Director of Strategic Finance

Director of Strategic Finance

Closing date: 05 March 2026

The Director of Strategic Finance is a key senior leadership role, responsible for delivering high-quality financial services in line with professional accounting standards and ethical practice. The post holder will operate with significant autonomy and is expected to maintain up-to-date professional competence through ongoing development.

Working collaboratively with the Director of Operational Finance, the role spans a broad and influential portfolio. As part of the Trust's senior leadership team, the Director provides strategic financial advice, supports organisational decision making, and contributes to shaping the Trust's long term direction.

A central focus is ensuring financial sustainability and supporting the achievement of corporate objectives. The post holder will lead, develop, and empower finance colleagues, fostering a culture of inclusion, professional growth, and talent development.

The role also contributes to wider strategic programmes and improvement initiatives, promoting effective use of resources while maintaining high standards.

We are seeking an individual with a strong track record of delivering results, managing complex portfolios, driving change, and motivating teams. Excellent relationship building, communication, and engagement skills are essential for influencing across the Trust and the wider system. The Director will provide leadership to finance, performance, and procurement functions.

Main duties of the job

Jointly responsible with the director of operational finance for maintaining the integrity of the general ledger and assuring the chief financial officer of accurate, standards compliant financial reporting.

Ensure robust governance for finance and procurement within the Trust's overall structure.

Lead on the Trust's finance enabling strategy and support the long term financial model, including preparing the annual plan for NHS and translating it into budgets.

Provide financial expertise for monitoring transformation and efficiency programmes, and work with strategy colleagues to encourage clinical and operational staff involvement in financial improvement.

Lead external contract negotiations and procurement, ensuring value and compliance with current procurement law, and manage the Trust's relationship with its subsidiary.

Serve on the finance, investment and performance committee, deputise for the chief financial officer, and ensure high performing, flexible finance, performance and procurement teams.

Participate in ICT work and support the trust director on call rota.

About us

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing exceptional care together.

Our fundamental values of compassion, openness and excellence underpin how we intend to work as a trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, including both professional and leadership development
• On going support through every step of the way from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• A variety of other staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key facts about our trust:

• We see on average 4,810 operating appointments per day.
• We are the 4th busiest trauma & orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2,077 per week.
• An average of 1,115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.

Job responsibilities

Please do not apply online. If you share our values and ambition and are ready to lead our trust into the future, we invite you to apply by sending your CV and covering letter to

For further information/informal discussion with the Chief Finance Officer please contact Sarah Morgan Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer via email

Please ensure your CV includes your full employment history.

Interview date: Thursday 27th March, in person at Royal Derby Hospital. Stakeholders caravans will be held on MS Teams earlier in the week.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a health and care visa or skilled worker visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.

Please see attached job description and person specification for more information.

Person Specification Education

• Relevant accountancy qualification and current registration with the associated professional body.
• Degree/ Masters level or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience & Knowledge

• Compassionate, accountable and inclusive leadership, invested in continuously developing and motivating the team and service.
• Experience of working in a large, complex organisation at senior leadership level, with strong persuasion and influencing skills.
• Experience of managing large revenue and capital budgets with knowledge and understanding of the influence of political context and frameworks on financial practice.
• Creates strategic vision, working with key stakeholders to provide a responsive service and deliver key performance measures.
• Continuous improvement mindset, identifying efficient practices and leading practical and behavioural change within the service and the Trust.
• Ability to support the delivery of financial and operational performance with a successful track record in achieving targets, both service and financial.
• Understanding of the requirements of an NHS organisation, national returns and data submissions and requirements of Commissioners/ICBs.

Skills & Abilities

• Experience of conflict resolution and negotiation at a senior level.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex concepts and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Analytical thinker, assimilating complex information to underpin strategies, translating these clearly by using highly developed financial and business management skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Depending on experience.