Accountant (Technical)

The Methodist Church in Britain; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Personal and professional development

NHS employee benefits and wellbeing

NHS Pension Scheme

Job summary

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB is seeking a technically skilled accountant to join the Finance directorate. The role covers monthly and year-end financial reporting, balance sheet governance and cash forecasting, with a focus on running-cost budgets and strong internal controls.

The post requires a CCAB-qualified accountant with NHS finance experience, capable of working across teams in a flexible, hybrid environment and contributing to policy development and system improvements.

Qualifications

• Masters-level education or equivalent senior specialist experience.
• Qualified CCAB accountant.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly and annual financial reports with accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure IFRS, NHS GAM, HM Treasury guidance compliance and local procedures.
• Oversee balance sheet governance, reconciliations and control accounts.
• Support year-end accounts and external/internal audits.
• Lead cash forecasting and liquidity management including NHS England drawdown.
• Oversee running costs budget management for the ICB.
• Embed strong financial governance and internal controls.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks; escalate issues as needed.
• Support VAT, Better Payment Practice and statutory requirements.
• Contribute to financial policies and procedures; drive process improvement.
• Maintain and improve financial systems such as ISFE2.

Skills

CCAB

Financial reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Masters-level education

Senior specialist experience

Job description

This technical accountant post sits in the Finance directorate of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, which works as one team with NHS Devon's ICB across the peninsula. The role covers monthly and year-end NHS financial reporting, balance sheet control, cash forecasting and running-cost budgets. It is a matrix role, working across several teams, with flexible and hybrid arrangements offered. A qualified CCAB accountant with senior experience of NHS finance is needed.

What the job involves

• Prepare monthly and annual financial reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness and timeliness
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, the NHS Group Accounting Manual, HM Treasury guidance and local Standing Financial Instructions
• Oversee balance sheet governance, including reconciliation and validation of control accounts
• Support year-end accounts and internal and external audit processes
• Lead cash forecasting and liquidity management, including NHS England drawdown and payment arrangements within agreed limits
• Oversee budget management of the ICB's running costs
• Embed strong financial governance and internal controls
• Identify, assess and mitigate financial risks, escalating issues as needed
• Support compliance with Better Payment Practice, VAT and statutory financial requirements
• Contribute to developing and reviewing financial policies and procedures
• Lead or support process improvement and transformation projects, and maintain and improve financial systems such as ISFE2

Qualifications

• Masters-level education or equivalent senior specialist experience
• Qualified CCAB accountant
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Membership of relevant professional bodies, where applicable

Experience

• Monthly financial reporting and annual accounts for NHS organisations
• Managing risks, reporting and overseeing a departmental budget
• Briefing papers and correspondence at SLT or chief officer level
• Managing and motivating a team and reviewing individual performance
• Successful project and programme management
• Identifying and interpreting national policy and researching best practice

Skills & knowledge

• Extensive specialist knowledge from a postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience
• Understanding of how NHS organisations relate to wider system, regional and national bodies
• Significant experience of operating in a politically sensitive environment
• Skilled written and presentation communication, including negotiating with senior stakeholders on sensitive information
• Analysing complex, conflicting information, developing options and taking decisions on contentious issues
• Planning across short, medium and long-term timeframes and acting on incomplete information

What’s offered

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Opportunities for personal and professional development
• Access to NHS employee benefits and wellbeing support
• NHS Pension Scheme