Job summary
- Main area
- Executive Director
- Grade
- Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
- Job ref
- 493-ICB-7230880
- Employer
- NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- No. 1 Lakeside (with travel across the region)
- Town
- Warrington
- Salary
- VSM Salary
- Closing
- 09/06/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/06/2025
Employer heading
Executive Director of Finance
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of the changing shape of NHS commissioning in Cheshire and Merseyside. Our current organisational structure supports effective working both locally and across Cheshire and Merseyside as we develop as an Integrated Care System.
The population of Cheshire and Merseyside is diverse and growing and we are keen to see that diversity recognised within our own workforce. As an employer we seek to open opportunities for our staff to gain new skills, gain knowledge and develop careers in heath and care.
We welcome students, staff, people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, physical abilities, backgrounds, and philosophies and those who are accepting of others. Our goal is to support all of our workforce in their work, if you believe you can bring your skills and experiences and an open-minded approach into our fast paced and dynamic organisation, we are committed to providing a positive and supportive experience for all of our staff.
Job overview
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is seeking a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Finance to lead financial strategy and transformation at the heart of one of the largest and most complex Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the country.
With a system budget exceeding £7 billion, a workforce of over 80,000, and a population of 2.7 million across nine boroughs, this is a rare opportunity to shape the financial future of health and care at real scale. The ICB’s strong footprint and place-based structure provide a stable platform for strategic transformation—a distinct advantage as other systems face wider reconfigurations.
We are entering a period of critical financial recovery and reform. With a 2025/26 in-year savings requirement of £150m, we need a finance leader who can deliver cost improvement and transformation while maintaining our commitment to equity, sustainability, and system-wide collaboration.
If you are motivated by driving high-value, outcome-focused investment, and you want to make a profound and lasting impact across population health and public service integration, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As Executive Director of Finance, you will:
- Lead the ICB’s financial strategy, ensuring stewardship, sustainability, and delivery of statutory duties.
- Drive financial recovery and transformation across the system in alignment with our Joint Forward Plan and Annual Delivery Plan.
- Oversee planning, performance, estates, and contracting portfolios, and embed a strong governance and assurance culture.
- Act as a strategic leader in data and digital investment, ensuring financial intelligence drives decision-making.
- Work in partnership across NHS, local authorities, VCFSE, and provider collaboratives to co-design and implement population-based financial frameworks.
- Represent the ICB nationally and regionally, influencing the finance agenda and contributing to NHS system leadership.
You will report directly to the Chief Executive and be professionally accountable to the NHS England North West Regional Finance Director.
Working for our organisation
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB is responsible for planning, allocating, and assuring NHS services across nine boroughs: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral.
We are proud to be a Marmot Community and an Anchor Institution, committed to tackling the wider determinants of health and improving the lives of the poorest fastest. Our current focus includes:
- Delivering system-wide recovery in urgent and emergency care
- Accelerating access to diagnostics and planned care
- Scaling digital transformation and population health analytics
- Embedding equity and prevention into financial strategy
Our Values and Culture
We are building a culture of compassion, inclusion, and mutual accountability across our system. Our leadership culture is rooted in the NHS Constitution, the Nolan Principles, and a strong commitment to public value.
We support flexible and hybrid working, value diverse leadership, and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups in NHS executive roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The Executive Director of Finance will lead the design and implementation of the ICB’s financial strategy, ensuring it support health equity, long-term sustainability and the broader objectives of the system. They will also lead on resource allocation, financial recovery, investment prioritisation, audit and assurance.
In addition, the postholder will oversee the system’s planning and performance functions and estates strategy. They will support the digital and analytics agenda by embedding financial intelligence tools and leading on value-based investment.
The Executive Director will work in partnership with provider collaboratives, Place-based partnerships, local authorities, primary care and the VCFSE sector to develop integrated financial frameworks that support shared outcomes and population-based commissioning.
Full Job Description & Person Specification
Refer to the Job Description and Person Specification in Appendix A of the attached Candidate Pack for full responsibilities, criteria and key relationships. The post requires full CCAB qualification and significant experience of leading financial strategy and transformation at system scale.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with current registration
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Extensive senior leadership experience, including at Board or system level
- Strong track record in financial transformation, cost reduction and assurance
- Deep knowledge of NHS finance systems, governance and planning
Desirable criteria
- Experience working across NHS and local authority or VCFSE partnerships
- Knowledge of health economics or value-based investment approaches
- Exposure to digital, data and analytics-led transformation
- Familiarity with Marmot principles or Anchor Institution
Skills and Values
Essential criteria
- Excellent communicator with the credibility to influence across complex partnerships
- Values-led leader with resilience, political awareness and a commitment to equity
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Will Griffiths
- Job title
- Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07818 693596
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