Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Non-Executive Director - Finance
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Non-Executive Director – Finance
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
£13,715 per annum | Approximately 4–5 days per month | Three-year appointment
Help shape the future of healthcare across the North East.
Exceptional Boards make better decisions. Better decisions improve lives.
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an accomplished financial leader to join its Board as a Non-Executive Director – Finance.
This is more than a Non-Executive appointment.
It is an opportunity to influence the future direction of one of the North East's leading NHS organisations, helping to shape strategy, strengthen governance and ensure the Trust continues to deliver outstanding care for the communities it serves.
As a Board member, you will bring independent judgement, financial expertise and strategic perspective to one of the region's most important public institutions.
About Gateshead Health
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust provides acute, community and older people's mental health services across Gateshead and the wider North East.
The Trust operates from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital alongside a growing network of community facilities and diagnostic centres and plays a significant role within the Great North Healthcare Alliance, working alongside Newcastle Hospitals, Northumbria Healthcare and North Cumbria Integrated Care to improve health outcomes across the region.
This is an organisation with ambition.
Nationally recognised for maternity services, investing significantly in women's and children's healthcare, expanding diagnostic capability and committed to reducing health inequalities, Gateshead Health combines financial discipline with a relentless focus on improving patient care.
Joining the Board now means helping shape the next chapter of that journey.
The Opportunity
The NHS continues to face one of the most challenging and transformational periods in its history.
Financial sustainability, productivity, digital transformation, partnership working and population health are now more closely connected than ever before.
As Non-Executive Director – Finance, you will help ensure the Board makes confident, informed and sustainable strategic decisions that balance financial stewardship with exceptional patient care.
Working alongside the Chair, Chief Executive and Executive Directors, you will provide constructive challenge, independent assurance and strategic support across the organisation.
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You will help shape decisions relating to:
- Long-term financial sustainability
- Strategic investment
- Corporate governance
- Risk and assurance
- Transformation programmes
- Organisational performance
- System-wide collaboration
- Quality improvement
- Population health
- Public accountability
Most importantly, you will help ensure every major strategic decision ultimately improves outcomes for patients and local communities.
Who we're looking for
We are seeking an outstanding senior financial leader with the credibility and confidence to operate at Board level.
You may already be an experienced Non-Executive Director.
Equally, you may be an Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director or Audit Committee member looking to take your first Non-Executive Director appointment.
What matters most is your ability to think strategically, ask the right questions and contribute positively to collective decision making.
You will bring:
- A recognised professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)
- Significant executive-level financial leadership experience within a large, complex organisation
- Strong commercial and strategic judgement
- Excellent understanding of governance and assurance
- The ability to analyse complex issues and influence at the highest level
- Sound independent judgement and emotional intelligence
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- A collaborative leadership style
- An unwavering commitment to public service
- To be able to liaise and co-operate with the Council of Governors, with due regard of their opinions, as appropriate and supporting the Council in their role of holding Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board.
Whilst NHS or wider public sector experience would be welcomed, it is not essential.
We are equally interested in hearing from candidates who have built successful careers within regulated commercial organisations, financial services, infrastructure, housing, higher education, professional services or other complex environments where governance, accountability and strategic leadership are paramount.
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Experience of leading significant organisational transformation or improvement programmes would also be highly valued.
Why join the Board?
This appointment offers the opportunity to:
- Help shape healthcare across the North East
- Influence strategy for an organisation serving thousands of patients every day
- Join an ambitious Board with a clear long-term vision
- Support major investment in women's health, diagnostics and community services
- Work alongside highly respected Executive and Non-Executive colleagues
- Play a visible role within one of the region's largest public organisations
- Contribute to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities across local communities
- Leave a lasting legacy through better governance and stronger leadership
Diversity of thought creates better Boards
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to building a Board that reflects the communities it serves.
We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals currently under-represented on NHS Boards, including people from the Global Ethnic Majority, disabled people and those with lived experience of health inequalities.
Different perspectives strengthen governance.
Inclusive leadership leads to better decisions.
Better decisions improve patient care.
Appointment Details
- Role: Non-Executive Director – Finance
- Remuneration: £13,715 per annum
- Time Commitment: Approximately 4–5 days per month
- Term: Three years
- Location Requirement: Applicants must reside within the North East or North Cumbria (North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System geography).
How to Apply
Castle Peak Group is proud to be acting as the retained executive search partner for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.
To apply, please submit:
- Your CV
- A covering letter explaining your interest in the appointment and the contribution you would bring to the Board
Applications should be sent to:
James Carss
Managing Director
Castle Peak Group
📧james.carss@castlepeak-group.com
Please also contact James Carss to request a copy of the full candidate pack.
Closing Date: Friday 14 August
Interviews will take place during September
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