County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a suitably experienced and motivated Associate Care Group Accountant to join our successful team, award-winning Financial Management function at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
The role is a key part of our finance team providing financial support and guidance to the organisation and supporting the financial strategy of the department. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is passionate about what they do in order to support delivering the best care for patients.
In return, we will offer you a warm and welcoming environment where you will be fully supported.
We operate an agile working policy, whereby the team is based on site for a proportion of the week and has the option to work at home for 2 days per week, on a rota basis.
We are an ACCA approved employer, CIMA premier partner, and a Member of the AAT Employer Scheme. Alongside this, the department is One NHS Finance Future Focussed Finance Level 2 accredited.
This role is positioned to enable excellent developmental and career progression opportunities.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will work alongside the Care Group Accountant, within a smaller team of 5 or 6 people, to provide a comprehensive financial management and business advice service to Clinical Care Groups.
The role will support the Care Group Accountant, Associate Director of Financial Management, and Care Group budget managers to meet their overall service and business objectives within the resources allocated to them and to ensure corporate finance responsibilities are delivered.
To supervise, manage, and motivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of high-quality and timely financial advice & information.
To participate in the continuous improvement of the financial management team.
In order to apply, you should be a CCAB passed finalist or have significant equivalent NHS financial management experience. You will have excellent numerical and analytical skills and possess the ability to work autonomously, achieve deadlines, and prioritise workloads of yourself and the team.
Significant experience in Microsoft Excel and a good understanding of general ledger accounting software would be an advantage.
Job responsibilities
To provide advice to the Care Group Managers, Care Group Accountant, Department Heads, and other staff in the Care Group, on the financial and economic implications of management policy and action, suggesting and implementing financial policies and procedures as required in line with the Trust's constitution, standing financial instructions, and scheme of delegation.
To oversee the monthly reporting process and ensure relevant deadlines are met including ensuring financial systems and processes are maintained to a high standard e.g. procedure notes are in place and monitored on a regular basis.
To work alongside other Associate Care Group Accountants to review, develop, and maintain systems of reporting financial performance ensuring a culture of continuous improvement exists at all levels in the department contributing to increased productivity, quality, and usefulness of financial & business advice & information to divisional teams.
Day-to-day management of the financial management team, taking a lead with their appointment, development, training, and education. This will involve carrying out annual appraisals giving advice and guidance on their career development, and other issues including professional training.
To attend regular meetings with Care Group staff as required, including deputising for the Care Group Accountant.
To regularly monitor, report, and advise on the current & forecast financial performance of the Care Group, challenging and influencing Care Group Managers when required, to ensure the achievement of financial targets through the development & implementation of agreed action plans.
To provide financial support during the Care Group's business planning and contracting process. This will involve analysing and interpreting financial data and making judgements on the financial and economic effects of developments - both revenue, capital, and advising on any potential efficiencies and risks.
To lead the Care Group's annual budget setting process, supporting the Care Group Accountant in ensuring that Divisional plans and objectives are achievable within resources allocated, including the identification of necessary improvements in levels of efficiency and that these are reflected in well-developed cost improvement action plans.
To contribute to the development of the financial skills and business awareness of clinical staff in order to maximise the potential for improvement in clinical quality, operational efficiency & financial performance resulting from decisions made at divisional level.
To support the information requirements of key financial returns such as completion of statutory returns, final accounts, Monitor plans and returns, freedom of information requests, liaison with internal/external audit etc.
To provide support to the Contracting and Development team in the annual costing submission(s) and to effectively utilise and improve the Trust's patient level costing tool by supporting the Care Group in identifying variation to explore efficiencies.
To perform any other duties as may be delegated from time to time.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of working within a finance function
* Experience of using computerised finance systems; General Ledger & report writing software.
* Experience of Microsoft Office software applications
* Experience in advising finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
* Knowledge, experience, and expertise in finance management and staff management.
* Exposure to working mid-management level
* Experience of working within NHS finance
* Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
* Experience/Knowledge of the NHS Financial regime, including capital accounting, the payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
* Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
* Experience of using Oracle General Ledger and Discoverer
Qualifications
* CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist or significant equivalent NHS Financial Management Experience
* CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist.
* Clear Plan of working towards CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or evidence of continued professional development
Special Skills and Knowledge
* Communication & Relationship Skills
* Able to advise finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
* The ability to advise, influence, and negotiate with staff at all levels within and outside the Trust. This will include the presentation of complex financial and non-financial information to non-financial managers, occasionally in large groups.
* Understands, and can effectively convey current financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
* Analytical & Judgement Skills
* Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
* Planning & Organisation Skills
* Ability to plan and manage the workload of own team, to ensure workload is delivered to a high quality within deadlines.
* Governance and Risk Management
* Advises others on compliance with the Corporate Governance Manual (e.g. Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation, Standing Orders) and applies the principles of accountability, transparency, integrity, and the public good to all activities within own area.
* Supervises others in their compliance with financial policies and procedures
* Support and promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
* Customer Focused Business Advice
* Has a wider awareness of the organisation and its position in the marketplace and uses this to challenge processes and data in order to make improvements.
* Supports in the generation and interpretation of financial information to assist the Care Group understand itself more fully
* Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided within own role/team and finance department as a whole.
* Using Information Technology
* Uses IT to gather, interpret and manipulate information to meet the needs of the Care Group
* Mental & Physical Attributes
* Excellent organisational skills
* Ability to cope with rapid and sustained change
* Capable of working independently
* Able to work under pressure and deliver high-quality work within challenging deadlines
* Interpersonal Skills
* Clear and effective communication and presentation skills.
* Good people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
* Good influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
* Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
* Experience/knowledge of the NHS financial regime, including capital accounting, payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
* Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office
Special Requirements
* A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working / improving performance.
* Ability to meet the travel requirements of this post
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.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
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