Finance Business Partner - Commercial Planning and Costing

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Finance Business Partner - Commercial Planning and Costing

The closing date is 28 November 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Trust's Commercial, Planning and Costing team for an energetic and enthusiastic Finance Business Partner to join the team, providing high quality costing information, support and advice to the Trust's Business units.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will actively support the provision of financial information and costings for the purposes of activities such as, but not limited to, National Cost Collections, Benchmarking, Service Line Reporting, commercial opportunities, including bids.

The role involves the production of timely and accurate management information, and requires both technical knowledge of accounting procedures and an understanding of the operational business of the Trust and costing standards.

Regular engagement with management accountants, the informatics team, and budget holders, to improve the quality of costing and benchmarking information is also required in this role.

Applicants should be CCAB (or equivalent) finalist or intermediate if qualified by experience, and must be self motivated, enthusiastic, demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a small team and possess excellent communication skills. A strong working knowledge of costing systems and advanced Excel skills is essential.

The post holder will be responsible for managing, training, developing and inspiring a small team to deliver excellent financial services. This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills in an exciting and dynamic environment.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Providing financial support for new business opportunities/ bids.

Undertake in depth analysis of complex financial positions and exercise judgement against a range of options for further action.

Support the development of costs, budgets and prices for both the short and long term across the Trust.

Undertake modelling and risk assessments and advise management on these, to ensure that financial risk to the Trust has been identified and can be considered and managed.

Attend relevant meetings with Directors, operational managers and commissioners as required.

Support the maintenance and development of the Trust's Costing System.

Regularly review and update activity and cost allocations to services, ensuring accuracy of service costs and activity.

Support the production of the costing submissions, for internal and external use, including but not limited to, National Cost Collection.

Provide financial information to internal deadlines as required by Freedom of Information requests.

Completion of the Benchmarking returns as required.

Developing of Patient Level Information and Costing System (PLICS).

Deliver Service Line Reporting and trading accounts in the Trust and to stakeholders.

Support the development of the Mental Health Tariff and contract pricing.

Work closely with the Trust's Business Development team on the development of bid submissions for new business opportunities.

Support the development of Mental Health contract currencies through provision of patient level and service line costs.

Communicate highly detailed financial information in a clear and concise way.

Responsible for the management of staff within their team, which includes assisting in any recruitment.

Responsible for the supervision of any direct line management responsibilities.

Deputise for the Senior Finance Business Partner as necessary.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications

• oMembership of AAT, relevant degree or equivalent qualification
• oCCAB or equivalent qualification finalist or Intermediate if part-qualified by experience
• oEvidence of commitment to continuing and ongoing personal and professional development

Additional Qualities

• oCurrent full UK driving licence

Knowledge

• Understanding of NHS costing return requirements and benchmarking tools
• Expert knowledge of NHS finance regime
• Good knowledge and understanding of current NHS issues and challenges
• Comprehensive knowledge of NHS costing principles, Patient Level Information and Costing System and Service Line Reporting

Skills/Experience

• oProficient in use of Microsoft Office including Excel, MS Access, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook, as well as use of SQL and VBA
• oGood oral and written communication skills
• oExtensive experience working in a finance department using computerised financial information systems
• oAbility to clearly present and explain complex financial information and concepts to non-financial managers
• oAbility to analyse and interpret information to assess issues, anticipate data problems and provide workable solutions.
• oExperience of working with non-financial managers to identify service and cost improvements
• oTrack record of delivering excellent business partnering support.
• oExperience of managing teams to deliver excellent services
• oTechnical experience of using costing software.

Personal Qualities

• oHigh degree of accuracy and excellent attention to detail, combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis
• oAbility to work under pressure
• oEmotionally resilient and tenacious, willing to tackle difficult issues
• oAbility to work as part of a team and contribute to the achievement of team objectives
• oAbility to develop and motivate individuals and teams
• oConfident and engaging presentation style

Personal Qualities

• oShares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour
• oEnsures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering, are demonstrated by self and others every day, and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate
• oAbility to develop and motivate individuals and teams

Additional Qualities

• oAbility to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc.

Additional Qualities

• oFitness Analysis as appropriate

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.

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year incl. Fringe HCAS