1.    To provide strategic financial advice and business planning input to stakeholders, including the Executive Directors, Senior Management and both clinical and support staff advising in particular on the capital and cash flow implications of options under consideration.

2.    Responsible for preparing the Trust’s statutory annual accounts and working papers including a summarised version for inclusion in the annual report. This task includes the timely submission of all related items to the NHSE, Department of Health, the external auditors and the Trust Board together with the provision of all financial information required for the Trust’s Annual Report. The post holder will also play an active role in the team responsible for producing the Annual Report.

3.    Ensuring valid and robust accounting systems are in place in line with the relevant accounting standards (IFRS and GAAP). This will involve interpreting complex standards and regulations operating autonomously to evaluate options before making judgement as to the most appropriate action for the Trust and liaising effectively with the Trust’s auditors.

4.    Managing the annual audit of the Trust financial accounts and Charitable Fund accounts liaising with auditors to ensure the Trust does not receive anything other than an unqualified audit opinion and only minor issues in relation to the external auditors report.

5.    Responsible for interpreting complex financial data and guidance issued by NHSE and the Department of Health and educating both finance and non-finance staff of the implications to the Trust.

6.    Responsible for ensuring compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders across the Trust providing interpretation and training to all staff groups.

7.    Responsible for the recruitment, management, training and continuous development of 6.0wte staff, including direct line management responsibility for the Assistant Financial Accountant.

8.    Responsible for producing policies and procedures relevant to financial services (e.g. Treasury Management and Investment) and ensuring such policies are implemented appropriately and reviewed regularly.

9.    Responsible for ensuring that the tasks of the Assistant Financial Accountant and Finance Transactions Manager are covered.

Key duties and tasks

10.  Deputise for the Head of Financial Services, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer as and when required at the Audit Committee, Charitable Funds Committee and ad-hoc meetings.

11.  Produce and submit monthly financial performance reports to NHSE, Department of Health, Trust Board and other committees adhering to strict timetables and utilising complex electronic programmes prescribed by stakeholders.

12.  Plan and manage the production of the annual financial accounts and charitable funds accounts ensuring that all contributing departments across the Trust understand and agree to the timetable whilst ensuring that working papers of the highest quality are prepared for each step of the process.

13.  Ensure capital expenditure is recorded in accordance with the Annual Reporting Manual and Treasury FREM ensuring all assets are registered on the Trust Asset Register and appropriately depreciated and ensuring a five year capital investment plan is maintained.

14.  Monitor cash flow on a daily basis planning inflows and outflows of cash on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and a five yearly basis incorporating both revenue and capital expenditure plans whilst ensuring the Trust never has to utilise its working capital facility.

15.  Ensure the Trust meets the current Private Sector Payment Policy and any future targets set nationally.

16.  Responsible for Trust VAT and Inland Revenue returns ensuring VAT is appropriately treated and recorded to ensure the Trust takes full advantage of the opportunities available. This will involve keeping up to date with and interpreting continually changing government legislation and training relevant staff on the implications of the said changes.

17.  Maintain continuous positive relations with internal and external auditors to ensure the Trust administers changes to accounting practices and legislation correctly.

18.  Assist the Head of Financial Services in co-ordinating and monitoring progress against the annual audit plan and ensuring recommendations and action plans agreed in response to audits are actioned. Provide written updates to the Audit committee demonstrating progress against this.

19.  Interpret and advise departments on the implications of the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders including the upkeep of an approved list of authorised signatories.

20.  Maintain the Trusts losses and Compensation register reporting activity to each Audit committee.

21.  Represent the finance department at the Walton Neuroscience Fund meetings providing reports to the Charitable Funds committee on financial activity both income and expenditure including performance of investment funds held by third parties on behalf of the Trust.

22.  Produce month end statements for Fund Advisors and other key reports for Charitable Funds held in Trust.

23.  Advise the Charitable Funds & Investment Committee of the Board, Directorate Managers and other staff on all aspects of charity law and accounting treatments to ensure compliance with the Charity Commission and Charities Act 2006.

24.  Any other duties considered relevant by the Head of Financial Services including ad-hoc project work.

25.  This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post and may be amended from time to time after consultation with the post holder.