Head of Financial Accounts

Job responsibilities

Working to the Deputy Director of Finance the main responsibilities of the role are:-

Financial Accounting

Responsible for preparation of the Trusts Annual Accounts, Annual Financial Returns and Statements within the required timescales determined by NHS Improvement and in accordance with all relevant guidance, policy and professional accounting standards, whilst working autonomously to interpret and analyse such policies.

Responsible for compiling the technical financial pages of the Trusts Annual Report ensuring compliance with accounting standards and the requirements of NHS Improvements Annual Reporting Manual.

Liaison with external auditors in demonstrating the accuracy of the Trusts Annual Accounts and Returns, including the preparation of detailed working papers to satisfy external audit requirements.

Ensure systems and procedures are in place to reconcile the financial control accounts on a regular basis in order to maintain effective financial control and accuracy of financial information.

Co-ordinate the production of VAT returns as required and provide the Trusts specialist advice on VAT related issues.

Maintain and develop internal financial controls, systems and procedures, including the evaluation and implementation of recommendations contained in internal and external audit reports.

Ensure the proper management of the Trusts register of property, plant and equipment and ensure that supporting accounting entries are reflected in the financial accounts, returns and records of the Trust.

Take a lead role in ensuring that the Trusts payables and receivables balances are recorded and reconciled in accordance with guidelines issued by NHS Improvement.

Preparation of monthly financial performance reports to support the Board, detailing the Trusts performance in relation to SOFP and cash flows

Provision of detailed forecasts for the financial planning process in relation to SOFP, cash flows and capital expenditure. Provision of monitoring information of actuals against these plans, including variance and bridge analysis.

Cash Flow & Control

Day to day management of the Trusts liquidity, ensuring the Trusts cash flow is managed in accordance with the Trusts Treasury Management Policy, including debt and payment management, as well as borrowing and depositing.

Responsible for the preparation and monitoring of complex cash flow planning and forecasting within the Trust.

Develop reporting systems for monitoring the Trusts cash flow and for identifying deviations from the Trusts cash plan. Where appropriate, liaise with senior finance staff in reconciling Income & Expenditure, capital and working balances to monitor cash flow performance against plan. Advise on and implement appropriate action to ensure that cash flows remain with the cash plan.

Management of the Trusts banking arrangements, ensuring that appropriate reconciliation procedures are maintained.

Maintain cash holdings to ensure that sufficient funds are always available to meet the Trusts requirements.

Advise on the required extent of the Working Capital Facility for approval by NHS Improvement and manage cash resources appropriately.

Capital/Investment Appraisal

Ensure that allocated capital expenditure is in line with Trust objectives and plans and systems are in place to ensure that capital schemes are in accordance relevant accounting policies and guidelines.

Ensure that relevant financial information, particularly with regard to capital expenditure and investment appraisal, is included within every Business Case developed by the Directorates. Review and then discuss the information provided with the Deputy Director of Finance for either approval or to co-ordinate further actions required.

Ensure that capital expenditure is accurately recorded, forecast and allocated and that VAT is recovered where appropriate. Where appropriate confirm the treatment with HM Customs & Revenue and/or the Trusts VAT consultants.

Preparation of financial accounts, returns, records and forecasts in relation to capital expenditure, ensuring accurate treatment of capital accounting entries.

Prepare forecasts in relation to depreciation and calculate actual depreciation for inclusion in monthly and annual financial returns and reports.

Calculation of the Trusts Public Dividend Capital dividends payable and correct and timely remittance of such payments.

Other Financial Management Responsibilities

Maintenance of relevant financial policies and procedures for the regulation of financial dealings within the Trust, revising and updating as necessary, including the establishment of working parties, where relevant, to take forward revision and implementation.

Provide relevant input, as required, to internal and external audit reports, including the co- ordination and implementation of agreed recommendations.

Interpret financial information and accounting standards and provide relevant specialist financial advice and support on these complex issues to the Board, the Executive Directors Group and Directors and managers within the Trust. This advice may be communicated verbally or in writing and it may be supported by the production of detailed and accurate financial information without the necessity of advice from the line manager.

Within delegated guidelines act as an authorised signatory for Trust financial instruments and where required facilitate the processing of receipts and payments.

To work collaboratively with the Deputy Director of Finance in determining monthly timetabling and scheduling as well as timetabling and scheduling in respect of the preparation of the Annual Accounts of the Trust.

To maintain close contact with other finance colleagues within the Trust to ensure an efficient and effective delivery of service, consistent with departmental wide working policies and practices.

Line Management

To play a proactive role in the recruitment of staff and to train, motivate, develop and supervise those staff effectively within Trust and Finance Directorate policies and procedures, ensuring that all staff have job descriptions, regular one to one meetings, personal development plans, and are subject to an agreed appraisal mechanism. This includes the assessment of training needs and ensuring that these needs are met.

To recruit, train & develop the Financial Accounting team in order that they can competently undertake the responsibilities and tasks required of them and that the financial information and advice supplied is provided in an accurate, relevant and timely manner.

To be responsible for priority setting, both personally and for managed team members and to be responsive to urgent and unpredictable requests for high level financial assistance.

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Training and qualifications

Essential

• CCAB Qualified Accountant

Desirable

• Honours degree or equivalent.
• MBA or equivalent

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Ability to establish and maintain professional credibility at all levels of the organisation and display a responsible and confident attitude in dealing with senior officers of the Trust.
• Ability to prioritise heavy workloads and meet deadlines through effective organisational and planning skills.
• Evidence of leading a project/section including pulling together unrelated systems or procedures, working across different disciplines and setting frameworks for accountability and resource priorities.
• Flexible and adaptable - able to manage competing and changing workloads.
• Able to analyse, interpret and utilise complex financial and non-financial information for reporting, forecasting and costing purposes.

Experience

Essential

• Significant recent (within the last 2 years) and relevant post qualification experience at a senior managerial level within a finance role, including staff management and development experience. In particular, recent knowledge and experience of management and leadership thinking relative to the co-ordination and direction of teams of staff producing timely and accurate financial information for strategic financial decision making.
• Expert knowledge of financial management reporting systems and processes, either within an NHS Trust or another large, complex organisation.
• Preparation of Annual Financial Accounts and Returns.
• Experience of cash management and investment.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the application of accounting policies, as well as current accounting practices, procedures and frameworks.
• Sophisticated use and knowledge of financial systems and demonstrably excellent IT skills including Advanced Excel skills, reporting writing skills, budgeting and costing software skills.
• Knowledge and experience of management thinking relative to the co-ordination and direction of teams of staff producing timely and accurate financial information for financial decision making.

Desirable

• Experience within a financial accounting role within the NHS and knowledge of Foundation Trust financial reporting requirements.
• Detailed knowledge of FT FReM and NHS Improvement financial framework.
• Experience of integrated ledger systems and report writing skills

Other - Further Training

Essential

• Evidence of up to date mandatory CPD.

Desirable

• Car Driver.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication and influencing skills, in particular the ability to communicate complex ideas; to lead and facilitate meetings and provision of feedback and recommendations to all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to work under own initiative, using own judgement and adapting precedents where necessary.
• Ability to question and learn quickly.
• Understanding the need to maintain confidentiality at all times and display a responsible attitude when dealing with confidential information.
• Positive team player/self-motivated.

Desirable

• Ability to make constructive challenges.

Other

Essential

• Fit our organisational values.
• Flexibility in relation to working hours, particularly to achieve deadlines, e.g. in relation to production of annual accounts and other statutory returns.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).