Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our award winning
Financial Management team at CDDFT.
We are seeking a motivated, skilled Accountant who wants to
make a real impact, support high quality patient care, and contribute to the
Trusts strong financial leadership.
You will be joining us at a constructive and forward looking
moment. As part of our continued commitment to excellence, we are strengthening
our finance function. This is a stable, supportive team with experienced
leaders, clear direction and a genuine focus on staff development.
You will play a key part in providing high quality financial
support, shaping insight that informs decision making and ensuring strong
financial stewardship.
In return, you will benefit from an inclusive
and welcoming environment, ongoing professional development, and the
flexibility of our agile working approach. We are proud to be the first
organisation in the North East to achieve Level 3 accreditation under One NHS
Finance, and to hold CIMA Premier Partner, ACCA Approved Employer (Gold) and
AAT Employer Scheme statusreflecting our commitment to developing our people
and fostering a vibrant, forward thinking finance team.
Main duties of the job
To provide a high quality and responsive financial
management service to the care group encompassing
1. Business
Advice and Planning
2. Financial
Control
3. Efficiency
& Productivity Improvement
4. Management
of the Finance Team
5. Other
Corporate Finance Responsibilities
The scope of the role, specifically in terms of financial
planning and control and financial performance and reporting covers the entire
turnover of the care group, which will be c£60m.
The post holder will be responsible for the management and
performance of the Care Group Financial Management Team (5 WTE) in the
provision of a high quality and responsive service to the care group and will
lead on the setting, maintenance and development of financial standards of
performance and service delivery within the team.
In the discharge of his/her duties the post
holder will be expected to communicate closely and effectively with clinical
directors, lead clinicians, care group & other service managers and will
represent the finance department at sub committees of the care group and the
Trust at meeting with external agencies.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years
of as a HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Business Advice and Planning
Through the provision of expert, high quality, timely,
financial and business advice the Care Group Accountant will take lead
responsibility for the Clinical Care Groups use of financial resources and the
achievement of the Care Groups financial objectives and thereby assist the
Care Groups in the achievement of their activity, access, quality and workforce
targets as set by the Trust Board through the operational planning framework.
More specifically this will include advising on:
The financial and economic implications of national and
local policies, targets and procedures
The development and implementation of longer term
operational & financial planning which is consistent with current spending
review settlements for the NHS.
Development of schemes to support delivery of their
Improving Quality Eliminating Waste targets (IQEW)
Supporting the care group in the active pursuit of
opportunities to increase and protect income & market share incl the
accurate assessment of income and expenditure implications of such proposed
service developments / growth.
Financial Control
The Care Group Accountant will maintain the Trusts
financial performance framework, ensuring financial control is maintained at
Care Group and Departmental level through:
Ensuing the care group is aware, adequately trained and
adheres to the Standing Financial Instructions of the trust
Monitoring actual performance against income, expenditure
and cost reduction targets
Forecasting of future performance and assessment of
associated financial risk
Concise and accurate reporting of financial performance up
to Care Group Management and the Trust Board, to assist decision making at all
levels
Disseminating key messages to Care Group and Departmental
staff, including challenging relevant individuals when required
Development and implementation of action plans to address
poor performance
Escalation to senior management where performance does not
improve or where financial risk is increasing despite these measures being put
in place.
Efficiency and Productivity Improvement
The Care Group Accountant will actively seek opportunities
to drive the improvements expected by the Trust Board in clinical efficiency
and productivity, and will assist Care Groups in developing and implementing
strategies to achieve these aims, for example through:
The continued development and usage of Patient Level
information and Costing (PLICS) through clinical engagement to provide robust
financial intelligence at granular service level and at individual patient
level.
Identification of areas of waste and inefficiency
Benchmarking against best practice
Development of care group scorecards
Management of the Finance Team
The Care Group Accountant will supervise, manage and
motivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of high quality and
timely financial advice & information. More specifically this will include:
Leading on staff appointment, development, training and
education including annual appraisals, giving advice and guidance on career
development, and contribution to the professional training of team members via
the Financial Management Training Scheme.
Leading, alongside the other Care Group & Corporate
Accountants, a process of continuous improvement at all levels in the
department, which will contribute to increased productivity within the team,
and to improving the quality and usefulness of financial and business advice
and information provided to the Clinical Care Groups and Corporate Divisional
teams.
Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities
To lead the annual budget setting process for their areas
of responsibility, ensuring that budgets reflect service requirements whilst at
the same time staying within the Trusts projected resources.
To ensure compliance with the requirements and deadlines
for key financial returns such as Annual Accounts, NHSE plans and returns,
Reference Costs, Tariff Road Testing, freedom of information requests, liaison
with internal/external audit etc.
To contribute to the development of Service Line
Management, through Service Line Reporting, care group and departmental
P&Ls, and patient level costing
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 care group level.
To perform any other duties as may be delegated
from time to time.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Business Advice and Planning
Through the provision of expert, high quality, timely,
financial and business advice the Care Group Accountant will take lead
responsibility for the Clinical Care Groups use of financial resources and the
achievement of the Care Groups financial objectives and thereby assist the
Care Groups in the achievement of their activity, access, quality and workforce
targets as set by the Trust Board through the operational planning framework.
More specifically this will include advising on:
The financial and economic implications of national and
local policies, targets and procedures
The development and implementation of longer term
operational & financial planning which is consistent with current spending
review settlements for the NHS.
Development of schemes to support delivery of their
Improving Quality Eliminating Waste targets (IQEW)
Supporting the care group in the active pursuit of
opportunities to increase and protect income & market share incl the
accurate assessment of income and expenditure implications of such proposed
service developments / growth.
Financial Control
The Care Group Accountant will maintain the Trusts
financial performance framework, ensuring financial control is maintained at
Care Group and Departmental level through:
Ensuing the care group is aware, adequately trained and
adheres to the Standing Financial Instructions of the trust
Monitoring actual performance against income, expenditure
and cost reduction targets
Forecasting of future performance and assessment of
associated financial risk
Concise and accurate reporting of financial performance up
to Care Group Management and the Trust Board, to assist decision making at all
levels
Disseminating key messages to Care Group and Departmental
staff, including challenging relevant individuals when required
Development and implementation of action plans to address
poor performance
Escalation to senior management where performance does not
improve or where financial risk is increasing despite these measures being put
in place.
Efficiency and Productivity Improvement
The Care Group Accountant will actively seek opportunities
to drive the improvements expected by the Trust Board in clinical efficiency
and productivity, and will assist Care Groups in developing and implementing
strategies to achieve these aims, for example through:
The continued development and usage of Patient Level
information and Costing (PLICS) through clinical engagement to provide robust
financial intelligence at granular service level and at individual patient
level.
Identification of areas of waste and inefficiency
Benchmarking against best practice
Development of care group scorecards
Management of the Finance Team
The Care Group Accountant will supervise, manage and
motivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of high quality and
timely financial advice & information. More specifically this will include:
Leading on staff appointment, development, training and
education including annual appraisals, giving advice and guidance on career
development, and contribution to the professional training of team members via
the Financial Management Training Scheme.
Leading, alongside the other Care Group & Corporate
Accountants, a process of continuous improvement at all levels in the
department, which will contribute to increased productivity within the team,
and to improving the quality and usefulness of financial and business advice
and information provided to the Clinical Care Groups and Corporate Divisional
teams.
Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities
To lead the annual budget setting process for their areas
of responsibility, ensuring that budgets reflect service requirements whilst at
the same time staying within the Trusts projected resources.
To ensure compliance with the requirements and deadlines
for key financial returns such as Annual Accounts, NHSE plans and returns,
Reference Costs, Tariff Road Testing, freedom of information requests, liaison
with internal/external audit etc.
To contribute to the development of Service Line
Management, through Service Line Reporting, care group and departmental
P&Ls, and patient level costing
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 care group level.
To perform any other duties as may be delegated
from time to time.
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Communication & Relationship Skills
- The ability to effectively communicate complex, contentious or sensitive information to staff of a wide variety of professional backgrounds and seniority.
- The ability to advise, influence and negotiate including those of greater seniority, in matters effecting financial performance and delivery of financial objectives. 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 analyse highly complex situations, scenarios and projects, and is able to determine the financial impact of these and contribute to effective decision making in an uncertain environment.
- Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
- Ability to make judgements and financial decisions via risk based assessments of leading options which may conflict.
- Planning & Organisation Skills
- The ability to formulate financial plans for responsible areas, and contribute to the formulation of financial strategy.
- 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
- Introduces and manages issues relating to corporate and financial governance and ensures that financial risk is planned for and managed
- Ensures compliance with Standing Orders, SFIs and Schemes of Delegation
- Promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
- Customer Focused Business Advice
- Uses a broad understanding of the organisation, clinical issues, customers and stakeholders to provide business advice
- Generates and interprets financial information to help the Care Group understand itself more fully
- Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided
- 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.
- Strong people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
- Strong influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
- Excellent written communication skills
- Able to cope with and resolve conflict.
Desirable
- Project management skills with the capability of managing complex tasks to tight deadlines within a complex changing environment.
- Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience at middle management level
- In depth knowledge of the NHS financial regime, including capital accounting, the Payment by Results process, costing & information processes within the NHS.
- Able to advise 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.
- Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
Desirable
- Exposure to working at senior management level
Special Reuirements
Essential
- 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.
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience.
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Communication & Relationship Skills
- The ability to effectively communicate complex, contentious or sensitive information to staff of a wide variety of professional backgrounds and seniority.
- The ability to advise, influence and negotiate including those of greater seniority, in matters effecting financial performance and delivery of financial objectives. 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 analyse highly complex situations, scenarios and projects, and is able to determine the financial impact of these and contribute to effective decision making in an uncertain environment.
- Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
- Ability to make judgements and financial decisions via risk based assessments of leading options which may conflict.
- Planning & Organisation Skills
- The ability to formulate financial plans for responsible areas, and contribute to the formulation of financial strategy.
- 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
- Introduces and manages issues relating to corporate and financial governance and ensures that financial risk is planned for and managed
- Ensures compliance with Standing Orders, SFIs and Schemes of Delegation
- Promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
- Customer Focused Business Advice
- Uses a broad understanding of the organisation, clinical issues, customers and stakeholders to provide business advice
- Generates and interprets financial information to help the Care Group understand itself more fully
- Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided
- 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.
- Strong people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
- Strong influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
- Excellent written communication skills
- Able to cope with and resolve conflict.
Desirable
- Project management skills with the capability of managing complex tasks to tight deadlines within a complex changing environment.
- Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience at middle management level
- In depth knowledge of the NHS financial regime, including capital accounting, the Payment by Results process, costing & information processes within the NHS.
- Able to advise 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.
- Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
Desirable
- Exposure to working at senior management level
Special Reuirements
Essential
- 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.
Qualifications
Essential
- CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience.
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
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.
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.
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
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
