The NHS employs finance professionals in hospital trusts, community and mental health trusts, integrated care boards and national bodies. Here is what the work looks like and how careers develop.
The work
- Financial accounting. Annual accounts, month-end, cash and capital.
- Management accounting and business partnering. Working with clinical divisions and services on budgets, forecasts and savings.
- Costing and income. Working out what services cost and making sure income is received for the care provided.
- Planning and contracting. Setting financial plans across organisations, especially in integrated care boards.
Pay and benefits
Most NHS finance posts are paid on Agenda for Change bands, with the NHS Pension Scheme. Adverts state the band, which makes comparing roles easier. See the salary guide.
Training
NHS finance graduate schemes and apprenticeships combine work with a professional qualification, and many trusts support existing staff through AAT, CIPFA, ACCA or CIMA.
Moving between the NHS and councils
Skills move well between the two, especially in business partnering and health and social care finance, where councils and the NHS increasingly plan budgets together.