Job summary
An exciting new opportunity has arisen at South West London & St George's Mental Health Trust for an experienced Head of Financial Services looking to enhance their career.
Financial Services is a sub team within the Finance & Procurement Department and consists of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Capital Accounting, Financial Accounts, Payroll and Pensions, Charitable Funds Financial Administration, Finance Systems, Treasury Management & Cashiers.
The finance team are looking to enhance how it operates, working smarter, more efficiently and effectively, minimising manual tasks. We are committed to embedding automation in the way we do things, so that we can improve our reporting times and concentrate on strengthening our roles to support our operational service managers in the services they deliver, ultimately improving patient care and ensuring we deliver best value for money.
Technical accountancy, I.T literacy and staff management skills are crucial. We are looking for an individual who can bring previous experience and enthusiasm to our established team. You will be a CCAB qualified accountant with previous NHS experience. You will have strong leadership qualities, communication, presentation and analytical skills and experience of dealing with difficult situations in a professional manner along with the ability to meet tight deadlines across a dual site operation.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the daily operations of the financial services teams to ensure that the Trust receives high quality financial services and achieves best value for money from its financial systems and services. Staff range in experience from trainees to fully CCAB qualified accountants. The Head of Financial Services is responsible to the Deputy Director of Finance for the successful delivery of operational financial objectives through effective and robust financial services, ensuring that the Trust has accurate and sustainable financial plans to achieve key financial performance indicators and monitors performance against these plans.
The post holder will gain a variety of experience including the opportunity to influence change and strengthen financial control at a leading Mental Health provider within the NHS. We are a dynamic team and with the objective of delivering a 'right first time' service, with a customer focus. We are fully committed to the Trust's values of being Respectful, Open, Collaborative, Compassionate and Consistent.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
About our locations:
Kingston (Tolworth) :Our finance hub is based at Tolworth Hospital in the Borough of Kingston close to a number of shops and with good transport links
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To ensure, with the other members of the senior Finance team, the maintenance of a long term financial model and annual operating plan produced in line with national guidance which will deliver all financial objectives.
2. To play a leading role in formulating plans to deliver long term financial sustainability for the Trust. Providing expert financial input into major business cases/plans and other business critical documents.
3. To work with finance colleagues and senior managers to develop and implement financial strategies necessary to meet the Trusts financial objectives including making a key contribution to the identification and delivery of savings programmes and cash management strategies.
4. To support the Deputy Director of Finance in the preparation of all internal and external financial reporting and respond to financial queries from the ICB and other bodies
5. To interpret and understand in-year financial data so as to identify trends and areas of concern taking into account value for money and benchmarking. To be proactive in identifying corrective and mitigating action.
6. To provide effective management and control so that the Trust meets its statutory financial duties and compliance with the Public Sector Payment Policy.
7. To provide the senior financial support, advice and guidance on complex financial Trust wide issues in order to minimize risk and financial exposure. This may include sensitive and confidential information. This will include attendance at meetings as the Director of Finance representative.
8. Interpret and implement financial legislation, accounting standards and DHSC/NHS specific policies, ensuring local application where required including the communication and training of complex financial rules to a wider non financial audience.
9. To ensure the efficient, effective and economic running of the Financial Services Department through the development and maintenance of operating practices and procedures whilst ensuring that accounting records and salary payment records are maintained to high standards to enable the requirements of governance, internal and external audit requirements and completion of monthly reconciliations.
10. To provide appropriate and timely financial information and advice to senior managers and directors of the Trust so as to enable them to fulfil their financial responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To ensure, with the other members of the senior Finance team, the maintenance of a long term financial model and annual operating plan produced in line with national guidance which will deliver all financial objectives.
2. To play a leading role in formulating plans to deliver long term financial sustainability for the Trust. Providing expert financial input into major business cases/plans and other business critical documents.
3. To work with finance colleagues and senior managers to develop and implement financial strategies necessary to meet the Trusts financial objectives including making a key contribution to the identification and delivery of savings programmes and cash management strategies.
4. To support the Deputy Director of Finance in the preparation of all internal and external financial reporting and respond to financial queries from the ICB and other bodies
5. To interpret and understand in-year financial data so as to identify trends and areas of concern taking into account value for money and benchmarking. To be proactive in identifying corrective and mitigating action.
6. To provide effective management and control so that the Trust meets its statutory financial duties and compliance with the Public Sector Payment Policy.
7. To provide the senior financial support, advice and guidance on complex financial Trust wide issues in order to minimize risk and financial exposure. This may include sensitive and confidential information. This will include attendance at meetings as the Director of Finance representative.
8. Interpret and implement financial legislation, accounting standards and DHSC/NHS specific policies, ensuring local application where required including the communication and training of complex financial rules to a wider non financial audience.
9. To ensure the efficient, effective and economic running of the Financial Services Department through the development and maintenance of operating practices and procedures whilst ensuring that accounting records and salary payment records are maintained to high standards to enable the requirements of governance, internal and external audit requirements and completion of monthly reconciliations.
10. To provide appropriate and timely financial information and advice to senior managers and directors of the Trust so as to enable them to fulfil their financial responsibilities.
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Degree Level or equivalent
- CCAB Qualified
- Evidence of continuous professional development in financial management and leadership Skills, Knowledge, and Experience.
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- 5+ years previous NHS Finance experience, of which 3+ years is in a Senior Management role
- Dealing with legislation, accounting procedures & policies
- Knowledge and understanding of NHS Pensions, NEST, PAYE, NI and other statutory obligations in the running of a payroll.
- Knowledge and understanding of legislation and government policy on Employment issues.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Finance within a mental health NHS provider
- Understanding of NHS financial developments
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Confident user of IT e.g. Microsoft Office, integrated financial ledger system, databases
- Up to date knowledge of Accounting Standards and NHS Finance Regimes and Accounting Manual
- Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to communicate complicated financial data in a variety of ways so that it is understood by financial and non financial staff
- Up to date knowledge of the NHS National Agenda
- Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence at all levels both with the Trust, with external stakeholders and other organisations.
Desirable
- Comprehensive use of Business Objects, E-Financials, CARS, Access Database
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Degree Level or equivalent
- CCAB Qualified
- Evidence of continuous professional development in financial management and leadership Skills, Knowledge, and Experience.
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- 5+ years previous NHS Finance experience, of which 3+ years is in a Senior Management role
- Dealing with legislation, accounting procedures & policies
- Knowledge and understanding of NHS Pensions, NEST, PAYE, NI and other statutory obligations in the running of a payroll.
- Knowledge and understanding of legislation and government policy on Employment issues.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Finance within a mental health NHS provider
- Understanding of NHS financial developments
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Confident user of IT e.g. Microsoft Office, integrated financial ledger system, databases
- Up to date knowledge of Accounting Standards and NHS Finance Regimes and Accounting Manual
- Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to communicate complicated financial data in a variety of ways so that it is understood by financial and non financial staff
- Up to date knowledge of the NHS National Agenda
- Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence at all levels both with the Trust, with external stakeholders and other organisations.
Desirable
- Comprehensive use of Business Objects, E-Financials, CARS, Access Database
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
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).
