Finance Manager / Trainee Finance Manager in Nottingham

To support the Deputy Head of Finance and Leadership Team in the delivery of key business objectives, including financial recovery and Quality Service Improvement Recovery Plans. Contribute to idea generation, development, costing and monitoring of CIP plans at directorate and speciality level. To provide business support and advice to Directorate Leadership Teams, Specialty Leadership Teams and budget managers, including expert knowledge of the financial aspects of NHS legislation and policies, to help the directorate deliver a balanced financial position, including suggestions on savings initiatives.

To act as finance lead to specific work stream projects, as agreed with the Deputy Head of Finance and Associate Head of Financial Management. To ensure that regular meetings with Directorate Leadership Teams and Specialty Leadership Teams are undertaken and finance training provided as required. To develop and monitor Directorate and Specialty reporting to provide financial advice, both operationally and strategically to the leadership teams, Senior Managers and budget managers.

To support the Deputy Head of Finance in developing business proposals, set within the agreed corporate framework, for inclusion within the service level agreement proposals for commissioners. To support the Deputy Head of Finance, in providing costing and financial input to business cases ensuring understanding of the impact to the Directorate position prior to Head of Finance sign off. To provide information as required to the Deputy Head of Finance to aid negotiations with ICB, DHSC, local authorities, universities and commercial organisations on the financial aspects of the Care Group or Corporate Groups service delivery and development.

To support the Deputy Head of Finance in coordinating financial management duties to agreed corporate standards and timetables. Production of monthly Directorate and Specialty performance reports. Validating reports and providing insightful narrative around driver and planned recovery actions. Producing robust year end financial forecasts including income, expenditure and CIP for the responsible directorates. Production of financial information for budget setting and financial performance reviews. Maintain the integrity of the general ledger including budget maintenance. Service change / development costing. Identifying financial and service risks through financial modelling.

To provide input to the national cost collection exercise in line with latest guidance. To provide finance training to staff across the Trust aligned to the departmental objectives. To support the Deputy Head of Finance with reporting and monitoring the Care Group or Corporate Group capital schemes. To ensure the consistent application of good business and accounting practice within Directorate and Specialties as well as across the Care Group or Corporate Group.

Ensuring compliance with NHS Manual of Accounts, SFIs, Scheme of Delegation, Scheme of Budgetary Control, and relevant accounting standards and practices, including the adoption of accruals and commitment based accounting principles, in the production of financial reports.

To support the Deputy Head of Finance in managing a team of staff to provide a financial management service to the Trust. This should include the allocation of work, recruitment, training and development, appraisal, sickness monitoring, and authorisation of leave and absence. To undertake project work in support of process change. To support the Deputy Head of Finance in the development of benchmarking and other techniques to challenge performance and improve overall economy, efficiency and effectiveness. To deputise for the Deputy Head of Finance on specific projects and as required on adhoc occasions.

To undertake a review of own work activities/processes and make recommendations and/or implement improvements to working practices. To support the Deputy Head of Finance, in ensuring strong financial control and robust governance arrangements are in place throughout the Care Group or Corporate Group.

To support the Associate Head of Financial Management and Head of Finance in the preparation of accurate and timely monthly and annual management and financial accounts. To support the Assistant Director of Finance and Heads of Finance in developing a professional training programme for all finance staff.

To attend regular senior Financial Management meetings and contribute to the discussion at such meetings. To contribute to the continuous development and the quality improvement of the department, specifically:

• improving in the quality of financial reporting.
• improving the awareness and understanding of financial issues across the Trust.

To maintain & develop working relationships within and outside the Trust. To ensure compliance with appropriate HR policies and practices. To undertake post qualification and personal development. To maintain a focus on the task in hand, despite frequent interruption (telephone/people). To undertake other duties as specified by the Head of Financial Management and Deputy Head of Finance as appropriate to the post.

Essential criteria

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's "We are here for you" behavioural standards.
• CCAB Finalist or Passed Finalist (or qualified by experience on very exceptional basis-internal staff currently operating at this level only).
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development.
• A minimum 3 years directly relevant experience of working in a financial management environment.
• Experience of working with computerised financial systems.
• Working within the NHS in a modern finance department.
• Experience of staff management and working practices.
• Experience of IT, including advanced spreadsheets, computerised financial ledgers, budgeting and financial modelling systems and costing systems.
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office.
• Awareness of standard accounting and auditing practice and financial reporting standards.
• Knowledge of the planning and budget setting processes within an NHS Trust.

Desirable criteria

• CCAB Qualified.
• Degree or equivalent.
• Experience of operating at a middle management level within a financial management environment.
• Working in an acute teaching hospital environment.
• Experience of systems development and implementation.
• Experience of using an NHS computerised general ledger system and in particular McKeowns 'Integra' General Ledger.
• Knowledge and understanding of the NHS.
• Knowledge of the workings of the NHS finance regime.
• Knowledge and understanding of business planning and the financial assessment of business plans.