Associate Care Group Accountant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the United Kingdom is seeking an Associate Care Group Accountant to join its Financial Management team. The role involves supporting the delivery of financial planning, reporting, and managing a small finance team. The ideal candidate should have a CCAB qualification or equivalent NHS experience and strong analytical skills. This position offers an inclusive environment and opportunities for professional development, making a significant impact on patient care while ensuring strong financial stewardship.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Agile working approach

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a finance function.
• Experience in advising finance and non-finance managers.
• Knowledge of the NHS financial regime.

Responsibilities

• Support financial planning and control for care groups.
• Provide advice on financial policies and procedures.
• Supervise and motivate the financial management team.

Skills

Financial management

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

General ledger accounting software

Job description

Associate Care Group Accountant

Closing date is 16 February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our award winning Financial Management team at CDDFT.

We are seeking a motivated and ambitious Associate Care Group Accountant who wants to make a real impact, support high quality patient care, and contribute to the Trust's strong financial leadership.

You will be joining us at a constructive and forward looking moment. As part of our continued commitment to excellence, we are strengthening our finance function. This is a stable, supportive team with experienced leaders, clear direction, and a strong focus on staff development.

You will support the delivery of high quality financial insight, analysis and reporting that informs decision making and helps ensure strong financial stewardship.

You will benefit from an inclusive and welcoming environment, ongoing professional development and the flexibility of our agile working approach. We are proud to be the first organisation in the North East to achieve Level 3 accreditation under One NHS Finance, and to hold CIMAPremier Partner, ACCA Approved Employer (Gold) and AAT Employer Scheme status reflecting our commitment to developing our people and building a vibrant, forward‑thinking team.

Main duties of the job

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

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

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

To participate in the continuous improvement of the financial management team.

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

Significant experience in Microsoft Excel and a good 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.

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

Job responsibilities

The Associate Clinical Care Group Accountant will support the Care Group Accountant in the delivery of financial planning and control, financial performance and financial reporting for a section of the care groups budget allocation.

In the discharge of his/her duties the post holder will be expected to communicate closely and effectively with care group & other service managers, as well as with other equivalent members of other NHS or external agencies. The post holder will represent the care group accountant at sub committees of the care group as directed.

To provide advice to the Care Group Managers, Care Group Accountant, Department Heads and other staff in the Care Group, on the financial and economic implications of management policy and action, suggesting and implementing financial policies and procedures as required in line with the Trust's constitution, standing financial instructions and scheme of delegation.

To oversee the monthly reporting process and ensure relevant deadlines are met including ensuring financial systems and processes are maintained to a high standard e.g. procedure notes are in place and monitored on a regular basis.

To work alongside other Associate Care Group Accountants to review, develop and maintain systems of reporting financial performance ensuring a culture of continuous improvement exists at all levels in the department contributing to increased productivity, quality and usefulness of financial & business advice & information to divisional teams.

Day‑to‑day management of the financial management team, taking a lead with their appointment, development, training and education. This will involve carrying out annual appraisals giving advice and guidance on their career development, other issues including professional training.

To attend regular meetings with Care Group staff as required, including deputising for the Care Group Accountant.

To regularly monitor, report and advise on the current & forecast financial performance of the Care Group, challenging and influencing Care Group Managers when required, to ensure the achievement of financial targets through the development & implementation of agreed action plans.

To provide financial support, during the Care Groups business planning and contracting process. This will involve analysing and interpreting financial data and making judgements on the financial and economic effects of developments - both revenue, capital and advising on any potential efficiencies and risks.

To lead the Care Groups annual budget setting process, supporting the Care Group Accountant in ensuring that Divisional plans and objectives are achievable within resources allocated, including the identification of necessary improvement in levels of efficiency and that these are reflected in well developed cost improvement action plans.

To contribute to the development of the financial skills and business awareness of clinical staff in order to maximise the potential for improvement in clinical quality, operational efficiency & financial performance resulting from decisions made at divisional level.

To support the information requirements of key financial returns such as - completion of statutory returns, final accounts, Monitor plans and returns, freedom of information requests, liaison with internal/external audit etc.

To provide support to the Contracting and Development team in the annual costing submission(s) and to effectively utilise and improve the Trust's patient level costing tool by supporting the care group in identifying variation to explore efficiencies.

To perform any other duties as may be delegated from time to time. The post holder will be expected to work as part of the overall finance department and will be expected to develop a close working relationship with other Finance Staff.

The post holder will be required to work, liaise and communicate with a wide range of individuals and teams within the trust from all levels of seniority, and from all professional backgrounds, up to trust board level.

There will be regular contact with users of the service outwith CDDFT Finance and the post holder must establish effective working relationships with key personnel of varying seniority.

The post holder will be expected to work within the wider financial community as required and join appropriate network groups.

The post holder will attend meetings as required and will be expected to prepare and present reports for staff at all levels.

The post holder must adhere to all Trust confidentiality policies and procedures.

The post holder will be expected to follow the principles of being a Great Line Manager and specifically be aware of, understand, and apply fair employment policies/practices, and equality and diversity principles and legal obligations.

Person Specification

Experience

• 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.
• 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 Skills & Knowledge

• 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 principles of accountability, transparency, integrity and the public good to all activities within 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 challenge 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
• 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

Special Requirements

• A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working / improving performance.
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of this post

Qualifications

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust