Job summary
Working Full time : 37.5 hours per week
Responsible for the development of a service provision and operational delivery of the Financial Services function.
To operate as the chief technical financial accountant for the Trust and to provide specialist/ expert financial accounting advice and support in line with the relevant national policy and international accounting standards. To ensure strong professional networks are developed and maintained and that the department is expertly briefed on developments in all technical accounting areas.
To lead the department in all finance and accounting aspects of capital accounting and cash management.
To act as the Trust's expert advisor for the charitable Trust activities and the key contact when managing the relationship with internal and external auditors/ independent examiners.
Be responsible for providing support and deputising when required for the Deputy Chief Finance Officer.
Lead the continuous development of the financial accounts systems, ensuring that they are in line with best practice and provide a cost-effective service to the Trust.
The list is to outline the main duties involved however, this is subject to change and will vary within the given role. We ask all employees to be flexible in their role, to always ensure we are delivering Safe, Kind and Effective care.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for the timely co-ordination and production of statutory accounts in line with relevant accounting standards and reporting timescales.
Establish effective treasury management systems and controls, ensuring cashflow is optimised for the Trust.
Preparation of relevant returns for central cash support as an when required including detailed cash flow monitoring.
The post holder will need to provide and lead their team through the provision of first-class expert financial and technical accounting advice in line with the relevant accounting standards, including balance sheet, cash flow, leasing, capital, VAT and in/direct taxation etc.
Act as a key contact when managing the relationship with internal and external auditors, ensuring all recommendations are implemented.
Manage the charitable funds, including the production of the Charity's annual report and accounts, independent examination, financial reports and attendance at the charitable funds Trustees meetings.
Provision of accurate and timely complex information to various internal and external key stakeholders such as NHS England and Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (C&M ICB).
To be an authorised signatory for cash payments, salary transfers, cheque payments, investment payments and creditor payment transfers on a weekly basis.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Qualified (Professional accountancy qualification) with at least 5 years post qualification experience.
- Evidence of continuing commitment to CPD.
- Relevant technical training and development courses pertinent to the role.
Desirable
- Higher level/ postgraduate degree
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret financial information
- Excellent communication and liaison skills
- To be able to present credible and compelling arguments to Board members and other members of the Trust
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Ability to implement national financial policies and guidance across the organisation.
- Expert knowledge and understanding of capital accounting requirements.
- Preparation of final accounts and associated working papers.
- Ability to produce and interpret complex financial analysis.
Desirable
- Experience of managing charitable funds.
- Expert knowledge and understanding of NHS Foundation Trust statutory accounts requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Qualified (Professional accountancy qualification) with at least 5 years post qualification experience.
- Evidence of continuing commitment to CPD.
- Relevant technical training and development courses pertinent to the role.
Desirable
- Higher level/ postgraduate degree
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret financial information
- Excellent communication and liaison skills
- To be able to present credible and compelling arguments to Board members and other members of the Trust
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Ability to implement national financial policies and guidance across the organisation.
- Expert knowledge and understanding of capital accounting requirements.
- Preparation of final accounts and associated working papers.
- Ability to produce and interpret complex financial analysis.
Desirable
- Experience of managing charitable funds.
- Expert knowledge and understanding of NHS Foundation Trust statutory accounts requirements.
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
