Senior Financial Accountant

Job description

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Financial Accountant to join our Finance Directorate.

Weare seeking a CIMA/CCAB-qualified accountant to join the Trust in a keyfinancial accounting role. The successful candidate will lead the delivery of acomprehensive, high-quality financial and statutory accounting service, withresponsibility for capital, fixed assets and revenue accounting, financialreturns and the integrity of the general ledger. Working collaboratively withTrust teams, valuers, external auditors and other stakeholders, you will ensurethat robust systems and processes are in place to meet statutory, regulatoryand mandatory accounting requirements, and that information prepared forexternal publication is accurate and of the highest standard.

Main duties of the job

You will provide expert advice and support on complex financial accounting matters, including VAT and capital accounting, while developing and maintaining effective computerised and manual accounting systems. With detailed technical knowledge and a strong business focus, you will help ensure that the Trusts financial processes are efficient, effective and professionally delivered, supporting managers across the organisation to meet the Trusts financial duties.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversityacross the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for thispost from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be consideredunder an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteriaas specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application formto declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded GuaranteedInterview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the ShortlistingPanel.

If you have any queries about expanded GuaranteedInterview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) inconfidence via email [email protected]

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a largeacute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acuteservices to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to alarger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services fromthree sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and ourcaring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centredcare. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people towork with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin oureveryday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewiseaccreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible workingwithin our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring aDBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Statutory Returns andExternal Monitoring

Lead the production of the Trustsstatutory annual accounts, providing comprehensive procedure notes, highquality working papers and a detailed plan and timetable to all finance andappropriate non-finance staff to ensure completion of the accounts in line withlocal and national deadlines.

To be responsible for the month end andyear end processes as required across a broad range of financial accountingtasks. This will involve producingschedules for both external statutory accounts, returns to the Department ofHealth and internal reporting, ensuring these are high quality and timely.

Work with the Trusts external auditorsduring any audit of the statutory accounts and ensure that responses to queriesraised by the auditors are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner.

Lead on the analytical review of accountsensuring that highly complex information and financial concepts are interpretedand conveyed clearly and persuasively to internal and external stakeholders.

Liaison with internal and external auditto implement best practice as recommended to the Trust. This will involve thetimely implementation of audit recommendations and liaising with colleagues toensure audit actions are communicated and implemented within the FinanceDepartment and across other departments of the Trust where applicable.

Financial Accounting

To be operationally responsible for thepreparation and management of capital reporting and asset accounting includingasset register, additions, indexation and depreciation, capital charge,estimated and capital forecasting.

Interpret and advise on the implications of IFRS accountingchanges and model, develop and implement as appropriate those changes to theTrusts accounting statements and budgets made necessary by new and revisedaccounting guidance.

To be operationally responsible for theaccounting treatment of leases (both where the Trust is a lessee and lessor)and managed service contracts, including providing advice to finance andnon-finance managers, maintaining the database of Trust leased assets andpreparing all the accounting entries and returns for the Trusts leasingassets.

To be operationally responsible for theproduction, implementation and review of detailed financial policies andprocedures for the financial accounting functions carried out in the Trust.Ensure financial procedures are updated in line with Standing Orders andStanding Financial Instructions and widely communicated across the Trust.

Play a lead role in implementing systemsand management actions in support of ensuring statutory financial performancetargets are achieved.

Ensure that Control Accounts, SuspenseAccounts and other Balance sheet entries are reconciled and cleared on amonthly basis with any issues investigated and resolved.

To co-ordinate the implementation of VATregulations across the Trust and facilitate maximum recovery, working alongsidethe Trusts tax advisers. This will involve providing advice and guidance tofinance and non-finance managers across the Trust on matters relating to VATand other accounting issues

To support the Trusts LTFM (Long TermFinancial Model) and annual Financial Plan, ensuring they accurately reflectsthe balance sheet and financial details.This will involve supporting the capital teams to ensure capital plansare accurately reported and forecast to provide cash flow details.

Provide technical support on capital andrevenue business cases as required including finance charges.

To operationally lead the Trusts PFIaccounting ensuring all modelling and reporting is maintained and developed inan appropriate manner.

Responsibility to ensure that a periodicrevaluation of the Trusts estate is undertaken and reported appropriately inthe Trust accounts.

Identify ways of improving processes andprocedures to ensure the finance functions are efficient and effective and tomanage the necessary changes in business process in conjunction with the AssociateDirector of Finance.

Financial System

Responsible for providing, implementingand maintaining a range of complex computerised and manual accounting systems.To ensure systems are reviewed and updated to comply with changes in reporting,security, and legislative requirements.

Ensure that transaction authorisationlevels within financial systems comply with the Trusts Standing FinancialInstructions and Scheme of Delegation.

Other

Maintain and recommend any changes to theScheme of Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.

To be the line manager in respect of capitalteam and reporting team, financial systems team and liaising with other seniorcolleagues as required.

Ensure staff receive appropriate trainingto meet their professional needs and the needs of their post, and ensuring thatall mandatory training required by the Trust is undertaken and maintained.

To actively participate in departmentalreview of policies and procedures, suggesting changes and improvements toprocesses and procedures whether within the post holders work area or the widerdepartment.

To be responsible for your owndevelopment on a continuous basis and to participate in the Directoratesappraisal process and ensure team members are appraised.

To ensure that Trust and Directorateprocedures are strictly adhered to

To check and ensure appropriate responseand action on all audit report comments, and responses to FOI requests relatingto the section.

Support the wider Finance team asrequired and agreed with the Associate Director of Finance and provide coverfor Senior Financial Accountant when required.

Liaise with a range of staff includingmanagers and clinicians to interpret complex or ambiguous requirements. Applyspecialist knowledge and advice of information available, particularly inrelation to data sources, methods of analysis, and data quality

To adhere to Trust policies regardingconfidentiality and information security.

To carry out any other dutiescommensurate with the grade of this job.

The duties defined in this jobdescription are not definitive and may be subject to future amendmentsfollowing appropriate consultation.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Statutory Returns andExternal Monitoring

Lead the production of the Trustsstatutory annual accounts, providing comprehensive procedure notes, highquality working papers and a detailed plan and timetable to all finance andappropriate non-finance staff to ensure completion of the accounts in line withlocal and national deadlines.

To be responsible for the month end andyear end processes as required across a broad range of financial accountingtasks. This will involve producingschedules for both external statutory accounts, returns to the Department ofHealth and internal reporting, ensuring these are high quality and timely.

Work with the Trusts external auditorsduring any audit of the statutory accounts and ensure that responses to queriesraised by the auditors are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner.

Lead on the analytical review of accountsensuring that highly complex information and financial concepts are interpretedand conveyed clearly and persuasively to internal and external stakeholders.

Liaison with internal and external auditto implement best practice as recommended to the Trust. This will involve thetimely implementation of audit recommendations and liaising with colleagues toensure audit actions are communicated and implemented within the FinanceDepartment and across other departments of the Trust where applicable.

Financial Accounting

To be operationally responsible for thepreparation and management of capital reporting and asset accounting includingasset register, additions, indexation and depreciation, capital charge,estimated and capital forecasting.

Interpret and advise on the implications of IFRS accountingchanges and model, develop and implement as appropriate those changes to theTrusts accounting statements and budgets made necessary by new and revisedaccounting guidance.

To be operationally responsible for theaccounting treatment of leases (both where the Trust is a lessee and lessor)and managed service contracts, including providing advice to finance andnon-finance managers, maintaining the database of Trust leased assets andpreparing all the accounting entries and returns for the Trusts leasingassets.

To be operationally responsible for theproduction, implementation and review of detailed financial policies andprocedures for the financial accounting functions carried out in the Trust.Ensure financial procedures are updated in line with Standing Orders andStanding Financial Instructions and widely communicated across the Trust.

Play a lead role in implementing systemsand management actions in support of ensuring statutory financial performancetargets are achieved.

Ensure that Control Accounts, SuspenseAccounts and other Balance sheet entries are reconciled and cleared on amonthly basis with any issues investigated and resolved.

To co-ordinate the implementation of VATregulations across the Trust and facilitate maximum recovery, working alongsidethe Trusts tax advisers. This will involve providing advice and guidance tofinance and non-finance managers across the Trust on matters relating to VATand other accounting issues

To support the Trusts LTFM (Long TermFinancial Model) and annual Financial Plan, ensuring they accurately reflectsthe balance sheet and financial details.This will involve supporting the capital teams to ensure capital plansare accurately reported and forecast to provide cash flow details.

Provide technical support on capital andrevenue business cases as required including finance charges.

To operationally lead the Trusts PFIaccounting ensuring all modelling and reporting is maintained and developed inan appropriate manner.

Responsibility to ensure that a periodicrevaluation of the Trusts estate is undertaken and reported appropriately inthe Trust accounts.

Identify ways of improving processes andprocedures to ensure the finance functions are efficient and effective and tomanage the necessary changes in business process in conjunction with the AssociateDirector of Finance.

Financial System

Responsible for providing, implementingand maintaining a range of complex computerised and manual accounting systems.To ensure systems are reviewed and updated to comply with changes in reporting,security, and legislative requirements.

Ensure that transaction authorisationlevels within financial systems comply with the Trusts Standing FinancialInstructions and Scheme of Delegation.

Other

Maintain and recommend any changes to theScheme of Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.

To be the line manager in respect of capitalteam and reporting team, financial systems team and liaising with other seniorcolleagues as required.

Ensure staff receive appropriate trainingto meet their professional needs and the needs of their post, and ensuring thatall mandatory training required by the Trust is undertaken and maintained.

To actively participate in departmentalreview of policies and procedures, suggesting changes and improvements toprocesses and procedures whether within the post holders work area or the widerdepartment.

To be responsible for your owndevelopment on a continuous basis and to participate in the Directoratesappraisal process and ensure team members are appraised.

To ensure that Trust and Directorateprocedures are strictly adhered to

To check and ensure appropriate responseand action on all audit report comments, and responses to FOI requests relatingto the section.

Support the wider Finance team asrequired and agreed with the Associate Director of Finance and provide coverfor Senior Financial Accountant when required.

Liaise with a range of staff includingmanagers and clinicians to interpret complex or ambiguous requirements. Applyspecialist knowledge and advice of information available, particularly inrelation to data sources, methods of analysis, and data quality

To adhere to Trust policies regardingconfidentiality and information security.

To carry out any other dutiescommensurate with the grade of this job.

The duties defined in this jobdescription are not definitive and may be subject to future amendmentsfollowing appropriate consultation.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Please describe your experience of producing statutory and financial accounts, including your personal responsibilities, the complexity and scale of the work, and how you ensured accuracy, compliance and delivery to required deadlines.
• Please provide an example that demonstrates your extensive experience of maintaining, improving or implementing financial accounting systems and processes. What issues did you identify, what action did you take and what was the outcome?
• Please describe your expertise in using any other computerised financial systems and complex financial modelling software. Which systems have you used, how have you applied them in practice, and what improvements or efficiencies did your work achieve?
• Please outline your experience of working at a senior level and of leading, managing and developing staff. How have you set priorities, supported performance and development, and ensured the delivery of a high-quality financial service?
• Please give an example of how you have assimilated and interpreted a wide range of financial information, using numbers, formulas, percentages, variances, trends and graphs to identify key issues, reach conclusions and communicate recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Please confirm what, if any, acute sector NHS experience you possess.
• Please confirm if you have had experience of producing annual NHS accounts or statutory accounts for other bodies.
• have you worked in the NHS Finance Function before? if yes, in what capacity.

Qualifications

Essential

• CIMA, CCAB qualified Accountant.
• Minimum 5 O Levels, GCSEs or equivalent (including Maths and English).
• Committed to Continuing Professional Development.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Please provide an example of how you communicated a highly complex financial issue to different audiences, including non-finance colleagues. How did you adapt your written or verbal approach to ensure that the key messages, risks and required actions were clearly understood?
• Please give an example of when you successfully influenced or negotiated with a wide range of stakeholders on a challenging financial matter. What approach did you take, how did you manage differing views, and what was the outcome?
• Please outline your specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, including relevant national policies or standards such as VAT and IFRS. How have you applied this knowledge to resolve a complex issue or ensure organisational compliance?
• Please describe a situation in which you used advanced numeracy, analytical skills and mathematical reasoning to investigate complex financial information or assess financial risk, particularly where evidence or expert opinions were contradictory. How did you reach and communicate your judgement?
• Please provide an example that demonstrates your ability to think strategically, work with minimal supervision and implement a new financial process within agreed objectives. Please explain how your understanding of the NHS hospital environment informed your approach and how you evidenced the impact of the change.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Please provide an example of how you have demonstrated self-motivation and initiative when managing your own workload, balancing conflicting priorities and delivering complex work to a fixed or nationally mandated deadline. How did you plan your approach and manage interruptions or pressure?
• Please describe a situation in which you were required to maintain a high level of concentration and numerical accuracy across a complex area of work. What problem did you encounter, how did you resolve it and what checks did you use to ensure the quality of the outcome?
• Please give an example of when you have read, interpreted and implemented national policy or guidance. How did you translate the requirements into practical action and communicate them effectively, both verbally and in writing, to people at different levels?
• Please describe how you demonstrate professionalism, integrity, flexibility and a supportive approach in your work. Please include an example of how these attributes helped you work effectively with colleagues or respond constructively to changing organisational needs.
• Please provide an example of your experience of managing and supporting staff, including monitoring performance, identifying training and development needs through processes such as PDRs, promoting continuing professional development, and leading or contributing to recruitment. What actions did you take and what impact did they have?

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

• As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

Person Specification
Experience

Essential

• Please describe your experience of producing statutory and financial accounts, including your personal responsibilities, the complexity and scale of the work, and how you ensured accuracy, compliance and delivery to required deadlines.
• Please provide an example that demonstrates your extensive experience of maintaining, improving or implementing financial accounting systems and processes. What issues did you identify, what action did you take and what was the outcome?
• Please describe your expertise in using any other computerised financial systems and complex financial modelling software. Which systems have you used, how have you applied them in practice, and what improvements or efficiencies did your work achieve?
• Please outline your experience of working at a senior level and of leading, managing and developing staff. How have you set priorities, supported performance and development, and ensured the delivery of a high-quality financial service?
• Please give an example of how you have assimilated and interpreted a wide range of financial information, using numbers, formulas, percentages, variances, trends and graphs to identify key issues, reach conclusions and communicate recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Please confirm what, if any, acute sector NHS experience you possess.
• Please confirm if you have had experience of producing annual NHS accounts or statutory accounts for other bodies.
• have you worked in the NHS Finance Function before? if yes, in what capacity.

Qualifications

Essential

• CIMA, CCAB qualified Accountant.
• Minimum 5 O Levels, GCSEs or equivalent (including Maths and English).
• Committed to Continuing Professional Development.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Please provide an example of how you communicated a highly complex financial issue to different audiences, including non-finance colleagues. How did you adapt your written or verbal approach to ensure that the key messages, risks and required actions were clearly understood?
• Please give an example of when you successfully influenced or negotiated with a wide range of stakeholders on a challenging financial matter. What approach did you take, how did you manage differing views, and what was the outcome?
• Please outline your specialist knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, including relevant national policies or standards such as VAT and IFRS. How have you applied this knowledge to resolve a complex issue or ensure organisational compliance?
• Please describe a situation in which you used advanced numeracy, analytical skills and mathematical reasoning to investigate complex financial information or assess financial risk, particularly where evidence or expert opinions were contradictory. How did you reach and communicate your judgement?
• Please provide an example that demonstrates your ability to think strategically, work with minimal supervision and implement a new financial process within agreed objectives. Please explain how your understanding of the NHS hospital environment informed your approach and how you evidenced the impact of the change.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Please provide an example of how you have demonstrated self-motivation and initiative when managing your own workload, balancing conflicting priorities and delivering complex work to a fixed or nationally mandated deadline. How did you plan your approach and manage interruptions or pressure?
• Please describe a situation in which you were required to maintain a high level of concentration and numerical accuracy across a complex area of work. What problem did you encounter, how did you resolve it and what checks did you use to ensure the quality of the outcome?
• Please give an example of when you have read, interpreted and implemented national policy or guidance. How did you translate the requirements into practical action and communicate them effectively, both verbally and in writing, to people at different levels?
• Please describe how you demonstrate professionalism, integrity, flexibility and a supportive approach in your work. Please include an example of how these attributes helped you work effectively with colleagues or respond constructively to changing organisational needs.
• Please provide an example of your experience of managing and supporting staff, including monitoring performance, identifying training and development needs through processes such as PDRs, promoting continuing professional development, and leading or contributing to recruitment. What actions did you take and what impact did they have?

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

• As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Additional information
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website