Associate Care Group Accountant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Darlington; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Darlington is seeking an Associate Care Group Accountant to provide financial support and guidance. This role involves leading a small team to deliver high-quality financial advice and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Applicants should have a CCAB qualification or equivalent NHS financial experience and strong analytical skills. A flexible working environment is offered, including remote work options.

Benefits

Warm and welcoming environment

Agile working policy

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant equivalent NHS financial management experience.
• Experience in a finance function with computerised finance systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial management and business advice to Clinical Care Groups.
• Supervise the financial management team ensuring high-quality advice.

Skills

Excellent numerical skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Ability to work autonomously

Education

CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist

Tools

Microsoft Excel

General Ledger accounting software

Job description

Recruiter County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a suitablyexperienced and motivated Associate Care Group Accountant to join oursuccessful team, award winning Financial Management function at County Durhamand Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The role is a key part of our finance team providingfinancial support and guidance to the organisation and supporting the financialstrategy of the department. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who ispassionate about what they do in order to support delivering the best care forpatients.

In return we will offer you a warm and welcoming environmentwhere you will be fully supported.

We operate an agile working policy, whereby, the team arebased on site for a proportion of the week and have the option to work at home,for 2 days per week, on a rota basis.

We are an ACCA approved employer, CIMA premier partner and aMember of the AAT Employer Scheme.Alongside this, department is One NHS Finance Future Focussed FinanceLevel 2 accredited.

This role is positioned to enable excellentdevelopmental and career progression opportunitie

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work alongside the Care GroupAccountant, within a smaller team of 5 or 6 people, to provide a comprehensivefinancial management and business advice service to Clinical Care Groups.

The role will support the Care Group Accountant, AssociateDirector of Financial Management and Care Group budget managers to meet theiroverall service and business objectives within the resources allocated to themand to ensure corporate finance responsibilities are delivered.

To supervise, manage and motivate the financial managementteam to ensure delivery of high quality and timely financial advice &information.

To participate in the continuous improvement of thefinancial management team.

In order to apply, you should be CCAB passed finalist orhave significant equivalent NHS financial management experience. You will haveexcellent numerical and analytical skills and possess the ability to workautonomously, achieve deadlines and prioritise workloads of yourself and the team.

Significant experience in Microsoft Excel and agood understanding of general ledger accounting software would be an advantage.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Job description

Job responsibilities

usiness Advice and Planning

Through the provision of expert, high quality, timely,financial and business advice the Care Group Accountant will take leadresponsibility for the Clinical Care Groups use of financial resources and theachievement of the Care Groups financial objectives and thereby assist theCare Groups in the achievement of their activity, access, quality and workforcetargets as set by the Trust Board through the operational planning framework.More specifically this will include advising on:

the financial and economicimplications of national and local policies, targets and procedures

thedevelopment and implementation of longer term operational & financialplanning which is consistent with current spending review settlements for theNHS.

developmentof schemes to support delivery of their IQEW targets (Improving QualityEliminating Waste)

Supportingthe care group in the active pursuit of opportunities to increase and protectincome & market share incl the accurate assessment of income andexpenditure implications of such proposed service developments / growth.

Financial Control

The Care Group Accountant will maintain the Trustsfinancial performance framework, ensuring financial control is maintained atCare Group and Departmental level through:

Ensuingthe division is aware, adequately trained and adheres to the Standing FinancialInstructions of the trust

monitoringactual performance against income, expenditure and cost reduction targets

forecastingof future performance and assessment of associated financial risk

conciseand accurate reporting of financial performance up to Care Group Management andthe Trust Board, to assist decision making at all levels

disseminatingkey messages to Care Group and Departmental staff, including challengingrelevant individuals when required

developmentand implementation of action plans to address poor performance

escalationto senior management where performance does not improve or where financial riskis increasing despite these measures being put in place.

Efficiency and Productivity Improvement

The Care Group Accountant will actively seek opportunitiesto drive the improvements expected by the Trust Board in clinical efficiencyand productivity, and will assist Care Groups in developing and implementingstrategies to achieve these aims, for example through:

the rapiddevelopment of Service Line Reporting through clinical engagement to providerobust financial intelligence at granular service level and longer term atindividual patient level

Identificationof areas of waste and inefficiency

benchmarkingagainst best practice

developmentof care group scorecards.

Management of the Finance Team

The Care Group Accountant will supervise, manage andmotivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of high quality andtimely financial advice & information. More specifically this will include:

leadingon staff appointment, development, training and education including annualappraisals, giving advice and guidance on career development, and contributionto the professional training of team members via the Financial ManagementTraining Scheme.

leading,alongside the other Care Group & Corporate Accountants, a process ofcontinuous improvement at all levels in the department, which will contributeto increased productivity within the team, and to improving the quality andusefulness of financial and business advice and information provided to theClinical Care Groups and Corporate Divisional teams.

Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities

To leadthe annual budget setting process for their areas of responsibility, ensuringthat budgets reflect service requirements whilst at the same time stayingwithin the Trusts projected resources.

To ensurecompliance with the requirements and deadlines for key financial returns suchas Annual Accounts, Monitor plans and returns, Reference Costs, Tariff RoadTesting, freedom of information requests, liaison with internal/external auditetc

Tocontribute to the development of Service Line Management, through Service LineReporting, care group and departmental P&Ls, and patient level costing

Tocontribute to the development of the financial skills and business awareness ofclinical staff in order to maximise the potential for improvement in clinicalquality, operational efficiency & financial performance resulting fromdecisions made at divisional level.

Toperform any other duties as may be delegated from time to time.

Job description
Job responsibilities

usiness Advice and Planning

Through the provision of expert, high quality, timely,financial and business advice the Care Group Accountant will take leadresponsibility for the Clinical Care Groups use of financial resources and theachievement of the Care Groups financial objectives and thereby assist theCare Groups in the achievement of their activity, access, quality and workforcetargets as set by the Trust Board through the operational planning framework.More specifically this will include advising on:

the financial and economicimplications of national and local policies, targets and procedures

thedevelopment and implementation of longer term operational & financialplanning which is consistent with current spending review settlements for theNHS.

developmentof schemes to support delivery of their IQEW targets (Improving QualityEliminating Waste)

Supportingthe care group in the active pursuit of opportunities to increase and protectincome & market share incl the accurate assessment of income andexpenditure implications of such proposed service developments / growth.

Financial Control

The Care Group Accountant will maintain the Trustsfinancial performance framework, ensuring financial control is maintained atCare Group and Departmental level through:

Ensuingthe division is aware, adequately trained and adheres to the Standing FinancialInstructions of the trust

monitoringactual performance against income, expenditure and cost reduction targets

forecastingof future performance and assessment of associated financial risk

conciseand accurate reporting of financial performance up to Care Group Management andthe Trust Board, to assist decision making at all levels

disseminatingkey messages to Care Group and Departmental staff, including challengingrelevant individuals when required

developmentand implementation of action plans to address poor performance

escalationto senior management where performance does not improve or where financial riskis increasing despite these measures being put in place.

Efficiency and Productivity Improvement

The Care Group Accountant will actively seek opportunitiesto drive the improvements expected by the Trust Board in clinical efficiencyand productivity, and will assist Care Groups in developing and implementingstrategies to achieve these aims, for example through:

the rapiddevelopment of Service Line Reporting through clinical engagement to providerobust financial intelligence at granular service level and longer term atindividual patient level

Identificationof areas of waste and inefficiency

benchmarkingagainst best practice

developmentof care group scorecards.

Management of the Finance Team

The Care Group Accountant will supervise, manage andmotivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of high quality andtimely financial advice & information. More specifically this will include:

leadingon staff appointment, development, training and education including annualappraisals, giving advice and guidance on career development, and contributionto the professional training of team members via the Financial ManagementTraining Scheme.

leading,alongside the other Care Group & Corporate Accountants, a process ofcontinuous improvement at all levels in the department, which will contributeto increased productivity within the team, and to improving the quality andusefulness of financial and business advice and information provided to theClinical Care Groups and Corporate Divisional teams.

Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities

To leadthe annual budget setting process for their areas of responsibility, ensuringthat budgets reflect service requirements whilst at the same time stayingwithin the Trusts projected resources.

To ensurecompliance with the requirements and deadlines for key financial returns suchas Annual Accounts, Monitor plans and returns, Reference Costs, Tariff RoadTesting, freedom of information requests, liaison with internal/external auditetc

Tocontribute to the development of Service Line Management, through Service LineReporting, care group and departmental P&Ls, and patient level costing

Tocontribute to the development of the financial skills and business awareness ofclinical staff in order to maximise the potential for improvement in clinicalquality, operational efficiency & financial performance resulting fromdecisions made at divisional level.

Toperform any other duties as may be delegated from time to time.

Person Specification

Special Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Communication & Relationship Skills
• Able to advise finance and non finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
• The ability to advise, influence and negotiate with staff at all levels within and outside the Trust. This will include the presentation of complex financial and non financial information to non financial managers, occasionally in large groups.
• Understands, and can effectively convey current financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Analytical & Judgement Skills
• Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
• Planning & Organisation Skills
• Ability to plan and manage the workload of own team, to ensure workload is delivered to a high quality within deadlines.
• Governance and Risk Management
• Advises others on compliance with the Corporate Governance Manual (e.g. Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation, Standing Orders) and applies the principes of accountability, transparency, integrity and the public good to all activitied eithin own area
• Supervises others in their compliance with financial policies and procedures
• Support and promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
• Customer Focused Business Advice
• Has a wider awareness of the organisation and its position in the marketplace and uses this to challende processes and data in order to make improvements.
• Supports in the generation and interpretation of financial information to assist the Care Group understand itself more fully
• Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided within own role/team and finance department as a whole.
• Using Information Technology
• Uses IT to gather, interpret and manipulate information to meet the needs of the Care Group
• Mental & Physical Attributes
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to cope with rapid and sustained change
• Capable of working independently
• Able to work under pressure and deliver high quality work within challenging deadlines
• Interpersonal Skills
• Clear and effective communication and presentation skills.
• Good people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
• Good influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
• Good written communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
• Experience/knowledge of the NHS financial regime, including capital accounting, payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
• Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a finance function
• Experience of using computerised finance systems; General Ledger & report writing software.
• Experience of Microsoft Office software applications
• Experience in advising finance and non finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
• Knowledge, experience and expertise in finance management and staff management.

Desirable

• Exposure to working mid- management level
• Experience of working within NHS finance
• Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
• Experience/Knowledge of the NHS Financial regime, including capital accounting, the payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
• Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
• Experience of using Oracle General Ledger and Discoverer

Special Requirements

Essential

• A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working / improving performance.
• Full driving licence and use of car during business hours.

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist or significant equivalent NHS Financial Management Experience

Desirable

• Clear Plan of working towards CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or evidence of continued professional development

Person Specification
Special Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Communication & Relationship Skills
• Able to advise finance and non finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
• The ability to advise, influence and negotiate with staff at all levels within and outside the Trust. This will include the presentation of complex financial and non financial information to non financial managers, occasionally in large groups.
• Understands, and can effectively convey current financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Analytical & Judgement Skills
• Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
• Planning & Organisation Skills
• Ability to plan and manage the workload of own team, to ensure workload is delivered to a high quality within deadlines.
• Governance and Risk Management
• Advises others on compliance with the Corporate Governance Manual (e.g. Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation, Standing Orders) and applies the principes of accountability, transparency, integrity and the public good to all activitied eithin own area
• Supervises others in their compliance with financial policies and procedures
• Support and promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
• Customer Focused Business Advice
• Has a wider awareness of the organisation and its position in the marketplace and uses this to challende processes and data in order to make improvements.
• Supports in the generation and interpretation of financial information to assist the Care Group understand itself more fully
• Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided within own role/team and finance department as a whole.
• Using Information Technology
• Uses IT to gather, interpret and manipulate information to meet the needs of the Care Group
• Mental & Physical Attributes
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to cope with rapid and sustained change
• Capable of working independently
• Able to work under pressure and deliver high quality work within challenging deadlines
• Interpersonal Skills
• Clear and effective communication and presentation skills.
• Good people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
• Good influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
• Good written communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
• Experience/knowledge of the NHS financial regime, including capital accounting, payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
• Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a finance function
• Experience of using computerised finance systems; General Ledger & report writing software.
• Experience of Microsoft Office software applications
• Experience in advising finance and non finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
• Knowledge, experience and expertise in finance management and staff management.

Desirable

• Exposure to working mid- management level
• Experience of working within NHS finance
• Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
• Experience/Knowledge of the NHS Financial regime, including capital accounting, the payment by results process, costing and information processes within the NHS.
• Knowledge / experience of recruitment, appraisal, delegation, training, staff discipline and relevant HR policies and procedures
• Experience of using Oracle General Ledger and Discoverer

Special Requirements

Essential

• A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working / improving performance.
• Full driving licence and use of car during business hours.

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or passed finalist or significant equivalent NHS Financial Management Experience

Desirable

• Clear Plan of working towards CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification or evidence of continued professional development

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.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Employer's website