Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for the role of Assistant Management Accountant, acting as a key member of the Financial Management team. The postholder will provide accurate and timely financial information and reporting to colleagues internal and external to Finance, including providing support to budget holders across the organisation.
The postholder will ensure key processes within their areas of responsibility are delivered effectively and efficiently and will support the provision of regular financial reporting, meeting with budget holders to review the reported information and providing support and analysis for ad hoc queries as they arise.
They will also support the Financial Management team in delivering costings, forecasts and the annual budget setting and year end reporting processes. They will help to develop accurate costings to support business cases and investment decisions and will support with identifying opportunities for financial efficiencies.
The successful candidate will have completed their Level 4 AAT qualification. They will have strong numeracy skills and attention to detail, alongside excellent I.T. and communication skills.
Please be aware that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated, should a sufficient number of applications be received. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
Interview date: 18th September 2023
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Management Accountant's main duties will be to:
- Ensure the provision of high quality financial information and accurate advice to budget holders and other non-finance managers.
- Develop good working relationships with budget holders, regularly meeting with them to review their financial information and provide advice.
- Assist Financial Management colleagues in ensuring income and expenditure is monitored and is recorded accurately, including monitoring variances from planned income and expenditure and resolving queries with budget holders and Finance colleagues.
- Use Excel and other software to provide financial reports and conduct financial analysis, using formulae and other functionality as required.
- Complete regular tasks accurately and in line with the monthly timetable, including where relevant internal recharges between departments and updates to the ledger to reflect an accurate financial position.
- Ensure most effective use of the Trust's financial resources, including assisting with the annual budget setting/financial planning process by updating and reviewing information for the new financial year, including staffing information. To liaise with budget holders as part of this process, to ensure accurate information is used.
- Proactively review regular tasks within their areas of responsibility, identifying opportunities for improvements and more efficient working to support continuous improvement of the Finance function.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached documents for the full job description and person specification.
Interviews for this position will be competency based, with a focus on specific examples from your previous experience. The Person Specification document provides more detail on which aspects of candidates knowledge, experience and skills will be assessed based on responses to interview questions. Candidates will also be asked value based questions to ensure that their values, attitudes and behaviours align with our organisation.
We are keen to support the health and wellbeing of our staff, both within the Finance and Information Directorate and through the programme of wellbeing events and offers in place across the organisation. Our staff benefit from an annual leave allowance of 27-33 days (dependant on length of service) and we offer a generous study support policy providing both study leave and funding support for staff pursuing professional qualifications.
We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked in the NHS but have the knowledge and skills essential for the role from their experience in other sectors. If you would like to discuss the role in more detail or have queries on how your previous experience may make you a good fit for this post, please contact the recruiting manager.
MWL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and where discrimination is outlawed, and staff and service users are equally valued and supported. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria will be interviewed under the disability confident scheme. Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please contact the recruiting manager at the earliest opportunity.
Any trans applicants who will require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (0151 676 1452 or email sensitive@dbs.gsi.gov.uk) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form. The team are then able to prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues internal and external to the Finance department to ensure effective working.
- To ensure the provision of high quality financial information and accurate advice to budget holders and other non-finance managers. To develop good working relationships with budget holders, regularly meetings with them to review their financial information and provide advice.
- To assist Financial Management colleagues in ensuring income and expenditure is monitored and is recorded accurately. To monitor variances from planned income and expenditure and to discuss queries with budget holders and Finance colleagues where necessary, resolving these where possible. To provide timely and accurate information to budget holders and Finance colleagues to support effective decision making and delivery of the Trusts objectives.
- To maintain the integrity of the financial ledger and other financial systems to ensure that compliance with audit requirements is adhered to. To use Excel and other software to provide financial reports and conduct financial analysis, using formulae and other functionality as required.
- To complete regular tasks accurately and in line with the monthly timetable, including where relevant internal recharges between departments, requests for ad hoc invoices to be raised and updates to the ledger to reflect an accurate financial position.
- To ensure most effective use of the Trusts financial resources, including assisting with the annual budget setting/financial planning process by updating and reviewing information for the new financial year, including staffing information, on a Trustwide basis and for specific cost centres. To liaise with budget holders as part of this process, to ensure accurate information is used and escalating any financial pressures as necessary. To develop an understanding of the Trusts overall annual planning process.
- To perform ad hoc duties as and when required, including assisting with resolving queries from budget holders and providing analysis to colleagues within Finance.
- To proactively review regular tasks within their areas of responsibility, identifying opportunities for improvements and more efficient working to support continuous improvement of the Finance function.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached documents for the full job description and person specification.
Interviews for this position will be competency based, with a focus on specific examples from your previous experience. The Person Specification document provides more detail on which aspects of candidates knowledge, experience and skills will be assessed based on responses to interview questions. Candidates will also be asked value based questions to ensure that their values, attitudes and behaviours align with our organisation.
We are keen to support the health and wellbeing of our staff, both within the Finance and Information Directorate and through the programme of wellbeing events and offers in place across the organisation. Our staff benefit from an annual leave allowance of 27-33 days (dependant on length of service) and we offer a generous study support policy providing both study leave and funding support for staff pursuing professional qualifications.
We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked in the NHS but have the knowledge and skills essential for the role from their experience in other sectors. If you would like to discuss the role in more detail or have queries on how your previous experience may make you a good fit for this post, please contact the recruiting manager.
MWL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and where discrimination is outlawed, and staff and service users are equally valued and supported. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria will be interviewed under the disability confident scheme. Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please contact the recruiting manager at the earliest opportunity.
Any trans applicants who will require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (0151 676 1452 or email sensitive@dbs.gsi.gov.uk) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form. The team are then able to prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues internal and external to the Finance department to ensure effective working.
- To ensure the provision of high quality financial information and accurate advice to budget holders and other non-finance managers. To develop good working relationships with budget holders, regularly meetings with them to review their financial information and provide advice.
- To assist Financial Management colleagues in ensuring income and expenditure is monitored and is recorded accurately. To monitor variances from planned income and expenditure and to discuss queries with budget holders and Finance colleagues where necessary, resolving these where possible. To provide timely and accurate information to budget holders and Finance colleagues to support effective decision making and delivery of the Trusts objectives.
- To maintain the integrity of the financial ledger and other financial systems to ensure that compliance with audit requirements is adhered to. To use Excel and other software to provide financial reports and conduct financial analysis, using formulae and other functionality as required.
- To complete regular tasks accurately and in line with the monthly timetable, including where relevant internal recharges between departments, requests for ad hoc invoices to be raised and updates to the ledger to reflect an accurate financial position.
- To ensure most effective use of the Trusts financial resources, including assisting with the annual budget setting/financial planning process by updating and reviewing information for the new financial year, including staffing information, on a Trustwide basis and for specific cost centres. To liaise with budget holders as part of this process, to ensure accurate information is used and escalating any financial pressures as necessary. To develop an understanding of the Trusts overall annual planning process.
- To perform ad hoc duties as and when required, including assisting with resolving queries from budget holders and providing analysis to colleagues within Finance.
- To proactively review regular tasks within their areas of responsibility, identifying opportunities for improvements and more efficient working to support continuous improvement of the Finance function.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- AAT Level 4 (Technician) or equivalent qualification
- GCSE Maths - Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Ability to review and interpret financial statements
- Knowledge of accountancy policies and procedures, including ledger coding structures and reporting/reconciliation processes
- Awareness of NHS Finance processes and relevant accounting standards/legislation
Desirable
- Financial management experience
- Experience within a finance function of a large organisation
Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse, investigate and interpret financial information and queries
- Ability to report and present accurate financial information to colleagues internal and external to Finance
- Strong IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office suite
Other
Essential
- Strong IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office suite
- The ability to maintain effective working relationships, both internal and external to Finance
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- AAT Level 4 (Technician) or equivalent qualification
- GCSE Maths - Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Ability to review and interpret financial statements
- Knowledge of accountancy policies and procedures, including ledger coding structures and reporting/reconciliation processes
- Awareness of NHS Finance processes and relevant accounting standards/legislation
Desirable
- Financial management experience
- Experience within a finance function of a large organisation
Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse, investigate and interpret financial information and queries
- Ability to report and present accurate financial information to colleagues internal and external to Finance
- Strong IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office suite
Other
Essential
- Strong IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office suite
- The ability to maintain effective working relationships, both internal and external to Finance
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development
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.
