Finance Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Ensuring all invoices are correctly posted in a timely basis to the General Ledger via Oracle.

Resolving supplier queries as required via email and telephone.

Manage all aspects of creditor payments for suppliers, including purchase order details agree with the invoice in respect of description and quantities received, invoice address is correct, prices on the invoices concur with the order, invoice calculations are correct, correct coding of purchase orders, matching invoices to orders, ensuring invoices are appropriately authorised by the relevant budget holder, and releasing the invoice for payment.

Reviewing systems and processes for effectiveness and where necessary training users within the Trust.

Liaise with NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) on a daily basis for invoice and payment queries.

Assist with the quarterly agreement of balances exercise for payables.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

To support the Financial Accounting team where demands of the service required.

Calculate and prepare month end adjustments for processing in ledgers in line with month end deadlines.

Analyse complex financial information through interrogation of the general ledger and other ledgers, downloading such information into spreadsheets to assist with reconciliation.

TREASURY

To update the daily cashbook of the trust, ensuring it reconciles to the bank.

To process manual payments

Analyse financial payments & receipts.to identify errors & discrepancies and investigate findings.

Communicate with other departments both clinical and non-clinical, asking the appropriate questions to facilitate the accurate recording of banking transactions.

Management Accounts

Assist to maintain spreadsheet of all budget virements actioned during the financial year

Reconcile payroll data to the relevant budget

Correct payroll coding and input to the financial systems

Assist with monthly accrual and prepayment journals and supporting working papers

Use financial systems to identify all transactions against the accounts

Process by journal any corrections between accounts having gained appropriate authorisation

Run daily reports during month to update reports

Income

To ensure that all activity is billed monthly to the relevant Commissioners, including Private Patients.

To ensure that all queries on Private Patients and NCA billing are dealt with correctly and on a timely basis.

Maintain a good relationship with the Private Patients Manager and team to ensure prompt collection of the relevant information to ensure accurate and timeline invoicing for private patients

OTHER

Assist in the audit of procedures and systems used within the team, proposing and implementing changes to improve efficiency and quality

Check own work for accuracy and ensure any necessary adjustments are entered into the relevant financial system.

Any other duties appropriate to the post as required by the Financial Accountant including provision of cover for other posts within the Finance team if required.

PROFESSIONAL

Contribute to the production and regular updating of written policies and procedures for all aspects of work undertaken on a regular basis by the Financial Accounts function.

Ensure that data is held in compliance with the Trusts Information Governance Framework.

Manage own workload and time, organising and prioritising work in order of urgency and relevance. The role requires long periods of concentration which can be interrupted with urgent requests from colleagues, clinicians and operational managers, which are dealt with efficiently and effectively before continuing with previous tasks.

Network with colleagues regionally and nationally.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• 4 GCSEs grade A*-C or equivalent including English and Maths

Desirable

• Basic IT skills qualification e.g., ECDL, ITQ
• Evidence of further training/education

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Reliable and punctual
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn/apply learning in the workplace
• Commitment to pursuing a career in Finance
• Demonstrates the NHS Values

Desirable

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to act on own initiative and follow instructions
• Ability to prioritise

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good organisational and administrative skills
• Basic IT literacy

Desirable

• An understanding of bookkeeping/accounting principles and concepts
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• Customer service skills and experience
• Knowledge of practices in a healthcare setting

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Address

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Liverpool

L14 3PE

Employer's website

https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)