Financial Accounting Officer – Technical Accounts

The post holder will be playing a key role in helping to deliver the financial accounting and reporting agenda for the Trust, by providing dedicated support to the Financial Accountant - Technical Accounts in the production of data and information from which the monthly reports and accounts can be produced. They will also have responsibility for completion of designated (SoFP) control accounts reconciliations.

There is a requirement of this post to liaise with internal colleagues and occasionally, external stakeholders, including the Trust's auditors, and NHS Shared Business Services (SBS), and is expected to provide accurate and timely information as and when requested. Organisation skills, planning ability and time management is required. As part of continuous improvement, the post will work alongside the Financial Accounting Officer - AI and Robotics, and will be responsible for the subsequent administration of systems developed and implemented (expected to include salary sacrifice / lease car schemes), liaising with non-finance colleagues as necessary (e. g. payroll). To source and provide information relating to Freedom of Information requests for review by the Financial Accountant - Technical Accounts and maintain a log of requests to ascertain items that should be shared routinely via the Trusts website, and update as necessary.

The post holder will be based at City Hospital Campus but will work flexibly from home.

Provide operational support to the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts in the delivery of all statutory / NHS accounts and monthly returns (including Provider Financial Returns (PFRs), Statutory Accounts and detailed working papers) which represent a true and fair view of the Trust position and meet financial timescales and legal requirements.
To assist in the comprehensive production of all necessary detailed working papers for the monthly / annual accounts.
To maintain the integrity of the trial balance (TB), properly coding transactions to ensure that production of the key reports and statements can be derived from the General Ledger with minimal manual intervention.
To follow the agreed timetable relating to Trust control accounts and suspense accounts, ensuring that all procedures are followed in a timely manner.
Work alongside the Financial Accounting Officer AI and Robotics and be responsible for the day-to-day operation / update of systems developed including salary sacrifice / lease car schemes, liaising with non-finance colleagues as necessary (e. g. payroll) and identify and resolve any problems.
Input to the annual accounts and audit as required, responding to audit queries as directed by the Financial Accountants.
Act on advice from the Financial Accountant - Technical Accounts to correctly comply with new or updated accounting standards as adopted by the NHS and adapt existing processes as necessary, ensuring that information is devolved as widely as necessary, acting as a focal point for subsequent queries.
Accounting for injury cost recovery transactions including bad debt calculations.
Reconcile reserve movements relating to Public Dividend Capital, Revaluation and Retained Earnings.
Attend periodical stock takes, transact movements into the general ledger and prepare reports for the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts.
Ensure information is stored at an appropriate level in the GL to ensure both internal and external reporting requirements are met and that the balances can be easily reconciled to external sources.
Update payroll mapping tables to ensure the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) feeder system updates the ledger codes appropriately for each of the pay elements and reconcile the gross to net reports to the control accounts.
Work with the Transactional Services Manager to ensure the Trust has coverage in terms of its bad/doubtful debt provision ensuring the position is re-evaluated, transacted and reported on a timely basis to Management Accounts.
Ensure statutory reporting of private and overseas patients is reconciled to departmental records, ensuring accuracy of reporting of the monthly cash recovery, reported income and any write-offs.
Responsibility for the performance management and development of the Financial Accounts Assistant.
Undertake performance reviews, appraisals and regular 1:1 meetings.
Comply with Trust values and behaviours within the Department.
Adapt to new ways of working, including automation and artificial intelligence in Finance.
Ensure compliance with Corporate Governance (financial controls), Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and other standards, working with colleagues across the Finance function and in the wider Trust to promote good governance practice and the highest standards of business conduct.
Any other duties as determined appropriate by the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts and provision of cross-cover for the Financial Accounting Officer Group Accounting and Cash.

Provide operational support to the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts in the delivery of all statutory / NHS accounts and monthly returns (including Provider Financial Returns (PFRs), Statutory Accounts and detailed working papers) which represent a true and fair view of the Trust position and meet financial timescales and legal requirements.

To assist in the comprehensive production of all necessary detailed working papers for the monthly / annual accounts.

To maintain the integrity of the trial balance (TB), properly coding transactions to ensure that production of the key reports and statements can be derived from the General Ledger with minimal manual intervention.

To follow the agreed timetable relating to Trust control accounts and suspense accounts, ensuring that all procedures are followed in a timely manner.

Work alongside the Financial Accounting Officer AI and Robotics and be responsible for the day-to-day operation / update of systems developed including salary sacrifice / lease car schemes, liaising with non-finance colleagues as necessary (e. g. payroll) and identify and resolve any problems.

Input to the annual accounts and audit as required, responding to audit queries as directed by the Financial Accountants.

Act on advice from the Financial Accountant - Technical Accounts to correctly comply with new or updated accounting standards as adopted by the NHS and adapt existing processes as necessary, ensuring that information is devolved as widely as necessary, acting as a focal point for subsequent queries.

Accounting for injury cost recovery transactions including bad debt calculations.

Reconcile reserve movements relating to Public Dividend Capital, Revaluation and Retained Earnings.

Attend periodical stock takes, transact movements into the general ledger and prepare reports for the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts.

Ensure information is stored at an appropriate level in the GL to ensure both internal and external reporting requirements are met and that the balances can be easily reconciled to external sources.

Update payroll mapping tables to ensure the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) feeder system updates the ledger codes appropriately for each of the pay elements and reconcile the gross to net reports to the control accounts.

Work with the Transactional Services Manager to ensure the Trust has coverage in terms of its bad/doubtful debt provision ensuring the position is re-evaluated, transacted and reported on a timely basis to Management Accounts.

Ensure statutory reporting of private and overseas patients is reconciled to departmental records, ensuring accuracy of reporting of the monthly cash recovery, reported income and any write-offs.

Responsibility for the performance management and development of the Financial Accounts Assistant.

Undertake performance reviews, appraisals and regular 1:1 meetings.

Comply with Trust values and behaviours within the Department.

Adapt to new ways of working, including automation and artificial intelligence in Finance.

Ensure compliance with Corporate Governance (financial controls), Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and other standards, working with colleagues across the Finance function and in the wider Trust to promote good governance practice and the highest standards of business conduct.

Any other duties as determined appropriate by the Financial Accountant Technical Accounts and provision of cross-cover for the Financial Accounting Officer Group Accounting and Cash.

Essential criteria
- NVQ Level 5/professional accountancy Qualifications - Certificate Level/Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Member or equivalent experience to degree level plus supervisory experience.
- Good knowledge / ability in using MS Excel to solve problems
- Awareness of accounting and reporting standards (including IFRS).
- Committed to instigating and maintaining own development.
- Experience of communicating effectively with finance and non-finance colleagues on financial matters offering solutions to problems.
- Intermediate level of understanding of Microsoft Excel, including the use of inbuilt tools to automate tasks.
- Detailed understanding of accounting procedures (e. g. reconciliation and balances, finance computer systems and ledgers and coding structures).
- Knowledge of legislation as it affects own finance area.
- Provide advice on complex financial and corporate issues to non- financial managers.
- Communicate effectively at all levels, both orally and in writing, recognising the differing needs of the audience, and respond appropriately with tact & diplomacy over contentious issues.
- Participate in regular meetings and encourage others to offer ideas.
- Exposure to occasional emotional circumstances and empathise and deal with angry or upset colleagues.
- Discuss financial queries with staff and other stakeholders which are often complex or contentious / sensitive.
- Provide and present financial and other information effectively and professionally.
- Make judgements involving complex facts or situations, requiring the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of information.
- Analyse and interpret financial transactions.
- Investigate complex financial queries and analyse detailed data to identify errors/discrepancies
- Carry out complex financial calculations.
- Plan and organise activities or programmes, to deliver tasks to the required timetable.
- Plan monthly workload to positively impact across the department & the organisation.
- Contribute to the overall financial strategy and finance accreditation.
- Work on own initiative and lead by example.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods (inputting, validating and financial data analysis).
- Light physical effort required - sitting, standing, walking and driving / travelling.
- Use of PC / Laptop / display screen equipment continuously.
- Input of financial data into computer databases and spreadsheets, where speed and accuracy are necessary.
- Concentration required when inputting data, checking and reconciling information, making calculations and when answering queries from staff, stakeholders.
- Occasional requirement to concentrate for long periods when inputting data and when analysing data/statistics.
- Requirement to switch tasks at short notice.
- Office conditions may vary from time to time (eg. open plan, single office).
- Requirement to work flexibly, including working on-site depending on the requirements of the role or the wider team at any particular time.
- Requirement to attend face to face meetings and other activities (eg training, stock takes).
- Requirement to attend virtual (MS Teams) meetings when working from home and be present and available during office hours.
- Propose changes to working practices and procedures (e. g. when planning for the impact of new legislation).
- Implements procedures set by others.
- Allocate work to more junior staff in the section
- Provide induction training for trainees, new members of staff/day to day team management including e. g. recruitment (or assisting with recruitment), appraisal, discipline, training, delegation.
- Work within policies and procedures (work is managed rather than supervised).
- Behave in a way that is consistent with the Trust's Team NUH behavioural standards.

Desirable criteria
- Accountancy qualification (AAT or equivalent).
- NHS Finance experience.
- Working knowledge of Oracle general ledger systems.
- Experience of using automated processes to improve efficiency.

- With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
- Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
- Flexible working,