South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Financial Accountant

The closing date is 19 January 2026

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and flexible professional to join our finance team as a Financial Accountant on a permanent basis.We are looking for an individual with experience of working in an accountancy role and who is a committed team player and can contribute to the performance of our wider team performance.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is a regional Ambulance Service covering the whole of the South West England with an annual turnover of over £400m.

The primary functions of the role will be contributing to the production of the accounts and the Trust £20m+ capital plan. Working in a small team this role is vital to the development of the Trust over the coming years.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for preparing monthly financial accounts including:

  • Month end close-down, closing and posting monthly fixed asset journals, reconciling the fixed asset system, closing and posting monthly finance lease journals, updating and revising capital / Finance lease plans and projections on an ongoing basis according to Trust activity etc.

IR35 review support

Liaising with both Internal and External Auditors

Supporting the Financial Controller on financial accounting, statutory financial reporting, tax compliance, financial governance, costing, income and financial control for the exchequer and charitable funds.

Managing the Financial Accounts Team, motivate and develop the team. Undertake recruitment, selection, annual objectives, and conduct performance reviews

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England of 10,000 square miles and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

At the heart of our beautiful and diverse region we employ over 6000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills, resources and development you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

  • Competitive NHS salary
  • A standard working week of 37.5 hours
  • Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
  • Generous Pension Scheme
  • Career and salary progression
  • Car leasing scheme
  • Free parking across Trust sites
  • Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
  • Staff networks
  • Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year / per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-7701969

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Accountant
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Degree or Management qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Post qualification experience
  • Expert knowledge of financial & accounting procedures
  • A sound understanding of current developments in financial reporting standards; IFRS. Advanced level Excel (pivot, lookups)

Desirable

  • Experience of the NHS accounting regime
  • Previous line management experience
  • Experience of working through organisational and key financial systems changes
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Accountant
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Degree or Management qualification

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Post qualification experience
  • Expert knowledge of financial & accounting procedures
  • A sound understanding of current developments in financial reporting standards; IFRS. Advanced level Excel (pivot, lookups)

Desirable

  • Experience of the NHS accounting regime
  • Previous line management experience
  • Experience of working through organisational and key financial systems changes

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Director of Finance

Jonathan James

jonathan.james@swast.nhs.uk

07826531198

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year / per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-7701969

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Supporting documents

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