Job summary
- Main area
- Finance
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 6 months (6 months from agreed start date)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Home or remote working
- Job ref
- 216-LT-CO8127139
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Brittany House
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/07/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 29/07/2026
Employer heading
Assistant Finance Business Partner (Costing & Contracts)
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust UHP to support the provision of costing and contracting information.
The Trust is a large and complex organisation. We are looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Finance Business Partner to help support and deliver the information needs of the trust. This role would suit a candidate who is highly motivated, organised and enjoys interpreting and presenting data to others.
For an informal discussion please contact Sarah McQuarry, Head of Finance Systems and Costing ([email protected]) or Emma Richerby ([email protected]) Associate Director of Finance (Financial Improvement).
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
To support the development and maintenance of systems to underpin Service Line Reporting and Patient Level Costing.
To support the Head of Finance Systems and Costing to provide service and procedure costing information to NHS England, through national cost submissions and ad hoc costing queries.
Undertake specific projects working closely with clinical areas and the Finance Business Partners that will improve costing accuracy, utilise costing information and benchmark services or procedures.
To work as part of the team to provide a comprehensive and high quality costing advisory service to service lines, and ensure robust financial support to the Healthcare Contracts.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.
The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you into contact with the recruitment team.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.
We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date.
If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation; NHS Tariff guidance and Contractual requirements, together with general commercial awareness:
- Apply specialist knowledge of complex contract income information to maintain and update the Trust’s income reporting and internal Service Line Reporting.
- Apply specialist knowledge of financial and activity information systems to ensure data is captured in a usable and efficient format to support Service Line Reporting and contract income reporting.
- To interpret NHS Payment Scheme guidance and online materials issued by NHSE (including attendance at webinars and training sessions) and update the Trust’s income reporting as required to generate representative contracting data.
- To work with other members of the income and performance teams on the production of the monthly income reports including the supervision of junior analysts to enable the timely provision of reports to Directors, and Service Managers to support service delivery.
- To work with Financial Performance Team, Service Line and Clinical teams to produce and refine income information.
- Production of information for monthly commissioning reporting and other internal reporting requirements
- Work closely with clinical areas to improve income information and ensure its appropriate use in decision making.
- To constantly review the information and income reporting of the Trust that support the Service Line Reporting and Patient Level Costing systems to ensure they remain fit for purpose and are as efficient and effective as possible.
For further details please see attached JD&PS.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to demonstrate highly developed theoretical and practical knowledge at an advanced level and demonstrable experience and expertise in financial management, accounting procedures, relevant legislation and NHS finance policies.
- Proven ability to gain engagement from non-finance staff.
- Awareness of the current NHS “Agenda”, national directives and all Governance aspects.
- Demonstrable experience of reviewing and systems and processes to streamline working practice, increase automation and remove duplication
- Proven ability to resolve highly complex problems including integration of financial and operational aspects into Strategic and operational plans.
- Proven ability to resolve complex problems involving the integration of financial and non-financial information.
Desirable criteria
- Detailed proven knowledge of the NHS Costing guidance and demonstrable experience of producing national cost returns.
- Specialist demonstrable experience of using costing systems and related applications.
- Proven knowledge of NHS Tariff regime and other NHS finance policies.
- Proven knowledge of SQL
- Demonstrable experience of using patient information systems.
- Statistical analysis demonstrable experience
- Demonstrable experience of using Business Intelligence tools (e.g. Power BI, Qlik, Tableau) as an end user or other similar reporting tools
- Demonstrable experience of NHS income reporting
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- “A” levels and 5 x GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent, including Mathematics and English Language at GCSE level.
- Proven equivalent knowledge and demonstrable experience and significant and relevant demonstrable experience to Professional Accountant level
- Commitment to continuing professional development in line with relevant Institute requirements.
Desirable criteria
- Degree or equivalent
- Fully or part qualified (CCAB) Professional
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Excellent level of numeracy.
- Able to deduce key points from large/highly complex volumes of data analysing several aspects of data.
- Advanced Analytical skills.
- Proven ability to review highly complex datasets and present to non-finance managers giving clear and concise advice, comparing a number of options, including identification of risks.
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with proven ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Proven ability to influence decisions at a senior level on occasions where there are strong conflicts of opinion.
- Proven ability to represent the Trust confidently at external meetings as well as representing Finance at internal meetings.
- Good attention to detail.
- Proficient with modern “Office” Packages pref. Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint. Aptitude for IT.
- Advanced keyboard skills to ensure highest level of accuracy at all times.
- Able to demonstrate excellent team working skills
- Able to prioritise own work effectively within ever changing priorities and tight deadlines
- Able to contribute to the formulation of long-term strategic plans involving risk and uncertainty in Front Line Service Lines and at a Trust level
- Proven ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service depending on monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.
- Proven ability to work under intense pressure and to concentrate on highly complex accounting information for prolonged periods of time on a frequent basis
Disposition/Attitude/Motivation
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to interpret policies and procedures and act on own initiative without reference to line manager.
- Leads by example and instils a team approach to workload.
- Proven ability to challenge and deal with highly sensitive and contentious situations.
- Able to handle & convey sensitive information in an appropriate and discreet manner.
- Proven ability to bring about change and embed a continuous process improvement culture.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sarah McQuarry
- Job title
- Head of Finance Systems and Costing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 432100
- Additional information
If you would like to discuss this role, please email [email protected] to arrange a convenient time for us to contact you.
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