Head of Financial Planning & Analysis

Job Title: Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Function: Finance

Location: Nottingham/Alfreton/Hybrid

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £90,868 with potential to rise to £106,904 over 3 years

Closing Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

The Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) leads the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis for NHS Supply Chain, enabling the organisation to make sound financial and investment decisions, deliver against its strategic and operational objectives, and maximise value and benefits for the NHS.

The role ensures that organisational strategy and business plans are fully aligned with robust financial plans and drives a strong understanding of financial performance and risk across the business, including the Executive Team, Board and Shareholder. Through high‑quality insight, analysis and reporting, the role supports effective decision‑making, performance management and long‑term financial sustainability.

Reporting to the Executive Finance Director and leading the FP&A function, the Head of FP&A is a key member of the senior leadership team. By combining strong leadership capability with deep financial expertise, the role plays a critical part in shaping and driving organisational performance, supporting strategic change, and building financial capability and accountability across NHS Supply Chain. 

Every day you will … 

• Lead and coach the FP&A team, supporting team performance and development.
• Ensure organisational strategy is underpinned by robust, integrated financial plans that enable informed, long‑term decision‑making.
• Deliver high‑quality analysis that strengthens Executive and Board understanding of performance, risk and strategic trade‑offs.
• Drive rigorous budgeting and forecasting processes that embed accountability and enable delivery of financial and operational commitments.
• Produce clear, precise reporting that enhances Executive and Board oversight and supports confident, evidence‑based decisions.
• Lead the financial evaluation of major investments and change programmes, ensuring value for money and strategic alignment.
• Build a high‑performing FP&A function and elevate financial acumen across directorates, positioning Finance as a trusted strategic partner.
• Anticipate financial risks and opportunities and lead enhancements that improve data quality, processes and insight.
• Play an active role in shaping organisational culture, transformation and enterprise‑wide initiatives through strong financial stewardship.

What can we offer you?

We want to reward you for your passion, enthusiasm, and hard work so we offer much more than a competitive salary:

• Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.  
• We recognise our employees’ hard work and contributions with annual bonus schemes, long service, and colleague recognition awards. 
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
• A focus on your well-being offering 1 day of paid well-being leave and free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous pension scheme (with us contributing 12% when you contribute 6%)
• Access to our Flexible Benefits Scheme, where you can choose from a variety of benefits such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, and additional pension contributions that suit you.
• 2 days of paid volunteering leave allowing you to give back to your community. 
• Access to many discounts from the Blue Light Card to NHS Discounts.

NHS Supply Chain, who are we?

Our role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health. We are a part of the NHS family, and our role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.

We serve every NHS Trust and operate a national network of distribution centres, managing relationships with more than a thousand suppliers and delivering more than 8,000,000 orders each year to more than 17,000 locations. Doing all of this on behalf of the NHS gives NHS staff more time to focus on their main priority of providing excellent patient care.

What skills will help you thrive in this role?

Know-how and experience (technical and professional skills)

• Extensive experience leading budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes in complex organisations.
• The ability to present financial information in a way that brings clarity, highlights what matters and supports decision making at all levels.
• A proven track record of working with senior leaders to support strategic decision‑making, challenge assumptions and drive accountability.
• Experience developing business cases and investment proposals, with sound judgement around value for money, affordability and expected benefits.
• An ability to interpret commercial drivers, external dynamics and organisational strategy and translate them into financial implications and recommendations.
• Strong understanding of financial systems, planning tools, data and reporting technologies, with a focus on improving quality and efficiency.

Transferable skills and behaviours

• Coaching and supporting the development of teams.
• Demonstrates the ability to connect financial performance, organisational priorities and long‑term strategic objectives, shaping thinking at Executive and Board level.
• Shows expertise in distilling complex financial information into clear, compelling and influential insight tailored to senior stakeholders.
• Brings a rigorous, evidence‑based approach to analysis and challenge, driving stronger accountability, improved performance and better decisions.
• Builds trusted, productive relationships across the organisation and enhances financial capability through partnership and coaching.
• Role models authenticity, trust and community, contributing to a positive, high‑performance culture.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving processes, data quality and insight to elevate organisational financial maturity.

Our Inclusive Commitment

At NHS Supply Chain, we are committed to building an inclusive environment where difference is not only valued, but celebrated, giving everyone the opportunity to thrive in their career. Developing our people is key to our success, so if this role sounds like the right next step in your career but your experience doesn’t match perfectly with the job advert, we encourage you to still apply.

Struggling to complete our application form, and require additional support? Reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at careers@supplychain.nhs.uk who will be happy to help you with alternative ways to apply.

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