Assistant Finance Business Partner

Reporting to the Senior Finance Business Partner, the role of the Assistant Finance Business Partner is to produce accurate, reliable and timely financial information in order to support managers and budget holders; provide expert financial support and challenge to the operational management team; ensure the provision of timely and accurate financial information and commentaries for internal reporting; monitor and challenge quality and efficiency of operational teams;

work with Operations colleagues to identify and deliver cost improvement savings as required by the trust.

Provide high quality information, advice and challenge to budget holders to facilitate appropriate decision making in respect of the organisation's resources. To include reviewing significant variances and working with managers to develop corrective action.

Prepare accurate and timely monitoring information (including commentaries) in order that the Deputy Director of Finance and other senior finance managers can understand and accurately report on the financial position of the trust.

Provides financial support and advice in relation to the identification and delivery of cost improvement plans and monitor their performance in meeting those targets.

Undertake a budget liaison role within the Trust involving close liaison with the appropriate Executives, Service Directors and other budget holders, providing advice and guidance, as required, on all aspects concerning the directorate's budgets, financial performance, and financial targets. To provide financial training to managers and budget holders where appropriate.

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:

• 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
• 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.

This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

Provides financial support and advice in relation to the identification and delivery of cost improvement plans and monitor their performance in meeting those targets.

Undertake a budget liaison role within the Trust involving close liaison with the appropriate Executives, Service Directors and other budget holders, providing advice and guidance, as required, on all aspects concerning the directorate's budgets, financial performance, and financial targets. To provide financial training to managers and budget holders where appropriate.

Provide input and knowledge into ensuring proper control over the budgetary system and liaison with internal and external audit as appropriate.

Ensure the integrity of financial information produced. This will include maintaining a Directorate checklist to ensure that all income and expenditure is accurately accrued at month-end and year-end and accounting and month-end polices are adhered to.

Assist in negotiation of complex financial matters with staff and external contacts.

Responsible for adapting/designing systems/processes to meet the requirements of the operational areas they support

Ensure that sound financial management and budgetary controls operate within the designated operational area. Assist budget holders in interpretation, analysis and investigation of expenditure and income charged against their budgets, and identify and take action on any…