Associate Director of Financial Management

Would you like to work in an organisation that sits in the top 10 best NHS Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Services Trust to work for. This ranking is based on staff feedback in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.

Job overview

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are seeking an ambitious strategic and values driven Associate Director of Financial Management. This senior leadership role is suited to a highly motivated and analytical finance professional who can provide inspirational leadership and expert financial direction, strengthening the Finance Business Partnering function.

As a key member of the Finance Directorate, you will lead the Trust’s financial management, planning and reporting functions, playing a pivotal role in delivering the Trust’s strategic priorities, operational objectives and financial recovery plans.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer (CFO), you will be responsible for all aspects of financial management across the Trust. You will provide strong, visible leadership to Finance Business Partners and a team of accountants, ensuring high quality financial advice, robust financial control, and insightful performance reporting to support effective decision making.

Working closely with the Deputy CFO, you will shape strategic direction, support business planning, and drive financial sustainability. You will collaborate with clinical and operational colleagues to provide proactive, strategic financial advice, ensuring decisions are financially informed and that financial, operational and clinical strategies are fully aligned.

Main duties of the job

The role

As Associate Director of Financial Management, you will:

• Lead a proactive and high‑performing Financial Management Team, providing clear strategic direction and strong people leadership
• Oversee annual planning, budget setting and medium term financial strategy, ensuring plans are fully triangulated with workforce and activity models
• Lead the Trust’s monthly financial reporting and forecasting to the Trust Board, NHS England and other external stakeholders
• Provide high quality financial analysis, insight and constructive challenge to support sound decision making, productivity and value for money
• Support the development, delivery and monitoring of the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme, ensuring schemes are robust, deliverable and well‑governed
• Oversee the financial appraisal and review of business cases, including major transformation programmes and capital and revenue investments
• Act as a senior finance business partner to clinical, operational and corporate leaders across the Trust
• Support the Trust’s financial recovery programme, working closely with the Costings Team

You will play a critical role in ensuring the Trust operates lawfully, sustainably and in line with NHS financial frameworks, while enabling innovation and service improvement.

Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to undertake an:

Assessment centre (virtual) on Monday 1st June 2026

Interviews will take place on Friday 5th June 2026

Working for our organisation

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please check the job description & person specification document for more information on the requirements for this job.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Consultative Committee Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) – fully qualified
• Evidence of continued professional development

• A further qualification in management or a Master’s degree is desired

Experience

• In depth experience of Strategic planning, Annual planning, CIP planning, Corporate Financial reporting, and the NHS Financial Regime and Reporting
• Expert and in-depth knowledge of financial management, budgeting and budgetary control
• In depth understanding of service delivery issues and costings of business plans
• Ability to develop a strategic and corporate overview
• Extensive specialist knowledge of accounting standards and principles and the ability to interpret, apply and explain them in non-routine situations to senior managers and clinicians
• Experience of analysing highly complex financial and activity information and evaluating the impact on business performance
• Experience of leading and managing a team

Please note that you are not restricted from applying for this role if you do not identify with these characteristics and all applicants will be considered fairly against the job description.

As a flexible working and friendly organisation, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or any other flexible working patterns.

Gender Pay Gap Action

Women in our Trust are under-represented in some senior grades. We are therefore encouraging women to apply for posts at 8A and above.

Sponsorship

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.