Job summary Mid Cheshire is an exciting place to be, with a new digital clinical system being implemented later this year, a new surgical hub opening next financial year and a new hospital build programme underway. We're looking for an Assistant Management Accountant to join our Finance team. The successful person will provide the Finance Business Partner with support in order to meet the Trust's statutory reporting requirements and deadlines in line with Finance Policy and Procedure's. You will ensure that the Divisional Directors, Clinical Directors, Service Managers & Budget holders within the Trust receive full financial advice and support to meet the Trust Statutory targets to give an accurate report of performance. Main duties of the job The postholder must be highly proficient in the use of excel and other miscrosoft packages, be a quick learner and able to adapt in situations that require flexibility. The postholder will need to have a good understanding of budgetary control, highly proficient at ledger management, and able to communicate to finance and non finance staff about material variances and concerns. You will need to ensure that discretion is used at all times as some issues maybe of a confidential nature. While you will work following Senior Management decision, you will be responsible for your own workload and will not required to be directly supervised. Our teams operates an agile working policy. We will expect the postholder to work a hybrid pattern to include a minimum of 2 days in the office. About us The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008. It employs more than 4,500 members of staff, has around 550 hospital beds, and provides a range of services including A&E, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health. The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a new and unique local health partnership that provides a range of community health services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal. Date posted 23 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum, pro rata Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time, Home or remote working Reference number 412-CORP-6926188 Job locations Infinity House Mallard Way Crewe CW1 6ZQ Job description Job responsibilities Produce Management Information with particular emphasis on Month end Management Accounts and Annual Budgets. To process and account for documents relating to Management Information in line with the Trusts Financial Procedures showing sufficient back up and investigate and resolve discrepancies. To assist Management in the meeting of Statutory Obligations. To establish and maintain good relationships with Divisional and Departmental Managers to promote the Finance Department as an advisory service. To establish and maintain good relationships with External Bodies where required by responding to user requirements. For example funding issues & ensuring that income is received by raising invoices when required. To cover for other members of the Management Accounts Team when necessary to ensure smooth running of the service. To maintain and control the day-to-day systems administration of the Department ensuring that routine tasks are completed in a timely and professional manner. Budgetary Control To prepare all supporting documentation of the Trusts budget setting process. Ensuring that all relevant factors are incorporated. To attend meetings with Divisional Directors and Department Heads to agree rolling budgets and ensure that Cost Pressures for the coming year are highlighted and costed throughout the overall process. To ensure timely and accurate delivery of Budget Statements for specific areas ensuring that the information is accurately presented. Ensuring that the General Ledger is accurately maintained. To identify Cost Pressures within the Division on a monthly basis. Reporting them to the Divisional and Service Managers. To assist and discuss financial aspects in the preparation of the annual Business Cases To ensure that Divisional Directors receive reported information in a timely manner and to arrange and attend meetings with said Managers to discuss any areas of concern that have occurred or may occur over the course of the financial year. Ensuring that all actions are followed up and reporting any areas of concern to the Finance Business Partner / HoMA. Meet with newly appointed Budget Holders as required, to explain the budget statement and other financial issues. Financial Management To maintain and update the manpower establishment files, which is the sole document, for specific divisions ensuring that the Divisional Managers/Directors keep within the specified budgets and advising where necessary how available budgets can be used and to what limitations. Using Establishment Control Forms in conjunction with ESR system processes, to ensure that the budgets reconcile at all times. To ensure that the Standing Financial Instructions of the Trust are followed by the Directorate Managers. Ensure that significant variances are documented on a monthly basis over all aspects of expenditure and adhoc income. Explain how these variances will have an effect on the Division over the Financial year and suggest ways in which these can be covered or used to the advantage of the Division. Complete and comment on various reports explaining variances in order for the Finance Business Partner / HoMA to prepare the monthly Board Papers. Provide information for the Performance Monitoring Meetings. Highlighting Cost Pressures and any other issues that need to be discussed by the Clinical Director, Divisional Managers/Directors and the Director of Finance. Attend monthly meetings with the Deputy Director of Finance and Head of Management Accounts to explain the financial position of the Division. Ensuring that any queries that have been raised by Senior Financial Managers are answered. To arrange and attend monthly meetings with Divisional Managers to go through their financial position at the month end advising and make recommendations on how the budget for the financial year can be used effectively. For example costing and analysis for the decision making process. Produce figures for Divisional ad-hoc returns when required. Review and update Management Reports utilising spreadsheets and other software packages. Responsible for data entry and storage of data, regularly designing and formatting spreadsheets. GOVERNANCE Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care. MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP Contribute towards a healthy, safe and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and reporting any concerns. EDUCATION/LEARNING Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in KSF/appraisal, supervision, action learning and by maintaining a professional/personal portfolio of learning. This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all specific tasks. Job description Job responsibilities Produce Management Information with particular emphasis on Month end Management Accounts and Annual Budgets. To process and account for documents relating to Management Information in line with the Trusts Financial Procedures showing sufficient back up and investigate and resolve discrepancies. To assist Management in the meeting of Statutory Obligations. To establish and maintain good relationships with Divisional and Departmental Managers to promote the Finance Department as an advisory service. To establish and maintain good relationships with External Bodies where required by responding to user requirements. For example funding issues & ensuring that income is received by raising invoices when required. To cover for other members of the Management Accounts Team when necessary to ensure smooth running of the service. To maintain and control the day-to-day systems administration of the Department ensuring that routine tasks are completed in a timely and professional manner. Budgetary Control To prepare all supporting documentation of the Trusts budget setting process. Ensuring that all relevant factors are incorporated. To attend meetings with Divisional Directors and Department Heads to agree rolling budgets and ensure that Cost Pressures for the coming year are highlighted and costed throughout the overall process. To ensure timely and accurate delivery of Budget Statements for specific areas ensuring that the information is accurately presented. Ensuring that the General Ledger is accurately maintained. To identify Cost Pressures within the Division on a monthly basis. Reporting them to the Divisional and Service Managers. To assist and discuss financial aspects in the preparation of the annual Business Cases To ensure that Divisional Directors receive reported information in a timely manner and to arrange and attend meetings with said Managers to discuss any areas of concern that have occurred or may occur over the course of the financial year. Ensuring that all actions are followed up and reporting any areas of concern to the Finance Business Partner / HoMA. Meet with newly appointed Budget Holders as required, to explain the budget statement and other financial issues. Financial Management To maintain and update the manpower establishment files, which is the sole document, for specific divisions ensuring that the Divisional Managers/Directors keep within the specified budgets and advising where necessary how available budgets can be used and to what limitations. Using Establishment Control Forms in conjunction with ESR system processes, to ensure that the budgets reconcile at all times. To ensure that the Standing Financial Instructions of the Trust are followed by the Directorate Managers. Ensure that significant variances are documented on a monthly basis over all aspects of expenditure and adhoc income. Explain how these variances will have an effect on the Division over the Financial year and suggest ways in which these can be covered or used to the advantage of the Division. Complete and comment on various reports explaining variances in order for the Finance Business Partner / HoMA to prepare the monthly Board Papers. Provide information for the Performance Monitoring Meetings. Highlighting Cost Pressures and any other issues that need to be discussed by the Clinical Director, Divisional Managers/Directors and the Director of Finance. Attend monthly meetings with the Deputy Director of Finance and Head of Management Accounts to explain the financial position of the Division. Ensuring that any queries that have been raised by Senior Financial Managers are answered. To arrange and attend monthly meetings with Divisional Managers to go through their financial position at the month end advising and make recommendations on how the budget for the financial year can be used effectively. For example costing and analysis for the decision making process. Produce figures for Divisional ad-hoc returns when required. Review and update Management Reports utilising spreadsheets and other software packages. Responsible for data entry and storage of data, regularly designing and formatting spreadsheets. GOVERNANCE Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care. MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP Contribute towards a healthy, safe and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and reporting any concerns. EDUCATION/LEARNING Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in KSF/appraisal, supervision, action learning and by maintaining a professional/personal portfolio of learning. This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all specific tasks. Person Specification Qualifications Essential AAT Qualified - Level 4 NHS Experience Skills Essential High level of excel skills Strength of personal statement relevant to the JD & PS, particularly in relation to being a team player, presenting information well, adaptable and flexible, meeting deadlines Experience Essential Previous experience of working within a Management Accounts function including; producing budget statements, covering for colleagues, delivering against deadlines, effective communication and relationships and taking personal responsbility Person Specification Qualifications Essential AAT Qualified - Level 4 NHS Experience Skills Essential High level of excel skills Strength of personal statement relevant to the JD & PS, particularly in relation to being a team player, presenting information well, adaptable and flexible, meeting deadlines Experience Essential Previous experience of working within a Management Accounts function including; producing budget statements, covering for colleagues, delivering against deadlines, effective communication and relationships and taking personal responsbility 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). Additional information 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). Employer details Employer name Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Infinity House Mallard Way Crewe CW1 6ZQ Employer's website https://www.mcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)