Income and Contracting Accountant

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust in the role of Income and Contracts accountant, providing contracting and financial support, technical expertise and business advice in the context of the management and recovery of income for the provision of our clinical services.

This will be a great time to join the Trust as we look to refresh our clinical and supporting strategies to guide us forward into future years of partnership working and taking the lead in developing services and care for children, young people and their families. More than ever we are looking for closer working with clinical teams as the Trust rolls out its Value Improvement Programme with a view of how, jointly, we can look to maximise the quality and value of the services we provide.

We are looking for dynamic individuals who can make a difference to work alongside our dedicated Finance team, contributing and helping shape the department's training and development agenda and supporting the senior management team in building an inclusive and diverse workplace. The Finance department is currently recruiting into a number of key roles in order to better support the Trust in achieving our strategic aims.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for leadership, co-ordination and delivery of all contracted and non-contracted commissioning income, associated service line reporting and contractual finance support.

Calculation, reporting and recovery of the Trust's contracted and non-contracted commissioning income.
Servicing, monitoring and financial support of Trust's commissioning contracts.
Provision of support to the Trust on interpretation and application of national PbR guidance, blended payment, aligned incentive and all other aspects of NHS funding regimes in place and relevant to the Trust.
Responsible for calculation of Trust income plan, provision of support for financial planning and activity modelling processes.
Assist with commissioning contract negotiations providing finance support and devising strategies to maximise income recovery for the Trust.
Trust expert for Civica SLAM software.
Oversight and process development for provision of commissioning data sets.
Opportunity to engage with and support the delivery, interpretation, usage and roll-out of the Trust's Patient Level Costing (PLICS) information across the Trust through the Value Improvement Process (VIP) within Care Groups.

About us

The income, contracting and costing team consists of 4 posts and offers all members of the team the opportunity to gain experience of working in areas such as costing or income that they might not otherwise be able to.

Currently, working primarily from home we have a face to face meeting once a week on site as well as regular MS teams catch up meetings. Being a small team allows these meetings to be relatively informal and gives everyone the chance to raise any issues they maybe having and helps the team prioritise their workload to meet the team's deadlines.

Date posted

28 September 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

425-23-5670879

Job locations

Ground Floor Building A

100 Napier Street

Sheffield

S11 8HD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Income Calculation, Reporting and Recovery

To ensure that all Trust income from clinical activities is appropriately calculated, reported and recovered in accordance with agreed contracts, guidance and processes
To ensure that appropriate and agreed source data is accurately reflected and recorded in the SLAM system and that the resultant income is correctly calculated and reconciled
To ensure efficient and automated processes, where possible, are put in place to bring multiple sources of data into the SLAM software within required timescales and that processes are put in place to ensure the accuracy of that data
To ensure that appropriate information for billing is made available to successfully invoice and recover income within Nationally and Locally agreed timescales
To reconcile income within the SLAM system to the Secondary User Service equivalent) on a monthly basis. To highlight any variances and provide appropriate explanation and action.
To maintain and develop the Trusts internal reporting of income data within the PLICs system
To ensure appropriate processes and procedures are documented and in place to ensure control over the reporting and recovery of Trust income and participate with any audit requirements in this area
To consider and recommend how the Trust my adapt and implement processes to deliver Day 1 income reporting across the Trust, reducing the current length of time required to calculate and report income as part of each month-end reporting cycle.
To ensure agreed protocols and procedures around reporting of Service Line Reporting data within the SLAM system are adopted, maintained and, as appropriate, reconciled to source data
To oversee and develop processes for provision of contract monitoring data sets
To identify opportunities to improve the scope, process, procedures and reporting of income
To assist the Trusts Private Patient Manager in calculating, recovering and reporting income for Private and Overseas patients treated within the Trust
To ensure the PICA and Associate Director of Finance are appropriately briefed as to any relevant income issues
To ensure the key facts, variances and explanations with regard to clinical income are appropriately described and presented to the Performance Committee and Trust Board as part of the monthly reporting process.
To provide accurate and robust income forecasting models to senior finance managers to inform decision making Civica SLAM Software
To be the Trusts Expert User of the SLAM income software and also provide expert knowledge, advice and support to all managers with regard to Trust clinical income within SLAM
To maintain the Trusts income software; ensuring it is kept up-to-date, resolving any issues and ensuring it is functioning correctly
To lead on developing the Trust contract models with the SLAM software
To make recommendations as to any efficiencies that can be made through adopting available additional technology / software based solutions to replace manual processes

Payment by Results & Other NHS Finance Regimes

As far as Payment by Results continues to apply within the NHS, To ensure the Trust appropriately implements national Payment by Results guidance and be the expert advisor to the Trust on such issues
To be fully familiar and conversant with all aspects of the NHS Payment Scheme. To ensure that the Trusts income from clinical activities is appropriately calculated and reported according to that guidance and relevant contracting agreements.
Take part in national PbR tariff consultation and engagement exercises advising on financial impact for the Trust
To ensure relevant income data can be provided to enable the Trust to participate in any national, regional or local testing / benchmarking (for example the sense-check of proposed tariff data)
Where other payment regimes apply (for example Blended payments, Aligned Incentive) to similarly ensure that the Trust appropriately implements those systems and be the expert advisor to the Trust on such issues.

Contracts

To support the servicing of contract requirements in year, including ensuring financial queries are responded to appropriately
To provide ad-hoc analysis and support both internally and externally as required
To ensure that contracts with commissioners are priced, negotiated, agreed and monitored in order to maximise income to the Trust
To represent the Trust in negotiating the financial elements of contracts with commissioners
To ensure the financial elements of the contracts with commissioners are appropriately maintained and serviced, and that appropriate representation for the Trust is in place at routine contract monitoring meetings
To advise the Executive Director of Finance of appropriate income and contracting strategies as part of contract negotiations and the levels of financial risk contained within contracts both as part of the planning process and in relation to in-year performance

Planning

To calculate the Trust income plan and provide support for financial planning and activity modelling processes
To ensure that any returns due to NHS England / Improvement with regard to Trust income performance are appropriately completed with regard to the income element of those returns
Working closely with the Information, Clinical Coding and Transformation Departments, Divisions and Clinical Colleagues, to identify opportunities for income generation and development
Provide support and definitive financial input in relation to the income elements of any Business Cases put forward and to review cases on that basis
Active member of Trusts Corporate Planning team, attendance and input at regular meetings
Active member of the Trusts Data Quality group, attendance and input at regular meetings.
To develop income plans and forecasts both in year and as part of the annual planning cycle and ensure all such plans are appropriately reflected, reported and understood within the context of the overall Trust Financial Plan

Other

To assist the PICA in providing training to Care Group Accountants and others as to the detail of the NHS Funding guidance and other income related areas such as the detail contained within the SLAM model
To highlight data quality issues (specifically related to income related processes), their potential impact and potential options for improvement
To support and contribute to the development of Patient Level Costing data in so far as it directly relates to income recovery and contract
To recommend and implement appropriate IT solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Income and Costing processes. This will include the development of new ways of working and processing and reporting data, including the development of the Qlikview application and development of database applications.
To operate and act using the highest standards of corporate governance and in line with all Trust Policies, procedures and values
Given the nature of the position, to ensure Trust policies around Data Protection and Information Governance are strictly adhered to and that the Associate Director of Finance is made aware of any potential issues in this area

Line Management Responsibility- 1 x direct report (Support Income & Contracting Accountant

Inclusive Recruitment & Selection

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.

We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net

We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net

Trust Values

The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:

Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care

Job description

Job responsibilities

Income Calculation, Reporting and Recovery

To ensure that all Trust income from clinical activities is appropriately calculated, reported and recovered in accordance with agreed contracts, guidance and processes
To ensure that appropriate and agreed source data is accurately reflected and recorded in the SLAM system and that the resultant income is correctly calculated and reconciled
To ensure efficient and automated processes, where possible, are put in place to bring multiple sources of data into the SLAM software within required timescales and that processes are put in place to ensure the accuracy of that data
To ensure that appropriate information for billing is made available to successfully invoice and recover income within Nationally and Locally agreed timescales
To reconcile income within the SLAM system to the Secondary User Service equivalent) on a monthly basis. To highlight any variances and provide appropriate explanation and action.
To maintain and develop the Trusts internal reporting of income data within the PLICs system
To ensure appropriate processes and procedures are documented and in place to ensure control over the reporting and recovery of Trust income and participate with any audit requirements in this area
To consider and recommend how the Trust my adapt and implement processes to deliver Day 1 income reporting across the Trust, reducing the current length of time required to calculate and report income as part of each month-end reporting cycle.
To ensure agreed protocols and procedures around reporting of Service Line Reporting data within the SLAM system are adopted, maintained and, as appropriate, reconciled to source data
To oversee and develop processes for provision of contract monitoring data sets
To identify opportunities to improve the scope, process, procedures and reporting of income
To assist the Trusts Private Patient Manager in calculating, recovering and reporting income for Private and Overseas patients treated within the Trust
To ensure the PICA and Associate Director of Finance are appropriately briefed as to any relevant income issues
To ensure the key facts, variances and explanations with regard to clinical income are appropriately described and presented to the Performance Committee and Trust Board as part of the monthly reporting process.
To provide accurate and robust income forecasting models to senior finance managers to inform decision making Civica SLAM Software
To be the Trusts Expert User of the SLAM income software and also provide expert knowledge, advice and support to all managers with regard to Trust clinical income within SLAM
To maintain the Trusts income software; ensuring it is kept up-to-date, resolving any issues and ensuring it is functioning correctly
To lead on developing the Trust contract models with the SLAM software
To make recommendations as to any efficiencies that can be made through adopting available additional technology / software based solutions to replace manual processes

Payment by Results & Other NHS Finance Regimes

As far as Payment by Results continues to apply within the NHS, To ensure the Trust appropriately implements national Payment by Results guidance and be the expert advisor to the Trust on such issues
To be fully familiar and conversant with all aspects of the NHS Payment Scheme. To ensure that the Trusts income from clinical activities is appropriately calculated and reported according to that guidance and relevant contracting agreements.
Take part in national PbR tariff consultation and engagement exercises advising on financial impact for the Trust
To ensure relevant income data can be provided to enable the Trust to participate in any national, regional or local testing / benchmarking (for example the sense-check of proposed tariff data)
Where other payment regimes apply (for example Blended payments, Aligned Incentive) to similarly ensure that the Trust appropriately implements those systems and be the expert advisor to the Trust on such issues.

Contracts

To support the servicing of contract requirements in year, including ensuring financial queries are responded to appropriately
To provide ad-hoc analysis and support both internally and externally as required
To ensure that contracts with commissioners are priced, negotiated, agreed and monitored in order to maximise income to the Trust
To represent the Trust in negotiating the financial elements of contracts with commissioners
To ensure the financial elements of the contracts with commissioners are appropriately maintained and serviced, and that appropriate representation for the Trust is in place at routine contract monitoring meetings
To advise the Executive Director of Finance of appropriate income and contracting strategies as part of contract negotiations and the levels of financial risk contained within contracts both as part of the planning process and in relation to in-year performance

Planning

To calculate the Trust income plan and provide support for financial planning and activity modelling processes
To ensure that any returns due to NHS England / Improvement with regard to Trust income performance are appropriately completed with regard to the income element of those returns
Working closely with the Information, Clinical Coding and Transformation Departments, Divisions and Clinical Colleagues, to identify opportunities for income generation and development
Provide support and definitive financial input in relation to the income elements of any Business Cases put forward and to review cases on that basis
Active member of Trusts Corporate Planning team, attendance and input at regular meetings
Active member of the Trusts Data Quality group, attendance and input at regular meetings.
To develop income plans and forecasts both in year and as part of the annual planning cycle and ensure all such plans are appropriately reflected, reported and understood within the context of the overall Trust Financial Plan

Other

To assist the PICA in providing training to Care Group Accountants and others as to the detail of the NHS Funding guidance and other income related areas such as the detail contained within the SLAM model
To highlight data quality issues (specifically related to income related processes), their potential impact and potential options for improvement
To support and contribute to the development of Patient Level Costing data in so far as it directly relates to income recovery and contract
To recommend and implement appropriate IT solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Income and Costing processes. This will include the development of new ways of working and processing and reporting data, including the development of the Qlikview application and development of database applications.
To operate and act using the highest standards of corporate governance and in line with all Trust Policies, procedures and values
Given the nature of the position, to ensure Trust policies around Data Protection and Information Governance are strictly adhered to and that the Associate Director of Finance is made aware of any potential issues in this area

Line Management Responsibility- 1 x direct report (Support Income & Contracting Accountant

Inclusive Recruitment & Selection

Trust Values

The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:

Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

CCAB Qualified
Degree

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in NHS Finance contracting role

Desirable

Experience of using SLAM
Experience of working with the NHS National Tariff Payment System
Experience of negotiating NHS commissioning contracts
Experience of Service Line Reporting
Experience of producing NHS Income monitoring returns per the prescribed formats
Experience of NHS costing systems and returns

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Understanding of NHS finance regime
Knowledge of National Tariff Payment System
Ability to interpret, create and present highly complex financial, activity, cost and performance information clearly to a wide audience including Board level
Experience of data modelling and complex financial analysis
Analytical and interpretative skills
Ability to influence and negotiate to obtain outcomes required
Ability to prioritise and deliver competing priorities within timescales
Ability to build good working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
Good level of I.T. competence
Ability to pick up ideas and work quickly
Organised and efficient working practices

Desirable

Detailed knowledge of NHS costing and contracting frameworks and regime
Knowledge of NHSI Single Oversight framework
Knowledge of finance ledger systems and their operation
Evidence of sound financial judgement and decision
Demonstrable experience with a variety of I.T. tools
Experience with NHS costing systems
Experience with reporting and dashboard analytic tools

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

CCAB Qualified
Degree

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in NHS Finance contracting role

Desirable

Experience of using SLAM
Experience of working with the NHS National Tariff Payment System
Experience of negotiating NHS commissioning contracts
Experience of Service Line Reporting
Experience of producing NHS Income monitoring returns per the prescribed formats
Experience of NHS costing systems and returns

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Understanding of NHS finance regime
Knowledge of National Tariff Payment System
Ability to interpret, create and present highly complex financial, activity, cost and performance information clearly to a wide audience including Board level
Experience of data modelling and complex financial analysis
Analytical and interpretative skills
Ability to influence and negotiate to obtain outcomes required
Ability to prioritise and deliver competing priorities within timescales
Ability to build good working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
Good level of I.T. competence
Ability to pick up ideas and work quickly
Organised and efficient working practices

Desirable

Detailed knowledge of NHS costing and contracting frameworks and regime
Knowledge of NHSI Single Oversight framework
Knowledge of finance ledger systems and their operation
Evidence of sound financial judgement and decision
Demonstrable experience with a variety of I.T. tools
Experience with NHS costing systems
Experience with reporting and dashboard analytic tools

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).