Group Capital Accountant

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated accountant to join our Group Capital Accounting Team. As a Group Capital Accountant, you will support the delivery of high-quality capital financial reporting across the GESH Hospital Group. The role offers exposure to a wide range of areas including capital expenditure, fixed assets, IFRS 16 lease accounting, charitable funds, statutory reporting, and large scale capital projects. You will work closely with colleagues across Finance, Estates, IT, Procurement and operational teams to ensure accurate accounting, robust financial governance, and compliance with NHS and IFRS accounting standards.

Responsibilities include preparing journals and reconciliations, maintaining asset records, supporting month-end and year-end processes, and assisting with capital monitoring and audit requirements. This role would suit an AAT-qualified candidate or someone studying towards ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA, with experience in financial accounting and a desire to develop a career in NHS capital and technical accounting.

Main duties of the job:

• Support monthly and year-end financial processes, including the preparation of working papers, schedules, and supporting documentation for audit purposes.
• Assist with the capitalisation, enhancement, de-enhancement, and derecognition of assets, ensuring full compliance with IFRS and NHS accounting standards.
• Prepare and maintain daily CAPEX, Assets Under Construction (AUC), and requisition trackers, monitoring purchase orders and requisitions to ensure accurate reporting.
• Support the periodic review and accounting treatment of asset disposals, impairments, and lease terminations.
• Monitor capital projects and liaise with colleagues in Estates, Infrastructure, Medical Physics, IT, Charities, Procurement, and Finance to ensure correct accounting treatment and compliance with financial procedures.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly and quarterly capital monitoring reports for management, attend relevant meetings, and action queries and requests from budget holders, including salary and cross-charges.
• Support IFRS 16 lease accounting processes (covering buildings, medical equipment, and transport), maintaining up-to-date lease schedules, monthly journals, liability remeasurements, and reconciliations.
• Support the Charitable Funds accounting process, including reconciliations, journal entries, and invoice preparation.

About us: St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce. At GESH we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities:

• Information Governance: Maintain strict confidentiality in line with the Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice, the Data Protection Act, and the Trusts policies. Information about patients, staff, or Trust business must only be shared with authorised individuals.
• Information Security: Comply with the Trusts Information Security Policy covering the use of all electronic systems, software, and data. Breaches may result in disciplinary or legal action.
• Health and Safety: Take reasonable care of your own health, safety, and welfare, and that of others. Follow Trust policies at all times when on duty, including when working on or off-site.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Promote equality and treat all patients, colleagues, and stakeholders with fairness, dignity, and respect, in accordance with Trust policy and legislation.
• Risk Management and Governance: Identify and report incidents, near misses, and risks. Contribute to continuous improvement through compliance with the Trusts corporate and clinical governance frameworks.
• Infection Prevention and Control: Adhere to the Trusts infection control policies, maintain good hand hygiene, and attend mandatory training to help reduce healthcare-associated infections.
• Safeguarding: Be alert to and report any concerns about the safety or welfare of children, young people, or vulnerable adults, following the Trusts safeguarding procedures and training requirements.
• Commitment to Care and Professional Conduct: Place patients at the centre of your work, demonstrating compassion, respect, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Records Management: Maintain accurate and timely records in accordance with Trust policies and the NHS Records Management Code of Practice (2006).
• NHS Constitution and Managerial Conduct: Uphold the values and duties set out in the NHS Constitution and, where applicable, the NHS Code of Conduct.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: AAT qualified or studying towards CCAB/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent. Demonstrable post qualification development and achievement of CPD.
• Knowledge: Have an understanding of financial accounting capital principles. Understand and be able to interpret relevant accounting standards and other guidance.
• Desirable: Understanding of current NHS accounting principles and procedures including audit requirements.
• Skills and Abilities: Ability to prepare and present financial information to non-finance staff. Proficient in the use of computerised and manual financial systems, including spreadsheets and have the ability to develop systems to maximum benefits to use. Ability to work without supervision and to deliver to deadlines.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details:

• Employer name: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Address: St Georges Hospital / GESH Blackshaw Road London SW17 0QT United Kingdom