Finance Business Partner (Sponsorship Available) at University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Job Summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Finance Business Partner.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Finance team for a Finance Business Partner leading the Division A finance team; a complex clinical division including Cardiac, Critical Care, Trauma and Orthopaedic, Neurosciences, Spinal, and Surgery care groups.

This role will lead the financial planning, performance and reporting requirements of the Division, and is a key member of the Divisional Leadership team.

The postholder will have excellent communication skills, keen commercial and business planning acumen, and an ability to prioritise a demanding and complex workload.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is a dynamic and fast paced environment, that is always evolving and always improving and encourages innovation.

The Trust is committed to your career development and offers a supportive, flexible, and collaborative working environment, where your health and well-being are equally valued.

Job Details

• Employer: University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

• Job Title: Finance Business Partner

• Location: Southampton, United Kingdom

• Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year

• Job Type: Full-time

• Contract Type: Permanent

• Closing Date: 11 November 2026

• Interview Date: 26 November 2026

Main Duties of the Job

What You’ll Do

• To be the financial leader and business partner for a Clinical Division with an annual budget of c£350m.

• To lead on the delivery and development of financial reporting, planning, forecasting and financial strategy for the Division.

• To take responsibility for providing comprehensive and proactive financial management information and support the Division in driving corrective action against variances where required.

• To work with the Divisional Management Team to establish and maintain a sound financial base with robust controls and effective cost improvement plans.

• To lead on the financial implications and scenario appraisals of service changes including financial modelling within Business Cases.

• To lead on understanding of the Division’s activity and income, advising on corrective action when activity is significantly different to plan, and acting as liaison between income management, other corporate teams, and other external partnerships.

• To manage, on a day-to-day basis, the Divisional management accounting team supporting their ongoing wellbeing, professional training, and development.

• Represent the Division and Trust in any service negotiations where appropriate and provide financial advice as necessary.

• To work as part of the Divisional finance team, ensuring clear, concise, and professional communication always.

Job Description and Responsibilities

The attached person specification document provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust highly recommends reviewing this document and using it when completing your application, as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role, please see the Job Description and Main Responsibilities section.

To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail, please read the full job description document attached.

What the Trust Is Looking For

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a CCAB qualified accountant with considerable knowledge of management accounting.

NHS financial experience is not essential but an ability to quickly pick up new skills and learn new processes is.

You will be an excellent communicator and can analyse and assess financial information for reporting and decision making at all levels.

You will have a lively and enquiring mind, ability to cope with extended periods of concentration, and be able to operate effectively in a flexible and demanding environment.

This role will include analysing highly complex financial information and will require sound judgement regarding allocation of finances and financial decisions and risks, often where there is no precedent and where other leading opinions may conflict.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

– CCAB qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, CIPFA, ACCA) with post qualification experience at a senior level.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed understanding of budgetary control processes and budget setting / financial planning.

• Understanding of financial information systems and the ability to extract relevant information.

• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to clearly communicate the results of such analysis.

• Broad understanding of financial accounting and control issues.

• Excellent communicator both verbally and in writing.

• Attention to detail and use of forecasting and estimation skills.

• Ability to understand and resolve highly complex problems and dilemmas and make judgements regarding the allocation of finances, often when there is no precedent.

Desirable

– Current / recent knowledge and understanding of the NHS financial environment.

Experience

Essential

• Current / recent experience in a finance management role.

• Knowledge of designing and working with spreadsheets.

• Experience of Financial project management/Financial appraisal and forecasting.

Desirable

• Experience working in an NHS management accounts team.

• Previous experience working with Oracle Finance systems.

• Ability to make use of systems (e.g., Excel, Word) to prepare and present accurate, clear information and reports.

• Record of improving processes and reporting in previous roles.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

About University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust offers learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.

UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, the Trust was in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

The Trust supports flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service.

UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and are offered a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London.

The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on the doorstep.

The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Important Information About Applications

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust believes that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation.

However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial.

Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

How to Apply

If this opportunity interests you, head to the company’s official website for full details — click here to submit your application.