Head of Financial Sustainability

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy. We highly recommend reading our Tips on how to apply page to give you an insight on how applications are scored & shortlisted by our Recruiting Managers. These tips have been provided to give you a better chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies.

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are working towards merging as one organisation from July 2026.

This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Should you join NBT as an employee prior to our organisations merging, your employment will be automatically transferred across to UHBW. Should your employment begin after our two Trusts merge, you will be employed directly by UHBW and therefore UHBW terms and conditions of service will apply

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly formed Group Financial Improvement Team — the first finance function to complete its corporate services transformation and now operating as a single, unified service across the Group. Bringing together the strengths of UHBW and NBT, the team combines finance, programme management and improvement expertise to drive better services, better processes and better value for patients and staff. This is not traditional CIP or simple cost reduction; it is about making things work better.

As Head of Financial Sustainability, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Group’s financial improvement agenda. You will lead major elements of the Efficiency and Savings Programme, challenge existing ways of working, and draw on NHS and wider sector best practice to drive sustainable change. Working closely with senior finance leaders, you will develop and embed the policies, controls and practices that enable clinical and operational teams to deliver meaningful, long‑term efficiency improvements. This is a senior leadership role with significant influence, visibility and impact across the organisation.

Main duties of the job

Lead the organisation’s approach to horizon scanning, identifying future opportunities for efficiencies, productivity gains and financial sustainability.

Build strong relationships with NHS and non‑NHS partners to share learning, adopt best practice and strengthen the Trust’s approach to benefits definition and realisation.

Lead Group‑specific financial improvement projects, developing the frameworks, governance and reporting mechanisms required to accurately capture and deliver savings.

Embed productivity, efficiency, financial sustainability and commercial thinking into Trust‑wide decision‑making processes.

Deliver bespoke, high‑priority pieces of work and strategic projects on behalf of the organisation.

Provide leadership and direction to programme managers, finance managers and analysts, ensuring high‑quality benchmarking, opportunity identification and reporting to support efficiency delivery.

Work closely with Clinical Divisions, Finance and corporate services to support the development and implementation of sustainable efficiency schemes.

Shape and influence Trust‑wide financial improvement policy, controls and practices, ensuring they empower operational and clinical teams to deliver change.

Act as a senior leader within the Group Financial Improvement Team, modelling collaborative working, professional excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are working towards merging as one organisation from July 2026.

This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Should you join NBT as an employee prior to our organisations merging, your employment will be automatically transferred across to UHBW. Should your employment begin after our two Trusts merge, you will be employed directly by UHBW and therefore UHBW terms and conditions of service will apply

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Primary Employer For This Post Will Be UHBW.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Key Responsibilities Of The Role Are To

Work with the Associate Director of Financial Improvement to lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s annual cost improvement plan, working with colleagues in finance and Divisional leadership teams. Build relationships with counterparts across the South West and lead the review of cost improvement projects and opportunities identified through regional and national networks for suitability at Bristol NHS Group. Work with team to ensure benchmarking data is integral to informing the Trust’s approach to efficiency and productivity. Work with programme managers, finance managers and the programme SROs to develop a set of benefits to be realised against projects expected to deliver in the short / medium term. Line management of the programme and finance managers Support governance of Productivity & Financial Improvement Group (PFIG) / Financial Sustainability Board (FSB) and wider savings and efficiency work. Ensuring reports are produced in a timely manner and accurately reflect the latest Trust efficiency position.

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Strong financial acumen is essential in order to describe benefits Knowledge of a range of improvement methodologies would be highly desirable. A strong understanding of the human-side of change is essential Knowledge and experience of coaching techniques and how to apply them to develop and upskill individuals and teams

Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to a Master’s degree level or equivalent work experience One of the following qualifications: CCAB Qualified with a significant period of PQE experience at a senior level AND/OR a formal programme/project management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in a complex organisation with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders Demonstrable experience of helping organisations to understand and utilise their resource to best effect Proven track record of consistently achieving high standards of engagement and trust with all levels of stakeholders, including Executive level Experience of engaging in large complex organisations, working across teams and organisational boundaries Experience of delegating appropriately and management of people and performance. Including the annual appraisal process, objectives and personal development plans and the need to invest time to develop and upskill more junior members of staff Strong experience of influencing and implementing change through others

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in the NHS and an acute provider Strong evidence of team working across professional boundaries. Evidence of facilitation skills able to bring others together to work jointly in pursuit of a shared outcome Experience of working with external organisations in partnership to deliver outcomes

Skills

Essential criteria

Ability to learn rapidly, track and understand a complex range of multi-faceted activities within individual areas, some of which may be linked to one another Ability to analyse complex facts and situations within programmes and develop strategies to suit the audience Ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise data and information from a wide range of sources to solve or pre-empt problems Highly developed interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and negotiation and influencing skills Ability to form strong relationships and trust with all levels of stakeholders, up to and including Executive level Demonstrable drive and commitment to complete short, sharp pieces of work in an inclusive way and to a high standard Ability to confidently deliver information to and to facilitate discussions with large groups of stakeholders, who may be from various backgrounds and levels of seniority Capable of taking decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of actions to communicate Able to cope with what may at times be a high pressure environment and able to work to tight deadlines Proficient in the use of the internet, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook in order to enable production of accurate and high quality reports in a professional format Consideration of others and the impact actions may have on other individuals, while valuing the contribution of colleagues Ability to effectively self-develop through the application of training and courses Ability to undertake skills transfer in order to further develop the capabilities of others and of the organisation

Please note that if you apply for a position with North Bristol NHS Trust, you may be contacted via TRAC or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your TRAC Account and email accounts including junk and spam folders.

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.

North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.