Finance manager
Our finance managers make sure that our frontline staff have the resources they need to be able to deliver the treatment and care our patients need.
Managing the finances of an NHS organisation, whether it is a large hospital trust, ambulance service trust or clinical commissioning group, is like running the finances of a large company. As a finance manager, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that the funds for these organisations are allocated and spent appropriately for the good our staff and patients.
Working life
In financial management, your role will incorporate managing budgets and deciding on resource allocation.
It will include:
- payroll and pensions - ensuring staff get paid
- accounts - paying for goods and services, collecting income
- financial systems - the Information Technology (IT) systems that track all financial activity
- management information - gathering and interpreting the financial data required to make day-to-day and strategic management decisions
- reporting - preparing annual financial reports and co-ordinating with the Inland Revenue, VAT collection and other authorities
- financial audit - checking expenditure and income.
Roles in financial management
There are a variety of job roles and job titles in financial management. Here are some examples:
In this example, you would work closely with the head of finance and:
- establish systems and processes to enable the timely and accurate delivery of monthly management accounts and budget information
- be involved in the annual budget setting process
- provide ongoing support and direction for the budget holders
- investigate and report on variances
- be involved in ad hoc projects and reports (eg contributing to the five-year business planning processes)
Here, you will be:
- working for an NHS trust or clinical commissioning group
- providing a financial planning service to commissioning acute services
- providing the financial data to support local delivery plans and the Service Level Agreement process.
In this type of role, you will be
- responsible for financial planning and control for a specific organisation (eg working in an NHS trust, supporting the needs of over 3 million people and employing 7,100 staff on two main and two smaller sites
- integral in managing a budget to improve health care provision (eg a £270 million scheme to modernise the trust, including moving the majority of acute facilities onto a single site hospital)
- a key member of the Finance Senior Management team, with main areas of responsibility to lead the maintenance and development of finance systems and formulate business cases to develop and modernise the trusts services.
- providing a comprehensive financial service in relation to the Trusts Corporate Governance Agenda.
Working within an NHS trust or clinical commissioning group and in this example, you’ll have responsibility for the financial leadership of the information communication and technology programme across a number of NHS organisations to ensure that all statutory financial requirements are met.
There are opportunities to work in finance in non-managerial roles.
Find out more about non-management opportunities in finance
Who would I work with?
You could be working with, human resources managers, clinical managers and staff woking in strategic management.
Want to learn more?
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Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern.
Your career in financial management within the NHS would typically start at Agenda for Change band 5 – for example as a team manager. Finance section managers would typically be on band 6, department managers on band 7 and principal finance managers on band 8a. Senior director level posts would be paid on the Very Senior Managers pay system.
Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.
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With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for more senior managerial roles.
Progression for those with ability is typically via operational management in a large healthcare provider. Relocation for promotion is common.
More diverse routes are now opening up, for example, jointly-funded posts between health and social services.
Graduates from the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme who specialise in financial management are expected to gain rapid promotion into senior financial positions.
Management qualifications, such as a Master of Business of Administration (MBA) may be an advantage for some posts.
When you’re looking for jobs in financial management, there are a number of sources you can use, depending on the type of and level of work you’re seeking.
Below are just some of the current vacancies in finance on the NHS Jobs website.
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Financial Planning Manager
London, SW9 8RR
- Salary :
- £72921.00 to £83362.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Assistant Director of Finance - Financial Services
Torquay, TQ2 7AN
- Salary :
- £76965.00 to £88682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Head of Finance Business Partnering & Value
Location to be confirmed at interview, CF11 9AD
- Salary :
- £78120.00 to £90013.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Digital Health and Care Wales
-
Deputy Head of Finance - Fixed Term Contract
Crowborough, TN6 1XP
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £55000.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Horder Healthcare
-
Finance Manager
Bedford, MK40 2TX
- Salary :
- £45000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Finance Manager
Bebington, CH63 4JY
- Salary :
- £41222.00 to £47948.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- PharmaC (The Clatterbridge Pharmacy Ltd)
-
Finance Manager
Fairfield Industrial Estate, LN11 0LS
- Salary :
- £33000.00 to £40000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lincolnshire And District Medical Services (LADMS)
-
Finance Manager
Liverpool, L9 7AL
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Commercial Finance Manager
Northampton, NN4 9BS
- Salary :
- £70000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.
-
Senior Finance Manager
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Director of Finance
Eastleigh, SO50 5PB
- Salary :
- £109179.00 to £125637.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB (104)
-
Director of Finance
Runcorn, WA7 6EP
- Salary :
- £56745.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Halton Haven Hospice
-
Finance Manager - R&D
317 Regent Point, NE3 3HD
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Finance Manager - Maternity Cover
Maidenhead, SL6 6EL
- Salary :
- £15.00 to £18.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Symons Medical Centre
-
Executive Director of Finance
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
-
Finance Manager - Much Birch Surgery
Hereford, HR4 0DG
- Salary :
- £33874.54 to £38245.45
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Taurus Healthcare Limited
-
Senior Deputy Commercial Finance Manager
Birmingham, B4 6NH
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
-
AGH Solutions - Director of Finance
Steeton, BD20 6TD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- AGH Solutions Ltd
-
Executive Director of Finance and Contracting
Warrington, WA1 1QY
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
-
Deputy Director of Finance and Procurement
England, LS1 4AP
- Salary :
- £91342.00 to £105337.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS Resolution
-
Financial Accountant
Nottingham, NG8 6PY
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
-
Management Accountant
Basingstoke, RG24 9NA
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Financial Accounts Assistant
Nottingham, NG8 6PY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
-
Director of Finance - LCOs and UDHM Clinical Group
Manchester, M2 5DB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Assistant Management Accountant
Shrewsbury, SY2 6FG
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Secondment
- Employer :
- Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
-
Assistant Management Accountant
Barnsley, S70 3RD
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
-
Management Accounts Officer
Manchester, M23 9LT
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Management Accounts Assistant
Southend on Sea, SS2 6GE
- Salary :
- £27485.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Management Accountant
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Management Accounts Officer
Daveyhulme, M41 5SL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Financial Management Assistant
Aylesbury, HP21 8AL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Assistant Management Accountant - PCN
Hereford, HR4 0DG
- Salary :
- £33874.54 to £38245.45
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Taurus Healthcare Limited
-
Finance Officer
Lincoln, LN5 7JH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lincolnshire Community Health Service NHS Trust
-
Finance Business Partner
Sheffield, S11 8HA
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
-
Finance & Performance Analyst
Nuneaton, CV10 7DJ
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
-
Business Finance Assistant
Wakefield, WF2 0XQ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
-
Finance & Payroll Administrator
Oldbury, B68 9AG
- Salary :
- £27260.00 to £27260.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cygnet Health Care
-
Succession Planning and Talent Management Lead
Carmarthen, SA31 3HB
- Salary :
- £56514.00 to £63623.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Assistant Finance Business Partner
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9RW
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Deputy Finance Business Partner
Bolton, BL4 0JR
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Finance Business Partner
Manchester, M23 9LT
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Organisational Planning and Risk Manager (Ref: 0018ZC)
City of London, EC1M 4DH
- Salary :
- £35000.00 to £40000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- We Are With You
-
Senior Account Manager Contracts and Stakeholder Relationships
Morden, SM4 5DX
- Salary :
- £53755.00 to £60504.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Merton Health Limited
-
Senior Finance Partner - Costing & Value
Cardiff, CF10 4BZ
- Salary :
- £48527.00 to £55532.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Practice Finance and Operations Assistant
Malton, YO17 9RF
- Salary :
- £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Derwent Practice
-
Finance Officer (Book-keeping & Payroll)
Lewes, BN7 2LU
- Salary :
- £16.00 to £17.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Foundry Healthcare Lewes
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Regional Finance Lead (Ref: 0015ZC)
City of London, EC1M 4DH
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £45000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- We Are With You
-
Finance Business Partner - Division of Surgery
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £78120.00 to £90013.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
District Nurse Caseload Manager - Planned Care - City & South Locality
BRADFORD, BD18 3LD
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Service manager for Head & Neck services
Taunton, TA1 4DY
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Secondment
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Finance & Clerical Support Officer for CHC / NHS FNC
Abercynon, CF45 4SN
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
-
Head of Health, Safety (H&S), and Fire Management B9
Guildford, GU2 7AU
- Salary :
- £65326.00 to £75910.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
-
General/Financial Administrator
Workington, CA14 3PD
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Divisional Accountant
Newport, NP20 4ES
- Salary :
- £48527.00 to £55532.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Service Accountant
Manchester, M25 3BL
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT
-
Weight Management Services Professional Manager
Llwynypia, CF40 2LX
- Salary :
- £56514.00 to £63623.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
-
PCN Service Implementation Manager (Project Manager)
Bridgewater Street, SY13 1QH
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £50000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Shropshire Primary Care Network
-
Treatment Planning Radiographer/Dosimetrist
Canterbury, CT1 3NG
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
-
Treatment Planning Radiographer/Dosimetrist
Canterbury, CT1 3NG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
-
Radiotherapy Planning CT Lead
Canterbury, CT1 3NG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Showing 6 of 60 results
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For further information about a career in financial management, please contact
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
- Consultancy Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB)
- Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- NHS Graduate Training Scheme