Financial Accountant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Financial Accounting

1. Report to and deputise for the Head of Financial Accounting

2. Enhance the day-to-day management of the Financial Accounting department, including the development of the process for producing the Trust's monthly and quarterly financial returns and Annual Financial Statements.

3. Assist the Financial Accounting team in responding to Internal and External Audit reports and in implementing agreed recommendations.

4. Lead on all aspects of the Charitable Fund accounting, preparation of papers for the Trustees meetings, completion of the Annual Charitable Funds Accounts including liaising directly with the Auditors.

5. To support the Head of Financial Accounting in leading and managing the relationship with outsourced service providers for the financial services function, ensuring that the Trust receives services that are value for money, t for purpose, and in line with agreed contractual obligations.

6. Ensure that internal financial controls support an effective system of financial governance in line with the Trust's Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Financial Procedures and Protocols, statutory and best practice requirements.

7. Input into the production of monthly finance accounting to ensure deadlines are met.

8. Review all applicable guidance (as issued on NHS Improvement website and portal) and performs due diligence ensuring relevant officers are notified of any key issues.

9. Manage Cash and Agreement of Balances procedures of the annual accounts, and ensures production of the statutory returns for these areas.

10. Support any other aspects of the year end accounts (including charitable funds) process as required, including the overall timetable, production of relevant working papers, liaison with internal and external stakeholders, and key members of staff both in and out of finance - at all levels.

11. Review all appropriate working papers and ensure a good audit trail of all workings are in place to enable external auditors to access relevant information during the audit process. Liaise with both internal and external auditors as required to resolve any queries they may have. During submission of the accounts there will be a requirement to work for longer periods of time at a high level of concentration

12. Ensure full review of all control accounts are reconciled on a monthly basis and that issues identified are communicated and resolved promptly.

13. Work autonomously to complete tasks outlined in the monthly Finance Timetable in a timely and accurate manner and managing staff to complete their duties.

13.

14. Review all relevant local financial systems and procedures on an annual basis and updates them as required.

15. Liaise with the Trusts shared service for day to day management and assist the Head of Financial Accounting in the implementation of service developments.

16. Liaise with external agencies and professional advisors including HMT and VAT advisors.

17. Ensure the development, documentation and regular review of updates of all procedures within the team are carried out to ensure maximum efficiency and effectives of the available staff resources.

Cash Management

1. Manage the production of the weekly cash flow forecast, and the annual cash flow forecast.

2. Support completion of the cash flow plan for the Trust.

3. Support the Head of Financial Accounting and other members of staff in identifying cash support requirements and in presenting business cases to the NHS England for the drawdown of cash support

4. Review daily bank statements and the cash management schedules.

5. Reconcile the cash flow management processes to the Trusts statutory External Financing Limit (EFL) and produces monthly performance reports on EFL performance.

6. Manage and be responsible for all the cash and bank accounts of the Trust, including maintenance of bank signatories and access to electronic banking.

7. Ensure that available funds are sufficient for the payment of suppliers in line with the Better Payment Practice Code.

8. Ensure that funds are available for the payment of the monthly salaries and statutory payments.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Holder of a CCAB/recognised Professional Accountancy Qualification
• Evidence of continual professional development

Desirable

• Member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Experience

Essential

• Experience and full knowledge of the objectives and procedures of all other departments within the Finance Directorate and their relation to the financial reporting requirements of the Trust. The departments include Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Treasury, Financial Planning and Management Accounting
• Experience gained through interaction and past work experience.
• Demonstrating a commitment to continued professional development

Desirable

• Experience at a managerial level in a finance department
• Post qualification experience.

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of International and UK Financial Reporting Standards.
• Knowledge of cash management and the impact on cash of the strategic decisions of the Group.
• Expert Knowledge of Capital Accounting.
• Excellent communication skills for all levels of staff from junior to Board level - both written and verbal.
• The ability to communicate with staff, patients and relatives when sensitivity is required.
• Ability to produce concise financial reports and information.
• Highly numerate with the ability to interpret highly complex financial information.
• Ability to resolve complex issues when expert opinion can sometimes differ.
• Ability to switch focus on a regular basis between different departments and respond to problems that arise where a detailed knowledge of the impact of any decision are vital.
• Decision making skills which enable informed decisions to be made on own initiative.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and to motivate others to do the same
• Good budget management and forecasting skills.
• Good presentation skills
• Ability to communicate complex financial issues to non-finance managers.
• To develop the structure, schedule and the planning and co-ordinating of the work requirements of the Finance department to ensure all national and Trust deadlines are met across the Financial Accounting function.
• Comprehensive IT skills including the use of Financial systems and associated ledgers.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products including a knowledge of Microsoft Excel to an advanced level (for example extensive use of formulae, pivot tables and linking of workbooks and look up tables).
• Excellent time management skills.
• The ability to think laterally to determine the impact of decisions made Trust wide.

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of the strategic plans of the organisation and their impact on the financial resources of the Trust.
• Expert knowledge of Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions (Scheme of Delegation) which are the requirements of the NHS Code of Accountability and the Financial Reporting Councils combined code.
• Knowledge of relevant NHS Policies and procedures.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Reliable, good time keeping, honesty
• Commitment to develop and train staff across the Finance Directorate and liaise with professional accounting bodes and other NHS bodies to facilitate.
• Post holder will liaise directly with External Audit and Internal Audit,
• Display smart appearance and integrity both personally and professionally.

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

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

Horizon Place, Trust Headquarters

1 Mellors Way, Nottingham Business Park

Nottingham

NG8 6PY

Employer's website

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