Job summary
The Deputy Head of Financial Services is a senior member of the Finance team and is directly responsible for the management and performance of the Financial Services department ( WTE).
As a highly motivated qualified accountant with significant experience, the post holder will work as part of a supportive, dynamic and efficient team. They will promote a positive finance staff development culture and ensure compliance with national and Trust strategies.
The post holder will be confident in liaising with multiple stakeholders, have excellent communication skills and be able to use their initiative to solve problems.
Using their professional accounting knowledge they will be able to ensure technical and statutory accounting support and advice is provided to Finance Services and Trust staff.
Comfortable interpreting complex information, data and guidance, the post holder will embed key deliverables within the team and continue to improve upon the supportive and approachable culture already within the Financial Services team.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will use professional skills and experience to manage and support the Financial Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Cash, Capital, Control and Charity functions and their team to deliver objectives.
The post holder will be required to collate the monthly board and committees reporting packs together with monthly external reporting requirements including liaising with NHS Improvement, the Department of Health and other agencies as appropriate.
Experience in the preparation of accurate Statutory Annual Accounts (including Charitable Funds) and detailed working papers to the timetable laid down by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The post holder will liaise with the Trusts VAT advisor's, ensuring VAT is recovered efficiently and that claims are submitted to HMRC within their deadlines. Ensure staff are fully updated and aware of the current VAT guidelines.
They will support and facilitate internal and external audits and ensure compliance with any recommendations.
Using experience already gained in a similar role they will support in the delivery of key targets across the Financial Services function. Including working closer with their counter part in financial Management to ensure a collaborative approach to tasks.
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of advice and information, interpretation of policy, implementation of changes and the management of all aspects of the Trust's Financial Services function.
About us
Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond.
A centre of excellence, with an international reputation for pioneering advanced techniques and treatments. Everything we do is informed by our passion for providing the highest quality care and the best clinical outcomes.
At QVH we are proud of our achievements and our specialist services continue to record excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We regularly receive excellent results from patient satisfaction surveys and on average 98% of inpatients say they would recommend the hospital to their family or friends.
Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.
The Trust supports staff well being and encourages learning and development. Communication is good within the Trust with regular updates on what is going on with the Trust. We have monthly well being meetings and 1:1's along with annual appraisals including your own personal development plan.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Manage and provide effective leadership to all areas monthly reporting, technical accounting, treasury management (accounts receivable and cash management), accounts payable, capital and charity. Promote a positive finance staff development culture and ensure compliance with national and Trust strategies.
2. Plan and organise services within financial services to ensure effective services are delivered and ensure value for money is obtained.
3. Formulate plans to respond to changes in services and/or financial regime that may impact on the department and Trust (or other organisations where a service is provided). Support and advise the Head of Financial Services and Director of Finance where appropriate.
4. Ensure existing Trust and national policies are implemented effectively and monitor compliance. Advise on the impact of any changes in policy that may be required and implement any changes within the department and Trust (or other organisations where a service is provided).
5. Maintain and develop procedures for managers and staff to assist an understanding of and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and internal policies and procedure.
6. Manage and develop information systems to provide accurate and timely information as required across all relevant work areas.
7. Deputise for the Head of Financial Services as and when required.
Technical Accounting \ Annual Accounts
8. Support in the production of the Trusts statutory financial accounts and supporting information to accepted standards and within the NHS deadlines. Liaise with NHS Improvement, the Department of Health and other agencies as appropriate. Ensure the Trusts statutory accounts and relevant Board representations are presented and approved by the Trust Board and/or Audit Committee.
9. Liaise with the Trusts external auditors and take necessary steps to ensure their financial audit of the Trust is effective and efficient and presents the Trust with a favourable audit comment.
10. Produce key finance information for Board and Business unit reports.
11. Link in with Senior Financial Management Team Staff to jointly manage trial balance mapping to monthly and annual NHSEI returns, working collaboratively to successfully achieve monthly and annual reporting submission.
12. Ensure the integrity of the underlying financial information within relevant financial systems and controls are implemented that provide this assurance.
Treasury Management (Accounts Receivable\Debtors and Cash Management)
13. Monitor, report and advise on the borrowing, investment and cash requirements of the Trust. Manage the Trusts bank accounts and oversee the production of regular cash flow reports and forecasts (12 month rolling) for the Board and Finance Committee and report on key changes and/or tactics to meet potential shortfalls. Manage payments from the Trusts bank accounts ensuring sufficient funds are available and secure at all times.
14. Ensure income due to the Trust is collected and accounted for correctly. Produce regular debtor reports identifying aged debts and trends. Report on key changes and advise the Trust of debts that should be written off. Review systems to ensure that debts written off are kept to a minimum.
15. Liaise with the Trusts VAT advisors to the ensuring VAT is recovered efficiently and that claims are submitted to HMRC within their deadlines. Submit claims relating to large \ complex capital schemes to HMRC. Facilitate any VAT audits and ensure compliance with any recommendations. Ensure Finance staff are fully updated and aware of the current VAT guidelines.
16. Ensure inter NHS debtors and creditors are agreed within Department of Health guidelines and annual accounts requirements.
17. Complete and manage control account reconciliations.
Accounts Payable (Payments to Suppliers)
18. Ensure systems are in place to make payments to suppliers and others to comply with accepted standards eg the Better Payment Practice Code and NHS guidelines.
19. Produce regular reports monitoring the performance of the accounts payable and Shared Service functions and payments made. Advise on key trends.
20. Ensure payments are suitably authorised and sufficient funds are available to pay creditors.
Capital Accounting
21. To liaise with leads for Estates, IT and all Care Groups and support the management of the capital programme.
22. Manage the Trusts capital asset register ensuring all capital assets are accounted for correctly and systems are in place to deal with additions and disposals.
23. Produce the Trusts capital charge estimates each year for submission to NHS Improvement and as part of the Trusts annual budget process.
24. Produce forecast capital investment plans and advise on key trends and strategies.
25. Provide information for and manage the effect of the 5 yearly District Valuer national revaluation of the NHS estate and the accounting treatment of any resulting impairment.
Charitable Funds
26. Support and advise the trustees of the Trusts charity (the Trust Board) ensuring that the charity complies with relevant legislation and good practice.
27. Complete the Charitable funds and produce group accounts where applicable as part of the annual account process.
28. Liaise with the Trust Board and Director of Finance. Produce regular reports monitoring the performance of funds and investments. Advise on key trends and issues. Attend the Charitable Funds Committee.
29. Produce the charitys accounts, report and supporting information to accepted standards and within the required deadlines. Liaise with the Charity Commission and other agencies as appropriate. Ensure the charitys accounts and relevant trustee representations are presented and approved by the trustees.
30. Liaise with the charitys external auditors and take necessary steps to ensure their audit of the charity is effective and efficient and presents the charity with a favourable audit comment.
31. Manage the systems and processes of the charity and the interface with the Trusts systems.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
32. Educated to Masters degree level or able to demonstrate specialist knowledge within this field through practical experience
33. Qualified accountant through a recognised CCAB or equivalent professional body
Desirable
34. Significant post qualification experience
Experience
Essential
35. Substantial experience working within a finance department with managerial responsibilities.
36. Previous experience of leading production of annual accounts and agreement of balances process.
37. Experience of interpreting and working with Audit recommendations
Desirable
38. NHS acute sector experience
39. Use of Oracle financials
Knowledge
Essential
40. Highly developed specialist/expert knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, financial and other aspects of legislation and NHS finance policies
41. An in-depth knowledge of the NHS Finances, National Tariff Payment System and associated financial guidance that supports this