Jennifer Kearton is the Executive Director of Finance and Commercial at the NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. Within her portfolio, she holds executive responsibility for finance, contracting and estates.
Prior to this, Jennifer was Executive Chief Finance Officer at NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, where she led system finance across a complex and evolving integrated care environment.
Jennifer has worked in healthcare finance for over two decades, having joined the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme in 2003. Her appointment as Director of Resources for NHS Mid and South Essex in December 2022 was particularly significant, as she trained and qualified in the mid Essex locality, beginning her career at Mid Essex Hospitals in roles spanning costing, income and efficiency improvement.
Before joining the mid and south Essex health system, Jennifer was Deputy Director of Finance in Suffolk and north east Essex and led finance for the north east Essex Alliance.
Jennifer is a strong advocate for making best use of collective resources to improve value in health care.
Collaborative working and continuous improvement have been consistent themes throughout Jennifer’s career, across provider and commissioner organisations, as well as at regional and national level, including work with the Department of Health.