Contracting Finance Manager - B8a

Posting date:	02 March 2026
Salary:	£55,690.00 to £62,682.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£55690.00 - £62682.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	15 March 2026
Location:	Chelmsford, CM1 1QH
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	D9708-MSE481

Summary

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation. By establishing clear and transparent funding arrangements, triangulated with activity and workforce within our system we aim to support our collective understanding of how resources are allocated across the system for both revenue and capital. Our Contracting Finance resource sits within our Business Partnering function and works across the span of both Finance and Commercial teams. Our contract finance resource are our technical experts turning contracting guidance and rules into reality, business partnering across the organisation. The business partnering team, are the key people who support budget holders, project leads and senior responsible officers across the organisation to ensure they have the right insight to deliver their objectives. Sharing and learning from each other to shape forecasting, resource utilisation, risk, mitigation, productivity and value opportunities. The team will be key to interpreting technical guidance and will work as a conduit across the finance and commercial directorate, as well as with external partners where required. Business Partnering, is key to our organisations decision making and overall performance management. The team will work closely with the hub for management accounting and financial services, as well as the contracting hub, ensuring monthly and annual financial positions are reported accurately, and cash flow is managed effectively. We want our Business Partners looking forward, working on trends and underlying positions, risks mitigations and productivity and efficiency opportunities They will achieve an excellent understanding of the commissioning function they are aligned to and will be as much a part of their team as ours. As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Director of Finance in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan: From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning. From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health. From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below: Policy and service development Lead and support the implementation of policy and / or service developments related to finance and contracting impacting across or beyond the organisation Ensure compliance with relevant ICB policies Support the Head of Contracting Finance and Head of Finance in interpreting technical guidance and payment mechanism rules to ensure compliance with the latest developments. Support the Head of Contracting Finance to with all areas of contract finance development, including pooling, Better Care Fund, and new as well as standard contracting relationships Strategy and analysis Use of complex health data sets, including those relating to performance across activity, finance and quality to inform decision making Analysis of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to finance and contracts. Turning analysis into useful insights that can be used to inform decision making and delivery Present complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services Planning and organisation Support the development and delivery of project plans relating to areas of responsibility. ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reporting Managing competing priorities, prioritizing own and team resources to effectively deliver on short, medium and longer term priorities Ensure accurate reporting of the finances related to their area and supporting the Contracting Finance Lead in all aspects of reporting. Communications and Partnerships Provide and receive highly complex and sensitive information, conveying information to Executive leads and other colleagues including situations of proposed major change Support the negotiation on the delivery of services Lead the engagement process with strategic stakeholders Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership Able to take account of a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making Present information and training to large groups Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities as needed Effective engagement with patients and the public as required Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of projects that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system Share complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing Able to manage conflict, find compromise and persuade based on evidence as needed Financial and resource management Ensures appropriate value for money considerations in all work. Supports procurement of relevant services Provide expert contracting guidance and explanation of rules to support budget holders, project leads and senior responsible officers across the organisation to ensure they have the right insight to deliver their objectives Share learning to shape forecasting, resource utilisation, risk, mitigation, productivity and value opportunities. Use software to develop performance, statistical or management reports, presentations and written communications Team management and capability building Support staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transition Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition Supporting effective Information Asset Management for the team Provide line management, recruitment, selection, work planning, allocating and delegating activities, reviewing performance and achievement of targets Other Able to use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of the role, working inline with organisational policies Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings Able to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel) Flexibility and evolving responsibilities As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures. KEY RELATIONSHIPS The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with: ICB senior leadership Information Governance team Local Authority partners NHS Providers NHSEI regional partners Other system partners, such as VCFSE