to the quality assurance process and ensuring that key validations and reconciliations are completed. Supervise the month end process to ensure that deadlines are met and a true and fair view of the Divisional position is reported.
Prepare a detailed financial report each month for presentation at monthly Directorate and Divisional Board meetings, performance review and any other pre-Trust Board meeting. The Business Advisor (BA) will be required to answer detailed questions on any aspect of the Divisions finances at these meetings. Where performance differs from plan, the BA will be expected to propose rectification measures for discussion and agreement at the meeting. Strategic / Financial Planning Lead the annual financial planning process for their Division including identifying, co-ordinating and quantifying Service Developments, Cost Pressures, Efficiency Programmes and Capital Bids to support the annual objectives.
Identify threats to the financial stability of their Division and agree rectification measures with the relevant clinical or non-clinical managers. Supervise the production of detailed forecast out-turn projections for the Division. Where forecast out-turn deviates from plan, lead the process of preparing a financial rectification plan for agreement by the Division. Take responsibility for budget setting for their Division, in line with agreed Trust policies and ensuring the involvement of key Divisional managers and clinicians.
Ensure that all budgets are signed off at Directorate and Divisional level before presenting the start-point budget to the senior management team for written approval. Ensure that Divisions budgets are set within available resources allowing for developments and other income adjustments, providing for recurrent financial balance, and advise on resource allocation and cost improvement issues. Advise the Deputy Director of Finance (Operational Business Support) of the robustness and achievability of Divisional financial plans, highlighting levels of risk, to facilitate the assessment and reporting of the Trust corporate financial position. Take the lead for the Division on ensuring that benchmarking submissions are accurate, complete and timely.
Business Management and Decision Support Corporate responsibility for the utilisation of the financial resources and assets of the Division to ensure efficient and effective use. Support / advise on the production of business cases within the Division, including leading on and taking responsibility for the accuracy of the financial analysis. This will include analysis/triangulation of highly complex data from a variety of sources and the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques to proposals to facilitate decision making. Develop and monitor financial and non-financial performance indicators to identify areas where the use of resources can be monitored and improved.
Work with operational managers and clinicians to improve productivity and demonstrate the impact of this on financial performance. Take the lead for the Division on benchmarking and value for money audits to ensure best practice and optimal utilisation of resources. With the support of the procurement department, negotiate external contracts with suppliers. Take the financial lead on the evaluation of tenders to ensure that the Division is providing best value for money.
The post will be responsible for maximising income levels for the Directorates it supports, ensuring that funding sources from all appropriate external agencies are investigated and that all funding is recovered. Ensures that Approval to Recruit (ATR) applications and establishments are being processed/updated in a correct and timely manner. Challenges any atypical posts and decides if these can proceed whilst balancing service needs and financial risk. The post will ensure that information provision and outputs associated with Service Line Reporting for the supported Directorates are generated in accordance with the Trusts SLR policies and procedures and are communicated to the Division and used to identify opportunities for improvement.
Ensure that financial and non-financial performance indicators relating to the Trusts PFI Contract are subject to scrutiny and review in order to challenge and validate charges and credits received, and to identify areas where the use of resources can be improved. Ensure that financial support is provided to ensure that the Trusts PFI Model can be managed and maintained. The post will be the nominated Senior Finance lead NHS England on the NHS Education Funding Agreement ensuring that the Trusts Contract is understood, supported and subject to financial review, including providing leadership and support for any new bids submitted in-year. Financial Policies and Procedures The role will be responsible for managing the financial control processes ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, integrity, and an appropriate business focus within the framework of the Trusts financial systems.
Contribute fully to the development of corporate financial policies, strategies and systems and adhere to these in the performance of the duties of the post. Identify opportunities to improve and develop system based working practices, taking a lead for the Trust if required. Proactively identify areas of weakness in financial controls, policies and processes outside of Financial Management (eg Financial Services) and make constructive use of intra-departmental meetings to propose and drive forward appropriate changes. Promote, implement, and advocate corporately agreed financial policies, procedures and approaches within the Division to ensure acceptance and adherence.
Drive forward the continued development of the finance function in response to national policy drivers, requiring interpretation of financial and other legislation/policies for the Division. Act as Divisional lead for the financial implications of the implementation of national policies. Leadership and Staff Management Responsible for the staff within the Divisional finance team, including recruitment and selection decisions, appraisal, performance management, sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance issues, allocation, re-allocation and monitoring of departmental workload and personal development in accordance with agreed Trust policies and procedures. Financial Services Take the lead within the Division for developing and maintaining processes which deliver the Trusts Financial services objectives including: o Compliance with the Better Payment Practice Code.
o Improved debt recovery. o Management of the Trusts working capital. o Statutory Accounting including the production of the Annual Accounts and monthly NHSE returns. o Capital Negotiate with NHS/external organisations over complex cost/service issues to resolve disputes to facilitate payment and improve cash-flow.
Financial Advice and Training Where breaches are discovered, ensure appropriate action is taken, in compliance with Trust policies Provide expert advice to the contracts team to support negotiation of contracts with commissioners and where Divisional input is required on a specific area of the contract. To ensure that the Division understand the Trusts overall financial position and the potential implications of this on the Divisions own services/developments. Ensures that all budget holders receive sufficient training to enable them to exercise their duties in accordance with the Trusts financial policies including Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Scheme of Delegation. Where breaches are discovered, ensure appropriate action is taken, in compliance with Trust policies To ensure that own professional skills and knowledge are regularly updated through mandatory Continuing Professional Development.

Quality Assurance Ensure: the process of financial management takes into account the need to enhance the quality of care provided within the hospital. Constant review, update and improvement of information systems for managing the financial and accounting processes with the finance department. the process of financial management provides complete, timely and consistent information, in line with recognised best practice. there are robust internal control systems within Divisions so as to provide substantial assurance of effective internal control.

• regular audit of departments working practice are undertaken in order to promote continuous improvement in accounting practices, including the use of surveys within the organisation, and analysis tools as appropriate. Other Duties Trust Finance representative to JNCC preparing and presenting the Trust wide financial position and updating members on all relevant finance aspects. Deputises for the Deputy Director of Finance (operational Business Support) as required. Play a leading role in the Directorates improvement programme to develop a centre of excellence.

Please refer the Job description for details