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Job summary

Main area
Finance
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent: other contract types would be considered
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (part time or flexible work also considered)
Job ref
150-GM2251-UPC
Employer
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Brighton General Hospital
Town
Brighton
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/12/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust logo

Trainee accountant

NHS AfC: Band 4

Job overview

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a new Trainee Accountant. You will be working with the Trust and its subsidiary Sussex Primary Care Ltd to support the finance team in a variety of functions while studying for a professional accountancy qualification.  

The role would suit a new or recent graduate or school leaver with a good record of educational achievement. You will be joining our finance team based at Brighton General Hospital, where you will find a supportive team that aspires to be a great place to work. 

Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK

Health and Care Worker visa: If you’ll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK

Main duties of the job

·         Provide accounting support within the Finance Department, particularly in the areas of accounts payable, payroll and monthly financial reporting

·         Assist in providing efficient and high quality financial support to service managers and the wider organisation.

·         Provide excellent customer service to colleagues as well as to clients and suppliers external to the Trust

 

Working for our organisation

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?
•    Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
•    Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
•    Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
•    Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
•    Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
•    Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
•    Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
•    Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our valuesCompassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Accounts payable - To prepare and reconcile invoices for payment.  To manage the relationships with services and suppliers and help ensire prompt payment. 

Accounts receivable -  To assist in ensuring that the sales ledger is maintained to a good standard and to maximise debt recovery 

Monthly and annual accounts - support the finance team in monthly closedown and reporting procedures  

Payroll - to support the smooth operation of the payroll service, assisting the Payroll Gatekeeper in resolving queries  

Person specification

Qualifications / education

Essential criteria
  • Good record of educational achievement (eg degree or A level)
  • Must be willing to study for professional accountancy qualifications

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a team environment

Experience of people

Essential criteria
  • Experience of dealing with people in a customer service environment
  • Experience of dealing with difficult people or situations

IT skills

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of highly advanced IT skills

Communication skills

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of written communication skills
  • Evidence of verbal communication skills

Motivation and commitment

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of motivation and commitment to pursue a career in finance in the NHS

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerCommitted to being an Inclusive EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Award

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jamie Bewick
Job title
Assistant Director of Finance
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07766 278 163
Additional information

Chris Thompson

Deputy Head of Financial Accounts 

[email protected]

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