Corporate Group Accountant

Recruiter: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a suitably experienced and motivated Corporate Group Accountant to join our successful team within the award-winning Financial Management function at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The successful applicant will cover maternity leave and will support the team's accountant in the delivery of financial planning and control, financial performance, and financial reporting. The provision of a high-quality and responsive service is a pre-requisite to this role and will support in the 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 departmental managers and with our subsidiary company.

In return, we will offer you a warm and welcoming environment where you will be fully supported.

We operate an agile working policy, whereby the team is based on site for a proportion of the week and has the option to work at home for 2 days per week on a rota basis.

This role is positioned to enable excellent developmental opportunities.

Main duties of the job

This post will sit within a team of 6 and will be required in providing financial management advice, information, and support to Corporate and the Trust Subsidiary (SCL) management teams.

To lead upon the interaction between CDDFT and SCL from a finance perspective, ensuring agreed tasks are completed in accordance with the set timetable.

To act as the named individual for financial interactions between CDDFT and SCL.

To provide a comprehensive financial management and business advice service to the Corporate Departments to facilitate the achievement of their overall service and business objectives within the resource allocated to them ensuring finance objectives are delivered.

To support the Corporate Accountant in fulfilling other corporate financial responsibilities as required, for example in relation to Annual Accounts, NHSI plans and returns, freedom of information requests, liaison with internal/external audit, etc.

Job responsibilities

To lead upon the interaction between CDDFT and SCL from a finance perspective, ensuring agreed tasks are completed in accordance with the set timetable and services are provided in line with the SLA.

To act as the named individual for financial interactions between CDDFT and SCL.

To provide advice to the Corporate Managers and other staff in the Trust on the financial and economic implications of management policy and action, suggesting and implementing financial policies and procedures as required in line with the Trust's constitution, standing financial instructions, and scheme of delegation.

To work alongside the corporate and care group teams to review, develop, and maintain systems of reporting financial performance ensuring a culture of continuous improvement exists at all levels in the department contributing to increased productivity, quality, and usefulness of financial & business advice & information to corporate and divisional teams.

Day-to-day management of the financial management team to ensure workload and tasks are allocated to subordinate staff in a way which ensures all production deadlines are met. Supporting the Corporate Accountant with their appointment, development, training, and education. This will involve carrying out annual appraisals giving advice and guidance on their career development, other issues including professional training.

To regularly monitor, report, and advise on the current & forecast financial performance of the Corporate Areas. Under guidance from Line Manager challenges and influences managers when required to ensure the achievement of financial targets through the development & implementation of agreed action plans.

To provide financial support during the Divisions business planning and contracting process. This will involve analysing and interpreting financial data and making judgements on the financial and economic effects of developments - both revenue and capital and advising on any potential efficiencies and risks.

To attend regular meetings with the Corporate staff as required, including deputising for the Corporate Accountant.

To perform any other duties as may be delegated from time to time.

Person Specification

Statutory Registration
Essential

• A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working/improving performance.
• Able to travel throughout the Trust Area.

• Experience of working within a finance function.
• Experience of using computerised finance systems; General Ledger & report writing software.
• Experience of Microsoft Office software applications.

• Experience of working within NHS finance.
• Knowledge/experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline, and relevant HR policies and procedures.
• Experience of using Oracle General Ledger and Discoverer.

• CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist or significant equivalent NHS Financial Management Experience working towards CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or evidence of continued professional development.

• CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist.

• Able to advise finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance.
• Ability to communicate and negotiate with staff at all levels within and outside of the Trust.
• Understands and can effectively convey current financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
• Ability to plan and manage the workload of own team, to ensure workload is delivered to a high quality within deadlines.
• Advises others on compliance with the Corporate Governance Manual (e.g., SFIs, Schemes of Delegation) and applies the principles of accountability, transparency, integrity, and the public good to all activities within own area.
• Supervises others in their compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Applies knowledge of the regulatory framework for risk management and advises the organisation on issues relating to financial risk, measuring, assessing, and reporting on responses, controls, and required actions.
• Has a wider awareness of the organisation and its position in the marketplace and uses this to challenge processes and data in order to make improvements.
• Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of service provided within own role and own team/area of finance.
• Actively seeks feedback from customers and stakeholders in order to constantly improve.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Capable of working independently.
• Able to work under pressure and deliver high-quality work within challenging deadlines.
• Clear and effective communication and presentation skills.
• Good people management skills, team working, motivation & delegation.
• Good influencing, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Good written communication skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of current NHS funding regime.
• Knowledge and understanding of current NHS financial developments and initiatives, such as Service Line Reporting and Patient Level Costing.
• Manipulates data within software to obtain management information.
• Is able to programme software to create information in a new format (e.g., complex structures of linked spreadsheets/databases) suitable for accounting purposes and for use by others.