Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provision of Trusted Financial Reporting
  • Work with Site/Department Management to set their budget for each financial year so that it can be agreed and signed off before the start of each year
  • Production of Site/Department monthly financial position within monthly timetables.
  • Compilation of detailed variance analysis to explain variances from budgets.
  • Support the production of robust and detailed year end forecasts in accordance with Trust standards and timetables.
  • Assisting Site/Department with financial recovery plans
  • Provide the Site/Department with relevant and timely financial information and interpreting the information to allow the individual management teams to make informed decisions.
  • Work in collaboration with managers in the assigned Site/Department to continually improve the effectiveness of performance monitoring systems.
  • Ensure advice is consistent with similar areas of the Trust ensuring shared learning and development of a one Trust approach.
  Improving Value
  • Support the Site/Department Management to develop efficiency schemes in accordance with overall trust and national requirements, identifying opportunities and provide financial, support, advice and direction.
  • Assess, monitor and review the delivery of efficiencies and associated financial benefits, working with Site/Department Management to address any issues.
  
  • Advise on the financial content being developed for PIDs for schemes that will be taken forward.
  • Work with the Income team to advise on the impact of management decisions on income as well as forecast expenditure, helping to ensure that income for clinical services in the Site/Department is correctly recovered
  Business Cases
  • To support the Group/Site/Department Management in the development and production of business cases.
  • Ensure the financial elements reflect the case and meet the required quality standard
  • Ensure the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques to facilitate decision making and ensure that developments withstand robust financial scrutiny.
  • Undertake analytical assessment of options and appraise these using different financial tools such as sensitivity analysis to understand potential risks and weaknesses of proposals
  • Work alongside operational colleagues to ensure understanding of the financial consequences of different options.
  1. Communication
  • To work closely with senior managers across the Trust to provide a comprehensive range of expert financial advice, training and support to enable the delivery of corporate services efficiently and economically, as well as ensuring the achievement of all financial targets.
  • To act corporately and cohesively as part of the overall Trust Finance Function, contributing to its continuous development and improvement.
  • To always act as a role model, representing the vision and values of the Trust.
  • Attend meetings and take the lead in presenting and explaining financial information to a diverse range of service managers (both Finance and non-Finance). Given that some of it may be contentious and attract some degree of challenge from the recipients, a knowledgeable and persuasive manner is essential.
  • To provide expert theoretical and practical knowledge, interpreting a wide range of complex information requiring analysis and comparison, and providing clear explanations and guidance to a wide group of clinicians and managers.
  • To communicate complex financial information to non-financial managers in a manner that is clear and effective, to facilitate effective decision making.
  • To provide full support to the Finance Manager and deputise as appropriate.
  
  2. Analytical and Planning
  • To ensure that the financial records within the general ledger accurately reflect the activities of the care group.
  • To prepare and maintain accurate financial forecasts, to support decision making and financial planning for the Division or Corporate Directorate, through joint working and liaison with directorate management and clinical/corporate leaders. This will include reporting forecasts of the anticipated yearend financial position.
  • To review and monitor the accuracy of staffing establishments and exercise effective establishment control through the authorisation of vacancy controls. This will include assisting managers in implementing, operating and reviewing effective systems to control temporary staff expenditure within the available resources.
  • To manage budget history schedules ensuring they track all budget virements.
  • To manage the achievement of cost improvement programmes throughout the year, ensuring that budget adjustments are actioned in a timely manner so reporting for areas such as cost improvement plans reconcile to the general ledger.
  • To respond to complex financial issues and queries from directorate staff, Senior Clinical/Corporate staff and finance colleagues.
  • To interrogate and utilise a wide range of software systems, including the financial general ledger, Business objects, and advanced Microsoft applications to enhance the financial information and analysis provided to directorate.
  • To ensure Management Accountants provide appropriate working papers to support all financial entries and assumptions used which are available for audit scrutiny
  3. Clinical Duties – N/A (incidental patient contact)
  4. Policy and Service Development
  • Ensure awareness of, and compliance with, financial governance, including Trust Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and relevant policies and procedures.
  5. Financial and Physical Resources
  • To provide expert technical advice as appropriate, in relation to accounting policies.
  • To produce comprehensive procedure notes to support all aspects of the work performed by the Finance Business Partner team and ensure comprehensive procedure notes exist to support all aspects of the work performed.
  • To assist internal and external auditors and the local counter fraud service in the performance of their duties, providing them with prompt information and explanations as necessary and to assist with ensuring any actions needed are taken to strengthen financial controls.
  • To comply with budgetary control best practice and Trust Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.
  • To ensure that efficient and effective financial systems are designed, developed and maintained, to enable accurate and timely reporting of financial information, within agreed deadlines.
  • To facilitate timely responses to financial queries made under the Freedom of Information Act To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Finance Manager or Senior Finance Business Partner.
  6. Staff Management
  • To assist with the effective management and training of junior finance staff when required. Ensure feedback is development is constructive and supportive of the Management Accountant allocated to your areas. Ensure collaboration with their line manager with the hub contributing to their personnel development and annual appraisal.
  7. Information Resources
  • Work in collaboration with other Finance Managers and Financial Management teams to continuously identify and improve the effectiveness of accounting systems and financial reporting.
  • Work with their Senior Finance Business Partner and Finance Director, as well as the Director of Financial Management to ensure consistency in service and delivery of financial information to services
  • When necessary deputise for the Finance Manager
  • Contribute to ad hoc financial projects and undertake any other work commensurate with the role and grade of the post.
  8. Effort, Skills and Working
  Physical Skills
  Jobholders are required to have standard keyboard skills with high degree of accuracy.
  Physical Effort
  The jobholder will be expected to spend long periods of time sitting at a desk inputting at a keyboard, reading data on screens, or attending meetings. The role may also require travelling between sites on a frequent basis, as required.
  
  Mental Effort
  The jobholder will frequently be required to concentrate for prolonged period of time on complex documents, calculations and analysis of detailed financial data.
  Be active and participate in meetings.
  Emotional Effort
  The jobholder is occasionally likely to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances in relation to the direct management of staff.
  Working Conditions
  This role will require working across all of the hospital sites as required and will be expected to be on site most days.
  This job profile is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder.
  The post holder will be expected to perform any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by management, within scope of the role.