Senior Management Accountant

An exciting opportunity has arisen at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust for a Senior Management Accountant who wants to use their finance skills to make a difference to the healthcare services we provide.

As part of the Management Accounts Team, you will provide a high quality accounting and financial advice service to a Care Group which may consist of a significant number of clinical service areas.This is a rewarding and challenging role requiring financial and analytical expertise, underpinned by excellent communication and organisational skills.

The successful candidates should be qualified Accountants (or training towards), with demonstrable experience of working in a management accounting environment. Proven knowledge of the NHS would also be an advantage.

We would love to hear from you if you are interested in being part of our team. The department offers hybrid and flexible working arrangements.

For an informal discussion please contact Andrew Shipsey via andrew.shipsey@nhs.net, or Steven Cavendish via steven.cavendish@nhs.net.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as \’Priority\’ and \’At Risk\’ status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

To provide the lead accounting expertise and financial analysis to a Care Group and Operational teams within them.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a dynamic and challenging environment, which provides acute healthcare for people in Plymouth, South West Devon and South East Cornwall. We are the largest teaching hospital in the South West and have an active commitment to developing and supporting our staff.

Our services include Emergency and Acute Assessment units, General Medical and Surgical Services, Cancer Care, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Ear Nose and Throat, Neurosciences and Renal services. We offer a full range of general hospital services to around 450,000 people in Plymouth, North and East Cornwall and South and West Devon.

About us

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

To provide the lead accounting expertise and financial analysis the Management Accounting service to the Care Group and Operational teams within them.

Utilising specialist knowledge of complex NHS/Trust accounting systems, processes, regulations, financial techniques and relevant legislation, for individual Service lines to:

• Provide a comprehensive and high standard of management accounting service to the Operational Managers, Clinical Directors, Budget Holders, and Support Managers within their respective Service Lines and Care Groups/ Operational Teams in a way that both supports improving patient care and balances Trust financial objectives.
• To lead on the management accounting reporting for the Care Group to the Care Group Finance Business Partner. Ensuring Care Groups management account functions such as monthly reports and forecasts are completed.
• Apply best accounting practices to ensure an accurate representation of the Service Lines financial performance.
• Use persuasion, motivation and negotiation skills to encourage and influence Service Line Management Team Budget Holders within the Service Lines to ensure cost-effective decision making by management.
• Lead the budget setting process for Service Lines ensuring that budgets are reflective of the resources required to deliver services
• Provide financial support for complex business cases as appropriate describing the financial implications of the business case and investment appraisal techniques.
• Be able to use the Trust accounting packages to a high standard, thereby ensuring maximum information is available to the Service Lines and Trust.
• Analyse variances by comparing actual income and expenditure versus budget and/or trend analysis techniques, to take account of the complex interaction between activity and income and expenditure and highlight areas of concern
• Benchmark information internally or with other NHS organisations.
• Be able to provide specialist financial advice through developing expert knowledge relating to the service area being supported. This may include knowledge of contracts and pricing.
• Ensure service areas are receiving all income due to them through correct recording, reporting, and reconciliation of activity performed/services delivered.
• Collate cost pressures and other service changes and ensure cost allocations used by the Team Costing reflect, as far as possible, the true costs of delivering that service.
• Working with the Finance Business Partners to understand the impact of activity changes to the plan, and impacts upon the expenditure and forecasts.
• Work with the relevant Managers to generate accurate financial forecasts for Service Lines, forecasting activity levels, contract income, expenditure and non-contract income.
• Support Care Groups with the identification, implementation and monitoring of Financial Improvement Plans.. The production and delivery of these plans will be key to the financial viability of the Trust and progress will regularly need to be reported to the Trust Board.
• Lead the training of members of Service Line Management Teams in all aspects of the financial management of their Service Lines and develop their financial abilities through formal and informal training. Develop financial awareness amongst Care Group leaders and Service Line Cluster teams.

Note

This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust policies, procedures & guidelines.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Ability to demonstrate developed theoretical and practical proven knowledge at an advanced level and experience and expertise in financial management, accounting procedures, relevant legislation and finance policies.
• Ability to demonstrate recent Continuing Professional Development including specialist training and demonstrable experience relating to Finance as well as national accounting standards.
• Awareness of the current \”Agenda\”, national directives and all Governance aspects.
• Proven knowledge of NHS finance regime including tariff arrangements

Qualifications

• A levels and 5 x GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent, including Mathematics and English Language at GCSE level.
• Either: a) Fully qualified Professional Accountant or studying towards qualification or b) Proven equivalent knowledge and demonstrable experience in a similar role
• Commitment to continuing professional development in line with relevant Institute requirements

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.

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