Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working to the Head of Management Accounts the main responsibilities of the role are:-

Supporting Directorates

To co-ordinate the provision of confidential, sensitive and specialist financial advice and support to the Directorates to ensure that they meet the targets set by the Trust Board, and the wider ICS, particularly, those relating to containing expenditure within budget, maximising efficiency and meeting patient activity targets from available resources.

To support Directorate performance, through raising awareness of issues and contributing to solutions, to help ensure that Directorate targets are achieved.

To be responsible for the oversight, co-ordination, production and distribution of accurate and timely monthly budget reports, including the review of forecasts for Directorates. To engage the service in this process in order to highlight early changes or issues in service provision.

To prepare and review comprehensive, formal financial reports for submission by the Head of Management Accounts to the Trust Board, ICS, NHS England and Directorate Management Teams on a monthly basis.

Strategic Planning

To support the Directorate team with developing strategic plans and operational changes, to optimise performance. This will include providing advice on efficiency savings, innovations, and service development opportunities. The finance business partner will be essential in analysing and evaluating proposals, and where appropriate the development of business cases.

With support from the Head of Management Accounts, lead the annual financial planning process for the clinical & or corporate areas that you have responsibility for including identifying, coordinating and quantifying service developments, cost pressures, cost improvements and capital bids to support the annual objectives. This should take into account the NHS Long Term plan, relevant national service guidance, the wider organisation and its position within the ICS geography.

Provide support to the Head of Management Accounts and Contracting team to facilitate the Trust’s annual budget setting processes within the relevant Directorates. This is to ensure that the budgets reflect the current years Financial Plan approved by the Board.

Other Financial Responsibilities

Support the production of business cases within the clinical or corporate area, including the financial analysis. This will include a review of highly complex data from a variety of sources and the application of recognised investment appraisal techniques, where applicable.  Ensure that the relevant financial information, particularly with regard to capital expenditure, recurrent and non-recurrent revenue expenditure and anticipated savings, are included within every Business Case developed by the Directorates. To provide continued support to the Head of Management Accounts in monitoring financial consequences of approved bids.

Responsible for the preparation of the Trust’s annual costing and relevant benchmarking returns. To work with clinicians and managers to understand the relevance of benchmarking information. To ensure that Service Line Reporting/Patient Level Costing information is used to improve financial and service performance. To be aware of and access nationally available tools to promote efficiencies, eg the Model Hospital.

Responsible, in conjunction with the Head of Management Accounts, for the development of financial planning and reporting arrangements within the Trust for the completion of relevant in-year, annual and strategic financial models provided to NHSE.

Work in collaboration with the Contracting and Tender Management team to ensure that contract variations and updates are fully understood and that income is reflected appropriately to enable accurate, relevant and timely reporting. To include the reconciliation of income to contract values in order to satisfy audit requirements.

As a senior member of the Finance Department, work with the Head of Management Accounts to review and develop policies and procedures and accounting control systems within the Directorate Finance Section, revising and updating as necessary, including the establishment of working parties, where relevant, to take forward revision and implementation.

Provide the relevant input, as required, to internal and external audit reports, including the co-ordination and implementation of agreed recommendations

To work collaboratively with the Head of Management Accounts in determining monthly timetabling and scheduling and provide relevant and any necessary input in the preparation of the Annual Accounts of the Trust.

Any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post.

Line Management

Lead and manage the Directorate Finance team on a day to day basis, contributing to the development of the team, its services and the effective operation and development of the Finance Department. Act as a coach and mentor to less experienced staff both within and outside the team

Support and enabling Finance staff to work to the highest professional standards and encouraging a culture of continuous professional development.

Service development

Maintaining an overview within the Finance Department to share good practice, apply learning, improve processes etc. Evaluate service provision taking account of feedback and broader external developments.

 To provide education and training on complex financial issues to non finance managers and convey financial concepts, policies and procedures clearly and persuasively. This includes ensuring that Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Schemes of Delegation are understood and adhered to.

To fulfil mandatory “Continuing Professional Development” (CPD) requirements of the relevant professional body and be responsible for keeping the skills and knowledge required for the post up to date.

Progression

In order to progress from a Band 7 to a band 8a the post holder will need to;

Work through the competency framework with support from the Head of Management Accounts. This will include progression against a CCAB accountancy qualification, experience in role and the development of both technical and behavioural skills.