Visa Note
International candidates are welcome to apply for this position. Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible candidates. However, applicants must verify their visa eligibility and requirements directly with the employer before applying. Please note that securing a certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval, and all associated costs and requirements remain the responsibility of the applicant.
Job Details
Company: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Job Title: Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Location: Kettering General Hospital, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ
Salary: Dependent on experience
Schedule: Full-time
Employment Type: Permanent
Reference Number: 264-7539747-COR
Date Posted: 14 October 2025
Application Deadline: 07 November 2025
About the Role
We are recruiting a Deputy Chief Finance Officer to join our newly integrated finance team across Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital. This pivotal leadership role supports the Chief Finance Officer in delivering financial governance, strategic planning, and business advice across UHN (University Hospitals of Northamptonshire).
The successful candidate will oversee financial controls, reporting, budgeting, and compliance, ensuring efficient resource management and adherence to NHS standards. You’ll lead budget-setting, identify cost-saving opportunities, and support service transformation to improve financial efficiency and quality.
As DCFO, you’ll manage and develop a high-performing senior finance team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. You’ll represent UHN within the ICS (Integrated Care System), build strong relationships with commissioners, and influence national policy.
This is a new role, offering the chance to shape a future-focused finance function. Participation in the Director on-call rota is required.
Key Responsibilities
As Deputy Chief Finance Officer, you will be responsible for:
- Deputising for the Chief Finance Officer
- Supporting Board-level decision-making
- Leading statutory reporting and financial assurance
- Driving productivity and efficiency programmes
- Promoting staff development and team performance
You will provide strategic financial leadership across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, deputising for the Group CFO and supporting financial governance, planning, and assurance. Key responsibilities include leading financial sustainability plans, investment strategies, and risk management. The role oversees financial controls, statutory reporting, and audit relationships, ensuring compliance and transparency.
The DCFO will drive value-based healthcare, efficiency programmes, and system-wide financial transformation, working closely with ICS partners and external stakeholders. They will champion inclusive leadership, staff development, and the NHS One Finance agenda, fostering a high-performing, future-focused finance team.
About Us
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN).
As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service.
Our Excellence Values:
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone’s full potential.
UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for UHN.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential:
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in a complex organisation in a Healthcare Setting (e.g. NHS Trust, NHS Commissioning, NHS England and Improvement)
- Professionally qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA)
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable:
- Postgraduate management or other relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. Masters degree)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential:
- Significant, substantial and extensive post qualification experience at a senior level in a complex organisation in a healthcare setting (e.g. NHS Acute Trust, NHS Commissioner, NHS England and Improvement)
- Demonstrable track record operating at, or near board level in complex health care organisation and at scale, with clear evidence of system leadership roles
- Evidence of successful and sustained financial leadership in an environment of organisational change and improvement
- Sound understanding of NHS strategic change agenda and political environment
- Sound understanding of the commercial environment; and the national healthcare policy and strategic direction
- Current knowledge of all aspects of finance, corporate governance and controls assurance
- Proven experience of developing and reviewing large scale business cases and capacity plans
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills (both verbal and written) with experience of dealing directly with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Strong and effective leadership and people management skills
- Expert specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures including current legislation and NHS accounting policies
- Evidence of supporting complex operational and structural productivity programmes
- Working across organisational boundaries in pursuit of shared objectives
- Experience of implementing strategy with evidence of monetary savings and innovative ways of working
- Substantial experience in management of a complex, multi site portfolio
Desirable:
- Experience of developing complex capital and revenue business cases (greater than £30m+) in the NHS
Skills
Essential:
- A strong understanding of the healthcare sector, whether gained through the NHS, independent sector or both
- Ability to interpret highly complex information and take decisions regarding allocation of resources and risk
- Ability to develop and review complex and multi-year financial models, covering I&E, Balance Sheet, Cash and Capital
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with in-depth knowledge of techniques for interpreting and presenting complex financial and non-financial management information
- Ability to engage, work with, and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to bring about change and service improvements
- Ability to lead, manage and mentor staff
- Collaborative working style with peers, sharing knowledge and being proactive in understanding current issues
- Ability to challenge and effectively manage and deal with highly contentious situations and issues
- Ability to articulate a strong and coherent vision in a way that inspires and motivates colleagues
- Ability to think conceptually and simplify complexity to create clarity and provide direction and focus
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential:
- Personal values aligned to the Group’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage
- Able to organise and prioritise heavy workloads for self and for team
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion
- Constructively challenges activities which may not contribute to the delivery of the corporate strategy whilst balancing the importance of being a corporate player
- Possesses excellent chair and facilitation skills
- Proven ability to deliver presentations and training sessions to audiences within and outside the Trust
- Proven ability to operate at strategic level and translate into objectives and action
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels
- Proven ability to make significant contributions to long term organisational strategy
- High level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness with the ability to keep calm in challenging situations
- Confident, challenging and questioning and prepared to challenge traditional views using empathy, evidence and curiosity
- A passion for making a qualitative difference to service delivery
- Ability to translate strategic direction into deliverable, measurable outcomes
Additional Information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
How to Apply
Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website.
International applicants should follow these steps:
- Verify your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa with UK Visas and Immigration
- Prepare your CV and covering letter highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications
- Ensure you have all required documentation including proof of professional qualifications
- Contact Sarah Stansfield (Chief Finance Officer) at [email protected] with any questions about the role or sponsorship process
- Complete your application through the NHS Jobs website before the deadline of 07 November 2025
Please note that applications may close early if sufficient applications are received, so we recommend applying as soon as possible.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact:
Name: Sarah Stansfield
Title: Chief Finance Officer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Not provided
Employer Website: https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/working-for-us
Privacy Notice: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice
Supporting Documents
The following supporting documents are available for this position:
- Deputy CFO JD-PS.pdf (PDF, 351 KB)
Please ensure you review these documents as they contain detailed information about the job description and person specification.
