Assistant Head of Accounting

NHS; Carmarthen; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in the UK seeks an experienced Assistant Head of Accounting to manage the Core Accounting Team, ensuring compliance with financial policies and driving process improvements. Desired qualifications include a CCAB or CIMA qualification and experience managing large teams within the NHS. A proactive attitude towards problem-solving is essential. The role is located in Carmarthen and offers a salary up to £55,532 per annum.

Qualifications

• Proven managerial experience and expertise.
• Knowledge of integrated financial systems.
• Experience in process improvement project management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Manage financial controls and audit processes.
• Project manage process improvements and streamline operations.

Skills

Experience of managing staff

Excellent communication skills

Proactive problem solving

Supportive of financial controls

Education

CCAB or CIMA qualification

Tools

Oracle System Accounting

P2P System reporting

Job description

Job summary

Are you a dynamic and experienced finance accounting professional (fully qualified CCAB/CIMA individual) ready to lead the delivery of a high-quality fast paced finance function?

Hywel Dda University Health Board is looking for an Assistant Head of Accounting to join our Core Accounting Team supporting the Deputy Head of the Core Accounting Team to ensure the integrity and compliance of our financial operations. You will manage the financial feeders and debtors' team. A robust feeders process is crucial for ensuring accurate, timely, and complete financial information for reporting and decision-making.

We are looking for

• Experience of managing staff
• Excellent communication skills
• A proactive response to problem solving and driving best practice
• Supportive of financial controls, audit processes, and year-end reporting

Main duties of the job

By way of summary, the key responsibilities of this role include: Supporting the Deputy Head of the Core Accounting Team to ensure the integrity of all accounting entries transacted into the accounting ledger.

You will ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures, manage financial controls, and audit processes and support the year-end financial processes, which will include liaising with the external auditors.

You will have a proven track record of managing a large team. This will include being responsible for the allocation of workloads and balancing competing demands within the team that can change at very short notice.

Working under your own initiative to drive good practice and compliance with financial procedures and policies.

Maintain and foster excellent professional relationships and strong lines of communication with internal departments and external partners, such as service providers and the external auditors.

Project manage the process improvement agenda streamlining areas of work and automating manual tasks to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Contribute to the positive culture, governance, and control environment of the team through maintaining high standards of working practices and leading the team by example whilst developing and implementing new continuous change improvements.

Previous financial experience in the NHS is desirable for this role.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices; dental practices; 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Details

Date posted: 29 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £48,527 to £55,532 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 100-AC149-0625-D

Job locations: Tŷ Gorwel, St David's Park, Jobs Well Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3HB

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace bilingualism and welcomes applications from Welsh speakers. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements, the Health Board offers learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during employment. Interviews will be held on 24/11/2025.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Essential: CCAB or CIMA qualification
• Essential: Experience at management level with proven professional and managerial experience and expertise
• Essential: Knowledge of integrated financial systems
• Desirable: Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
• Desirable: Knowledge of Oracle System Accounting
• Desirable: Knowledge of P2P (Purchase to Pay) System reporting

Experience

• Essential: Experience in process improvement project management
• Essential: Experience of managing a large team
• Essential: Experience of delivering within challenging deadlines
• Essential: Demonstrable track record of career advancement and achievement
• Essential: Experience of managing change and associated behaviours
• Essential: Previous experience of working with substantial data sets
• Desirable: Previous financial experience in the NHS

Other

• Able to work flexible hours around key reporting milestones
• Able to travel between sites and to All Wales meetings in a timely manner
• Committed and self-motivated
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Compliance and sponsorship

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure check will be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Note: information provided here reflects guidance and formal requirements.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer: Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address: Tŷ Gorwel, St David's Park, Jobs Well Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3HB