West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Band 9 - Director of Operational Finance

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Help shape the future of one of the NHS's most ambitious and successful Trusts
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional finance leader to join our executive leadership team as Director of Operational Finance.
This is a rare opportunity to take on a pivotal role within an organisation that is delivering significant transformation, quality improvement, and performance recovery. Recognised nationally as HSJ Trust of the Year 2025 and winner of the HSJ Performance Recovery Award 2025, we are proud of our achievements and even more ambitious about our future.
Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and acting as Deputy CFO, you will play a central role in driving financial sustainability, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring that our resources are used effectively to deliver outstanding care for our patients and communities.
The Role
As Director of Operational Finance, you will lead all aspects of operational financial management across the Trust. You will provide strategic and professional leadership to the Finance Directorate, working closely with executive colleagues, divisional leaders, clinicians, and system partners to support the delivery of our organisational objectives.
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Key Responsibilities Include
- Providing strategic financial leadership across a large and complex acute teaching hospital.
- Leading financial planning, reporting, budgetary control, investment appraisal, cash management, and financial risk management.
- Supporting delivery of the Trust's financial sustainability and transformation programmes.
- Ensuring strong governance, financial control, and regulatory compliance.
- Developing high-performing finance teams and driving service excellence across finance business partnering functions.
- Representing the Trust across the Integrated Care System and with regional and national NHS stakeholders.
- Deputising for the Chief Financial Officer when required.
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.


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Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net
If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.
We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
For further details / informal visits contact:
- Name: Suresh Kodavoor
- Job title: Business Manager, Finance Directorate
- Email address: s.kodavoor@nhs.net
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