Senior Financial Accountant

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Responsible for oversight and maintenance of the Trust's Chart of Accounts and reporting hierarchies. Ensuring the integrity of financial information through the development and oversight of procedures and controls. Responding to highly complex financial queries and liaising with senior members of the finance function. Preparing key documents required for submission to NHSE. Development of new improvement projects within the department.

Main duties of the job

  • Sole responsibility for maintaining the Trust's chart of accounts to ensure the integrity and accurateness of reporting. Evaluating and implementing changes requested by budget holders and Finance Teams and liaising closely with the Finance Systems Team to ensure they are correctly linked to the reporting structure.
  • Using specialist knowledge of accounting and automation; plan projects to improve, redesign and implement financial controls, processes and procedures in order to improve team performance and increase overall efficiency.
  • Actively participate in department-wide working groups and represent the Financial Accounts Team in developing and delivering Finance-wide improvement projects. Liaising with senior members of the wider Finance team on department-wide improvement projects.
  • Prepare and complete working papers and submissions for the national Agreement of Balances exercise to tight NHS deadlines. Investigate highly complex financial discrepancies between the Trust and other NHS organisations, discuss with external parties and senior members of the wider finance team to resolve queries.
  • Responsible for the day-to-day operations and performance of the Financial Accounts Team, including assisting with recruitment, supporting continuous learning through regular training and general management (appraisals/discipline, holiday approval, etc.). Supervise and support junior team members as required.

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Date posted

17 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year p.a. pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

180-F-255093

Job locations

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 20th February 20205

Interviews are due to be held on 3rd March 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 20th February 20205

Interviews are due to be held on 3rd March 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • ACA or ACCA qualified.
  • Evidence of ongoing CPD compliance.

Desirable

  • ACA or ACCA qualification with post-qualification experience of at least 3 years.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of operating and developing financial controls in a large and complex financial accounts setting.
  • Broad experience and expertise in a range of accounting areas.
  • Previous experience of staff supervision.
  • Demonstrable experience of preparation and presentation of complex reports to senior staff.

Desirable

  • Experience working within NHS finance and of charity accounting.
  • Experience within one of the big audit firms, working within a large complex organisation.
  • Experience in dealing with internal & external auditors
  • Experience working with Oracle

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good working knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards.
  • Superior PC skills including the use of Word, Outlook and Excel with a good working knowledge of VBA macros in order to design, format and manipulate financial spreadsheets and databases.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of SQL databases, Power BI.

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent problem solving skills; able to analyse, interpret and reconcile highly complex financial data, observing trends in the data and investigating and resolving highly complex discrepancies.
  • Excellent organisational skills, able to organise and plan own work in relation to the priorities of the team, with the ability to work under pressure to meet monthly and annual deadlines.
  • The ability to communicate oral and written information to colleagues, senior management and non-financial staff in/outside the trust in a confident and professional manner.
  • Able to plan projects which impact across the department and the organisation.
  • Able to review/audit own work and complete complex review/audit of all balance sheet postings by various finance and payroll teams, to identify posting errors and explain errors to posting personnel in order to constantly improve the validity and accuracy of the financial statements.
  • Able to identify, develop and implement changes to working practice or policies where efficiencies can be made or controls are inadequate for both financial accounting and other areas.
  • Excellent inter-personal / communication skills, able to discuss complex financial queries and sensitive or contentious issues diplomatically both internally with staff (including senior management) and externally.
  • Able to negotiate issues with external parties, including auditors. Able to advise on complex financial and or corporate issues with non-Finance mangers.
  • Demonstrate CUH's values and behaviours of Safe, Kind and Excellent.

Desirable

  • Project management skills, or order to design and implement long term projects and solutions.
  • Ability to suggest and demonstrate changes to own and departmental practice.
  • Able to motivate, be a role model and develop a team.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
  • Highly numerate and good written language skills.
  • Team player
  • Ability to prioritise work to ensure organisational requirements are met.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • ACA or ACCA qualified.
  • Evidence of ongoing CPD compliance.

Desirable

  • ACA or ACCA qualification with post-qualification experience of at least 3 years.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of operating and developing financial controls in a large and complex financial accounts setting.
  • Broad experience and expertise in a range of accounting areas.
  • Previous experience of staff supervision.
  • Demonstrable experience of preparation and presentation of complex reports to senior staff.

Desirable

  • Experience working within NHS finance and of charity accounting.
  • Experience within one of the big audit firms, working within a large complex organisation.
  • Experience in dealing with internal & external auditors
  • Experience working with Oracle

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good working knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards.
  • Superior PC skills including the use of Word, Outlook and Excel with a good working knowledge of VBA macros in order to design, format and manipulate financial spreadsheets and databases.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of SQL databases, Power BI.

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent problem solving skills; able to analyse, interpret and reconcile highly complex financial data, observing trends in the data and investigating and resolving highly complex discrepancies.
  • Excellent organisational skills, able to organise and plan own work in relation to the priorities of the team, with the ability to work under pressure to meet monthly and annual deadlines.
  • The ability to communicate oral and written information to colleagues, senior management and non-financial staff in/outside the trust in a confident and professional manner.
  • Able to plan projects which impact across the department and the organisation.
  • Able to review/audit own work and complete complex review/audit of all balance sheet postings by various finance and payroll teams, to identify posting errors and explain errors to posting personnel in order to constantly improve the validity and accuracy of the financial statements.
  • Able to identify, develop and implement changes to working practice or policies where efficiencies can be made or controls are inadequate for both financial accounting and other areas.
  • Excellent inter-personal / communication skills, able to discuss complex financial queries and sensitive or contentious issues diplomatically both internally with staff (including senior management) and externally.
  • Able to negotiate issues with external parties, including auditors. Able to advise on complex financial and or corporate issues with non-Finance mangers.
  • Demonstrate CUH's values and behaviours of Safe, Kind and Excellent.

Desirable

  • Project management skills, or order to design and implement long term projects and solutions.
  • Ability to suggest and demonstrate changes to own and departmental practice.
  • Able to motivate, be a role model and develop a team.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
  • Highly numerate and good written language skills.
  • Team player
  • Ability to prioritise work to ensure organisational requirements are met.

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

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Financial Controller

Michelle Liu

michelle.liu@nhs.net

Date posted

17 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year p.a. pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

180-F-255093

Job locations

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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