Assistant Divisional Finance Advisor - Band 3/4 Development Post

East Lancashire Hospitals Nhs Trust; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Finance professional to assist the Financial Management team in delivering accurate financial information and support to Divisions. The role involves ensuring timely processing of budgets, journals and reconciliations, plus advisory support to budget managers within the Division.

You will contribute to month-end processes, act on budget movements, and support the Continuous Improvement agenda.

Qualifications

• GCSEs Grade 9-4 or A*-C in Maths and English
• AAT Level 3 qualified or equivalent relevant accountancy related qualification
• Experience in using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels and backgrounds

Responsibilities

• Produce accurate monthly budgetary information and reports
• Report on monthly performance of designated budgets to the DFM/DDFM
• Advise budget managers on a range of budgets within the Division
• Assist with the Trust's Annual Accounts and Returns as required
• Ensure VAT is reclaimed through correct coding

Job description

Job overview

The post holder will assist the Financial Management team in the provision of accurate financial information.

The post holder will ensure that all work is completed, either directly or by staff under their supervision, in line with both local & national timetables and the Trust’s Standing Financial Orders and Instructions

The post holder will be assisting in the provision of a Financial Management service to the Trust’s Divisions. This will involve ensuring that all financial information relating to these Divisions is correctly processed. The post holders will also provide effective financial support and advice to the Divisions

Main duties of the job

Producing and assisting in the development of accurate monthly budgetary and associated information

Reporting to the DDFM upon the monthly performance of a range of designated budgets highlighting any significant movements.

Where appropriate help, support and advise budget managers on a range of budgets within the Division.

Support Innovation and the Finance ‘Continuous Improvement’ Agenda in day to day working.

Working for our organisation

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area.

One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people.

One LSC is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts.

The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Production of accurate monthly budgetary and associated information

• The accurate coding of prime documents including completing expenditure journals and budget journals up to the point of authorisation and posting.
• Action all budget adjustments requested by your senior colleagues
• The calculation of expenditure accruals and recharges, both internal and external.
• The checking of ELFS Shared Services expenditure accruals.
• Ensure that invoice requests are raised promptly for any direct divisional income streams.
• Carry out the reconciliation of the establishments between the Finance ledger system and the Trusts Personnel Information System.
• Inputs and maintains financial information into computer databases and spreadsheets to a high level of efficiency. This will cover both the designated Division and some office wide tasks. Clearing of error suspense and uploading of payroll information is included here.
• Use of various computer systems / software packages for retrieving, analysing and reporting on financial information.
• Send out all relevant month end budget statements and associated information to budget managers in line with the set timetable.
• Maintaining the integrity of the coding structure at all times.
• To assist at an appropriate level, the Head of Financial Management and DDFMs in monitoring key areas of financial performance across the Trust.
• To participate in the Annual Budget Setting exercise in line with Trust guidelines.
• Ensure VAT is reclaimed through correctcoding.
• Carry out delegated tasks to assist with the section’s contribution to the Trust’s Annual Accounts and Returns. This involves NHS year end balances, Management Costs and the subjective analysis.

Reporting to the Divisional Finance Manager (DFM) and Deputy Divisional Finance Manager (DDFM) upon the monthly performance of a range of designated budgets

• Investigate and analyse both budgetary and expenditure information to feedback to the DFM and DDFM.
• Report to the DDFM and DFM upon the monthly performance of a defined range of budgets highlighting any significant movements.
• Produce financial analysis through spreadsheets, databases and ledger report writer to meet the needs of the DDFM and DFM.
• Work with the DDFM and DFM in the annual budget setting process. This involves the re-calculation of budgets within the department guidelines
• Participate in non-routine management accounting duties as requested. These will include such tasks as the costing of skill mix reviews, service development proposals and efficiency schemes

Help, support and advise budget holders on a range of budgets within the Division

• To act as a point of contact to a clearly defined range of budget managers on day-to-day budget issues. This will involve responding to budget managers’ financial queries and information requests. Will be supported by the DDFM / Senior Divisional Finance Advisor (SDFA) and DFM. Parameters to be determined by the DDFM and DFM.
• Expected to attend meetings with budget managers. Will attend such meetings and give financial advice as appropriate. Will be supported by a SDFA, DDFM or DFM.
• Assist in the production of accurate and meaningful financial information to budget managers to enable them to manage their service within the available resources.
• When required, assist in the training of non-financial managers in financial matters.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSEs Grade 9-4 or A*-C in Maths and English BTec, AS or A Level qualification

Desirable criteria

• AAT Level 3 qualified or equivalent relevant accountancy related qualification.

IT Skills

Essential criteria

• Experience in using Microsoft Office. This particularly applies to Excel.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of using finance ledger and other reporting systems.

Experiance

Essential criteria

• Experience of working within a finance department

Desirable criteria

• Familiar with a range of finance procedures.

Communication

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate with confidence with people of all different levels and backgrounds.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of communicating financial matters with non-finance professionals