Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication is central to the job and is built upon the provision and receipt of routine, complex and sensitive information of a confidential nature. This will require tact and persuasion as well as a deep appreciation and understanding of complex client risks, NHS/Wider public sector systems and existing guidance. Discussions with senior and non-finance staff forms a substantial element of the job often concerning contentious and complicated financial, control and governance issues at a corporate level. Communication will involve negotiating with external agencies. The job involves significant involvement in persuading and negotiating the reasoning behind recommendations with senior staff, up to and including Board level, across a range of disciplines in order to arrive at an agreed position. Communication of audit findings and advice will be delivered through the drafting of discussion documents, reports and formal presentations.
Work is managed rather than supervised, with the jobholder working within procedures, broad policies and guidelines as defined by the Quality System, but having the freedom to act with autonomy. The nature of the work necessitates a thorough and concentrated focus on the gathering, testing and evaluation of evidence whilst balancing competing priorities. There is extensive scope for decision making in respect of planning and organising the personal work schedule, managing priorities, forming judgments on the adequacy and effectiveness of systems, and producing recommendations to deliver improvements. These decisions will be based upon detailed analysis and evaluation of complex systems issues and options across a range of systems. Such analysis will incorporate an assessment of potentially conflicting and multi-layered information e.g. option appraisals, serious disciplinary cases.
Over time, there will be a day-to-day supervisory role in respect of staff in the function encompassing work scheduling, coaching, and individual/team training, and assignment review. This will include coordination of resources across competing priorities in order to achieve agreed objectives.
The Agency operates in a unique competitive trading environment requiring a professional customer-focus at all times and a range of commercial skills of the post-holder. This trading environment creates a business model that requires income to be secured in open competition against multinational consulting and accountancy firms. Income needs to be secured on a regional and national basis to maintain operational and strategic viability.
There is a requirement to adapt to a range of working conditions at different client sites that will also involve frequent travel.
A substantial element of the job involves utilising a number of office based and client computer systems to evaluate systems and produce the audit outputs. Those outputs, usually reports, are generated from input and manipulation of financial and other data in word processing, spreadsheet, presentations and database applications.
Performs all elements of a risk-based audit assignment over the range of routine internal audits across a number of clients as well as a broad range of complex/ad hoc audits often of a non-financial nature. Produces work to final report stage, setting out key control issues and recommendations. Discusses issues with client staff and produces final reports that can be personally taken to Audit Committee and Board level.
Takes a lead responsibility for supporting Audit Managers in the operational management of allocated audit plans. This could include deputising, or attendance in own right, at Audit Committees and related Committees. It will also involve contributing to drawing up and monitoring the function's budgets as expressed through delegated audit plans.
Conducts research on behalf of the function and the Agency to develop approaches to emerging auditable areas.
Makes recommendations as appropriate often involving significant proposed changes to working practices and procedures following policy implementation. These routinely will involve contributing to service redesign and providing benchmarking information in own area of activity and across many NHS bodies.
Regularly undertakes complex system reviews that conclude upon the adequacy of the control environment, physical security of cash and the safeguarding of assets.
Reviews the adequacy of risk management, governance and assurance systems established.
Responds to, and often anticipates, queries from clients, which may be of a sensitive and confidential nature, and investigates and reports as necessary to the satisfaction of the client. These queries may relate to complex issues requiring a detailed understanding of client risks, NHS/Wider public sector systems and existing guidance.
Plans and organises work schedule to ensure weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual timetables are delivered. Undertakes the majority of routine tasks with minimal management oversight. Coordinates and supervises the work of junior staff over time.
The overall work schedule that is planned will be made up of a number of complicated and sometimes conflicting elements requiring ongoing adjustment of plans.
Builds effective client relationships across the function's clients.
Adheres and contributes to the continuous improvement philosophy to ensure we continue to provide a valuable service focused upon client's needs.
Fully complies with all aspects of the confidentiality policy.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Minimum / expected 2.2 Degree and 3 A-Level qualifications grade A-C or equivalent qualification (including English and Maths at GCSE GRADE 5 MINIMUM) OR
2. PART QUALIFIED CIA/PIIA plus knowledge, experience and expertise which could be in audit (either internal, external, clinical or some form of specialist compliance/assurance function) or a financial role. Experience could also be either in a general assurance role or a relevant specialist area experience e.g. capital, IM&T, consultancy, fraud. plus experience knowledge and skills OR
3. Part qualified (Diploma Level) professional accountancy (CCAB) or qualified technician accountant (MAAT) plus experience knowledge and skills and experience, which could be in audit (either internal, external, clinical or some form of specialist compliance/assurance function) or a financial role. Experience could also be either in a general assurance role or a relevant specialist area experience e.g. capital, IM&T, consultancy, fraud plus experience knowledge and skills
Experience
Essential criteria
1. High quality interpersonal skills, team spirit and a focus on achieving objectives.
2. Experience of working within a team and managing competing priorities.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. To demonstrate an understanding of NHS structure, policy, functions and systems together with the aptitude to build on that knowledge.
2. To demonstrate an understanding of audit and corporate governance principles and practice together with the aptitude to build on that knowledge.
Skills
Essential criteria
1. You must have an interest in becoming a Qualified Accountant / Chartered Auditor and ideally, your qualifications will be in areas such as Accounting/ Finance and Business, however other subjects will be considered.
2. Flexibility
3. Demonstrates strong analytical and research skills
4. Takes ownership of assigned tasks and adopts a pro-active approach
5. Ability to organise and prioritise workload
6. Produces accurate and timely work
7. Participates in meetings, providing information and ideas with clarity and persuasiveness
8. Ability to build relationships
9. Respects differences in people and values diversity of ideas
10. Actively seeks to enhance own expertise and knowledge
11. Demonstrates drive and commitment to self-development
Other
Essential criteria
1. Ability to travel to a range of sites and work in a range of environments.
Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Candidates applying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months' of their 18th birthday.
The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.
The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce: black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.
Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £18+£5 (standard disclosure) or £38+£5 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment.
From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults' policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.
Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.
All employees (and volunteers) are expected to maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.
As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.
If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
For agenda for change banded roles; salary payments will reflect the 2023/24 pay scales. The 2024/25 pay scales will be paid in October 2024 including any backpay due. Therefore should the successful applicant start in post prior to October, the salary will initially reflect the 2023/24 pay scales.
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