Financial Accountant

Job description

Job summary

Financial Accountant

Department: Finance

Band 7 £49,387 - £56,515 Per annum pro rata

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Financial Accountant role within the Financial Services Team at MKUH. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic, highly motivated individual, who is an excellent team player, to support the Financial Services function.

The Financial Services Team includes capital, charity, subsidiary, accounts payable/receivable, treasury, governance and statutory returns.

The position reports to the Deputy Financial Controller, and the role covers the production of accurate and timely financial reports and information throughout the year, which enable the requirements of the monthly, quarterly and annual financial cycles to be met. The compilation and completion of relevant forecasts, and the maintenance, monitoring and development of the forecasts throughout the year liaising with colleagues over reporting. This will ultimately culminate in the production of the Trusts annual accounts, the Trust subsidiary (ADMK Ltd) accounts and the Trust charity accounts.

'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'

Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.

Interview date: W/C 12 October 2026

Main duties of the job

You will be a highly driven, enthusiastic and energetic individual with management experience and an excellent knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and accounting processes and procedures, excellent Excel skills and the ability to interpret, apply & provide practical guidance on relevant accounting standards.

This is a hybrid role, requiring 2 days per week on site in Milton Keynes. There may be more time required on site initially for training purposes.

Organisation and planning of a number of complex activities work within the Financial Accounting function including the setting of priorities and targets.

You will be required to assist in the completion of the Trusts statutory accounts, monthly PFR returns, long term cash flow forecast & AOB exercise, and in the completion of the Trust subsidiary and charity accounts.

Responsible for the management of the Trust's provisions in accordance with IAS 37 this includes the annual valuation of the Trust's Pension and Injury Benefit provisions using GAD tables and the application of the prevailing discount rate.

In addition, you will oversee the completion and review of the Trust and subsidiary VAT return, undertake effective monitoring of the Balance Sheet and support the process for ensuring the Trust, subsidiary and charity follows appropriate Standing Financial Instructions.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.

Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -

For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes

Job description

Job responsibilities

'NHS Staff Survey 2024' They feel supported in their employers making reasonable adjustments to help them carry out their work, rating an 82.9%

• Lead on the planning and production of the working papers and TAC schedules for the Trusts statutory in year and annual accounts, in line with International Financial Reporting Standards and applying NHS guidelines as set out by NHSI.
• Lead on populating the monthly NHSI PFR returns in line with submission deadlines.
• Oversee and review the NHS agreement of balances exercise in year and for the annual accounts process
• Provide detailed working papers in support of the audit process and resolve queries from Auditors.
• Liaise, where necessary, with Auditors, on technical accounting issues
• Lead on the coordination of the month end process for financial accounting, ensuring all tasks are completed on time per the month end timetable.
• You will be a professionally qualified accountant or actively studying towards a CCAB qualification and have experience of working in Financial Services. Previous experience of working in a public sector organisation and experience of the NHS is highly desirable

Please refer to the Job Description for further details.

Job description
Job responsibilities

'NHS Staff Survey 2024' They feel supported in their employers making reasonable adjustments to help them carry out their work, rating an 82.9%

• Lead on the planning and production of the working papers and TAC schedules for the Trusts statutory in year and annual accounts, in line with International Financial Reporting Standards and applying NHS guidelines as set out by NHSI.
• Lead on populating the monthly NHSI PFR returns in line with submission deadlines.
• Oversee and review the NHS agreement of balances exercise in year and for the annual accounts process
• Provide detailed working papers in support of the audit process and resolve queries from Auditors.
• Liaise, where necessary, with Auditors, on technical accounting issues
• Lead on the coordination of the month end process for financial accounting, ensuring all tasks are completed on time per the month end timetable.
• You will be a professionally qualified accountant or actively studying towards a CCAB qualification and have experience of working in Financial Services. Previous experience of working in a public sector organisation and experience of the NHS is highly desirable

Please refer to the Job Description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. accountancy or financial discipline) or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Professional CCAB Accountant qualification finalist/part qualified
• Up-to-date knowledge and experience of financial reporting Standards.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of producing annual accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] and statutory requirements.
• Able to ensure target dates are adhered to through organisation of own workload.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, and be able to communicate both verbally and in writing complex, technical, sensitive or contentious financial information, to Finance Managers and Committees.
• In depth knowledge of financial and accounting procedures.
• Significant experience of capital accounting using a capital asset system including provision of working papers for statutory accounts.
• Through significant experience, demonstrate excellent Financial Analysis and Interpretation skills including an ability interpret complex data and provide summarized information to a range of users.
• Expert analytical and reasoning skills supported by attention to detail and the ability manage and manipulate vast quantities of data
• Demonstrable experience of liaising with Internal and External Auditors.
• Experience of managing, motivating and developing staff

Desirable

• Some relevant experience of working in an NHS organization.
• Production of NHS accounts.
• Advanced IT literacy with experience of using Oracle accounting system including Business Intelligence reporting.
• Experience of NHS VAT rules

Skills

Essential

• Proven ability to prioritise and delegate in a demanding environment and to tight deadlines
• Strong analytical, financial reporting, and presentation skills with the ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely
• The desire to accept ownership and accountability, whilst getting things done well and meeting challenging goals
• The ability to think ahead and decide on courses of action, ensuring that the resources required to implement the action will be available, and scheduling work required to achieve an end result
• Skills for managing people ensuring they perform to a high standard and meet team objectives and deadlines.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and analyse areas of work to identify those which would benefit from continuous improvement.
• Able to interpret guidelines and implement appropriate changes to working practices.
• Strong IT skills particularly spreadsheets
• Prepared to challenge and be challenged.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service depending on monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.

Personal and people development

Essential

• The ability to originate, introduce and be open to, new practices, concepts, ideas and change and to continuously improve.
• Be able to manage time effectively, prioritise and deliver to agreed deadlines
• Be prepared to constructively question and challenge the performance of team members, and other stakeholders
• Frequent requirement for concentration when inputting data, checking and reconciling information, making calculations and when answering queries from staff, audit and managers
• Often required to switch tasks at short notice.
• Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration when analysing complex data and preparing reports
• Leads by example and instils a team approach to workload.

Communication

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to work co-operatively and flexibly with others, both within and outside the organisation, demonstrating an understanding of effective team working and partnerships
• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Ability to represent Finance at internal meetings
• Ability to explain complex financial terminology to both finance and non-finance colleagues

Specific requirements

Essential

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
• Proactive, flexible, enthusiastic, confident and highly motivated individual who demonstrates a commitment to Trust objectives and the NHS as a whole

Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. accountancy or financial discipline) or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Professional CCAB Accountant qualification finalist/part qualified
• Up-to-date knowledge and experience of financial reporting Standards.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of producing annual accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] and statutory requirements.
• Able to ensure target dates are adhered to through organisation of own workload.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, and be able to communicate both verbally and in writing complex, technical, sensitive or contentious financial information, to Finance Managers and Committees.
• In depth knowledge of financial and accounting procedures.
• Significant experience of capital accounting using a capital asset system including provision of working papers for statutory accounts.
• Through significant experience, demonstrate excellent Financial Analysis and Interpretation skills including an ability interpret complex data and provide summarized information to a range of users.
• Expert analytical and reasoning skills supported by attention to detail and the ability manage and manipulate vast quantities of data
• Demonstrable experience of liaising with Internal and External Auditors.
• Experience of managing, motivating and developing staff

Desirable

• Some relevant experience of working in an NHS organization.
• Production of NHS accounts.
• Advanced IT literacy with experience of using Oracle accounting system including Business Intelligence reporting.
• Experience of NHS VAT rules

Skills

Essential

• Proven ability to prioritise and delegate in a demanding environment and to tight deadlines
• Strong analytical, financial reporting, and presentation skills with the ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely
• The desire to accept ownership and accountability, whilst getting things done well and meeting challenging goals
• The ability to think ahead and decide on courses of action, ensuring that the resources required to implement the action will be available, and scheduling work required to achieve an end result
• Skills for managing people ensuring they perform to a high standard and meet team objectives and deadlines.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and analyse areas of work to identify those which would benefit from continuous improvement.
• Able to interpret guidelines and implement appropriate changes to working practices.
• Strong IT skills particularly spreadsheets
• Prepared to challenge and be challenged.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service depending on monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.

Personal and people development

Essential

• The ability to originate, introduce and be open to, new practices, concepts, ideas and change and to continuously improve.
• Be able to manage time effectively, prioritise and deliver to agreed deadlines
• Be prepared to constructively question and challenge the performance of team members, and other stakeholders
• Frequent requirement for concentration when inputting data, checking and reconciling information, making calculations and when answering queries from staff, audit and managers
• Often required to switch tasks at short notice.
• Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration when analysing complex data and preparing reports
• Leads by example and instils a team approach to workload.

Communication

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to work co-operatively and flexibly with others, both within and outside the organisation, demonstrating an understanding of effective team working and partnerships
• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Ability to represent Finance at internal meetings
• Ability to explain complex financial terminology to both finance and non-finance colleagues

Specific requirements

Essential

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
• Proactive, flexible, enthusiastic, confident and highly motivated individual who demonstrates a commitment to Trust objectives and the NHS as a whole

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address

Finance - Financial Services (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD

United Kingdom

Employer's website