Management Accountant in Manchester

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust for an enthusiastic Management Accountant to join the Management Accounts Team. The successful candidate will support the Finance Business Partner in delivering high-quality financial management support to services, including budget monitoring, forecasting, and the production of accurate and timely financial information to inform decision-making. You will work closely with budget holders and operational teams, providing clear financial advice and helping to ensure effective financial control across the service. The role requires strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships. Contribution to continuous improvement in financial processes and systems is also expected.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide management accountancy support to designated service areas, ensuring accurate, timely and relevant financial information and advice.
• Support the production of monthly financial reports, forecasts and budget statements, maintaining an up-to-date and accurate financial position for areas of responsibility.
• Analyse and interpret financial information, investigate variances and support budget holders to understand and manage their financial performance.
• Assist the Finance Business Partner in delivering high-quality financial reporting for internal and external requirements, in line with Trust policies and reporting timetables.
• Build effective working relationships with budget holders and operational teams, providing clear and accessible financial advice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Work with the Senior Finance Team to ensure that annual I&E budgets are prepared in the correct form, within timelines, and meet the Trust's financial and corporate objectives.
• Ensure that Operational Managers are aware of any issues within their profit statements and understand the composition of their income and expenditure reports.
• Represent the Finance department at key meetings and deputise as required.
• Undertake analysis of complex financial data and advise Operational Managers on highly complex financial matters based on this analysis.
• Develop detailed knowledge of the drivers of both income and expenditure and advise senior staff on interpreting these to the benefit of the business.
• Work as part of the financial management team to implement process improvements.

Benefits:

• Pay Enhancements – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays; 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
• Annual leave: 27 days plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years.

Knowledge:

• Specialist knowledge of management accounting principles and techniques, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of financial controls, governance requirements and the need for accurate, timely and auditable financial information.
• Understanding of the NHS finance regime or equivalent public sector financial environment.
• Working knowledge of financial systems, spreadsheets and databases used for reporting, reconciliations and analysis.

Experience:

• Recent experience in a finance role with responsibility for management accounting, budget setting, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Experience of interpreting complex financial information and providing clear advice to non-finance managers and budget holders.
• Experience of analysing variances, identifying financial risks and pressures, and contributing to corrective action or recovery plans.
• Experience of providing day-to-day supervision, support or technical guidance to junior staff.
• Experience of contributing to annual budgets, year-end processes, business cases or service developments.
• Experience of working within the NHS or wider public sector finance environment.
• Experience of using finance systems and reporting tools to support management accounts production and analysis.
• Experience of supporting service improvement, efficiency or transformation initiatives.

Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and performance information and make sound judgements.
• Strong Excel and spreadsheet skills, with the ability to work accurately with large datasets, reconciliations and reporting tools.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly in writing and verbally to finance and non-finance audiences.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and use tact, persuasion and influence when advising or constructively challenging managers and stakeholders.
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload, meet deadlines and work independently within agreed policies and procedures.
• Ability to use financial systems, spreadsheets and databases to support reporting, forecasting and performance monitoring.
• Ability to support and guide junior staff and contribute effectively to team working.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality.
• Experience of improving financial processes, reporting arrangements, local working practices or system-based controls.
• Ability to support change, service improvement, efficiency or automation within a finance function.

Other Requirements:

• Commitment to delivering a high-quality finance service, with consistent standards of accuracy, accountability and professionalism.
• Ability to work flexibly, manage competing priorities and respond positively to changing service demands.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and to personal and professional development.
• Demonstrates integrity, openness and respect for others, consistent with Trust values.

Commitment to diversity and inclusion:

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve. We are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example, BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities.