Finance Officer (Corporate) development post

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities

The role will be varied and will adapt over time as the ICB develops. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions: -

Support the production of the monthly financial reporting position as part of the ICBs financial management reporting framework, including providing financial support for a number of specified cost centres.

Contribute to the budget setting and budgetary control process.

Support the development and delivery of a finance training programme for the ICB Executives, clinical and non-clinical managers.

Support the year end production of the Annual Report and Accounts by producing relevant information to required deadlines and through liaison with auditors where appropriate.

Finance duties and responsibilities

1. Financial Monitoring / Reporting

o Responsible for assisting in the delivery of financial information in accordance with an agreed financial timetable, relating to complex areas requiring a significant level of finance expertise for a number of cost centres. This is as part of period end reporting to assist the ICB to successfully manage its financial position.

o Running Costs cost centres: working with the Finance Manager Corporate, this will involve confirming staff are coded correctly, analysing variances from budget, ensuring any Electronic Staff Record (ESR) changes (Assignment Changes, New Starters, Leavers) are reflected accurately for the relevant cost centres and identifying where accruals may be required.

o Liaising with the Senior Finance Manager Corporate, to produce a monthly analysis of costs incurred within the Cancer Alliance cost centre, highlighting any variances from anticipated expenditure.

o Liaising with the Senior Finance Manager Corporate, to produce a monthly analysis of costs incurred within the ICBs Research function, highlighting any variances from anticipated expenditure.

o Lease vehicles: this will involve ensuring lease car costs and deductions are coded appropriately and that any invoices and prepayments are entered into the ledger correctly on a monthly basis. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that Budget Holders are informed when Purchase Orders need to be raised for their staff and for informing the lease scheme operator of Purchase Order numbers.

This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change in agreement with the Head of Corporate Finance.

o Assist the Finance Manager Corporate in ensuring the master staffing establishment record is up to date and accurately amended as a result of any ESR changes (New Starters, Assignment Changes and Leavers).

o Responsible for reviewing the Corporate Finance teams generic ESR inbox and informing the Head of Corporate Finance of any actions required in processing ESR forms.

o Assist the Finance Manager Corporate in analysing payroll costs and the production of accurate staff cost forecasts.

o Assist in costing, developing and monitoring agreed budgets, documenting issues and advising the Head of Corporate Finance on anything that will impact the ICBs forecast outturn.

o Assist in the production of trend analysis to determine forecasting of under or over performance, differentiating between recurrent and non-recurrent activity and expenditure to establish recurring baselines and support the ICBs future planning requirements.

o Undertake invoice coding and checks using judgement in analysing and assessing complex information and investigate queries through to resolution as necessary. Ensure payments are processed in a timely manner with regards to the ICBs Scheme of Delegation, and that providers are paid in line with the agreed contractual terms and conditions.

o Assist in the production of period end working papers which advise the ICB on sources of information and assumptions made in support of Year to Date (YTD) positions and forecast outturns.

o Prepare and distribute budget statements each month for all cost centres within the responsibility of the Corporate Finance team, in line with the agreed reporting timetable.

o Maintain records of any faster payments made to suppliers, ensuring working papers are adequate for audit purposes.

o Assist in the production of information for agreed areas in the ICBs Month 9 Accounts and Annual Accounts. Work in accordance with the respective NHS England timetables and produce high quality working papers for External Audit requirements.

2. Statutory Reporting

o Assist in the NHS Agreement of Balances (AoB) exercise by completing the necessary DR/CR and I&E elements for the relevant Provider organisations as directed by the Finance Manager - Corporate. Liaise with the CSU Purchase to Pay (P2P) and Order to Cash (O2C) Teams where necessary around working papers and missing statements etc.

o Support the Finance Manager Corporate in reviewing both the monthly and the AoB Mismatch reports for the ICB.

o Support the production of the ICBs Month 9 and Annual Accounts in accordance with the respective NHS England timetables, ensuring accurate financial coding of all transactions within areas of responsibility.

o Provide high quality working papers in accordance with audit requirements for the ICBs Month 9 and Annual Accounts, liaising directly with External Audit as required to ensure all audit queries and issues for agreed areas of responsibility are resolved.

o Adhere to CCG and CSU Standing Financial Instructions and Schemes of Delegation at all times.

3. Staff Responsibilities and Development

o Assist colleagues within the Corporate Finance Team in the development and delivery of training sessions for non Finance members of the ICB.

4. Other

o Maintain the financial integrity of the national finance system through the correct use of financial codes.

o Assist in the implementation of the new ledger, attending workshops and training as appropriate.

o Help lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve processes and systems, including greater automation, eliminating duplication, consolidation and standardisation.

o Support the finance development agenda ensuring the adoption of best practices and sharing of knowledge and skills.

o Maintain and continually develop IT skills including Oracle and Microsoft Office in order to produce information from the computer systems used within the department to maximum benefit.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of financial management, financial accounting and a complex financial accounting system.
• Experience of preparation and inputting of journals in the ISFE ledger.
• Experience of the production of budget statements from the ISFE ledger.
• Working knowledge of the arrangements for the processing and recording of Electronic Staff Record (ESR) amendments.

Desirable

• Significant experience of NHS financial management, statutory reporting and ISFE financial accounting system.

Qualifications

Essential

• AAT part qualified to Level 2 or above.
• Willingness to complete the AAT qualification (Level 4) within: 3 years of appointment (if currently studying at Level 2) 2 years of appointment (if currently studying at Level 3).

Skills

Essential

• Clear communication skills and experience of delivering complex information (both written and orally) to finance and non-finance staff.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy working environment and achieve deadlines.
• Experience of Microsoft Office package, including complex spreadsheet modelling.

Desirable

• Intermediate / Advanced level Microsoft Excel spreadsheet skills. Knowledge of NHS healthcare policy, national targets and reporting 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.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (125)

Address

Level 3, Christ Church Precinct, County Hall

Fishergate Hill

Preston

PR1 8XB

Employer's website

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