Capital Accountant

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust; Brierley Hill; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Capital Accountant to lead capital accounting, ensure correct VAT treatment, and develop the capital framework within a large NHS finance team. The role requires a qualified accountant with substantial post-qualification NHS experience and strong governance skills.

The post holder will oversee the annual capital programme and medium-term plan, work with external auditors, and support capital project managers on

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience in financial management.
• Experience in complex NHS financial environments is essential.
• Ability to provide specialist capital accounting advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical financial / accounting guidance to Directors and project managers on capital accounting.
• Lead development of the capital accounting framework, policies, and controls.
• Develop and monitor the annual capital programme and mid-term capital investment plan.
• Analyse capital investments and advise on affordability and risk for senior management.
• Support capital project managers with capital ordering and accounting processes.

Skills

Professional accounting qualification

Post-qualification experience

Education

Professional accounting qualification (CIMA, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent)

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Capital Accountant to join our well established Finance Team.

The successful applicant has lead financial responsibility for monitoringand managing the Trust's annual capital programme and medium-term capitalinvestment programme, comprising a significant portfolio of capital schemes andassociated capital resources.

Applicants must be a professionally qualified accountant (CIMA, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent) along with having significant post qualification experience in financial management / accountancy including substantial experience of working in a complex NHS financial environment.

Please note, artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting ideas and experiences of others or generated by AI as your own) applications may be withdrawn.

**In person interviews will be held in Brierley Hill on Thursday 22nd October 2026**

Main duties of the job

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible workplace for everyone where our colleagues feel empowered to succeed.

Each person plays a vital part to ensuring our organisation meets the differing needs of our communities ultimately enabling us to save lives. We acknowledge that a workforce that reflects the communities that it serves provide better patient care and we are therefore looking for self-motivated, enthusiastic people from all backgrounds that care about making a difference to our patients.

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity at all levels. We are proud to have maintained Disability Confident Leader status and as part of our commitments to this we guarantee to invite all applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role to attend assessment or interview. If you have a disability or learning difficulty, and prefer to disclose it, please feel free to do so in your application. You can also contact the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail] if you wish to have a confidential discussion. We use this information, with your permission, to ensure you are fully supported during the recruitment process.

The Trust is proud to hold the Silver Award for a Dyslexia Friendly workplace and are committed to supporting our Armed Forces community and have signed up to the Step Into Health initiative. We welcome applications from Armed Forces Veterans and Service leavers.

About us

If this position involves a regulated activity it will require an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. The disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children, adults or both

Where a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for the post, all applicants are required to cover the cost of the check.

The cost of a Standard or Basic check is £22.76 and is payable to our online provider at the time that the DBS application is submitted.

We do endeavour to respond to all candidates on an individual basis. Therefore we do ask for your co‑operation and patience whilst the short listing process takes place. After the closing date please ensure you check your emails (including junk mail) regularly as contact is usually made via this method.

We are proud to offer flexible working options to support our colleagues to have a greater choice in when, where and how they work. During your interview we will explore this with you and discuss your individual needs and how this could be facilitated for this role to benefit patient experience, service delivery and the work-life balance of colleagues.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specialist advice, guidance

Provide technical financial / accounting advice and guidance to Directors, Senior Managers, project managers and the FIG on all aspects of capital accounting.

Review all capital expenditure to ensure the correct accounting treatment is applied.

Ensure VAT is recovered where eligible, in accordance with current VAT legislation liaising with specialist VAT advisors as required

Liaise with external auditors and other professional advisors with respect to transactions whose nature requires highly specialist technical advice with regard to accounting treatment.

Lead the development and review of the Trust's capital accounting framework, policies, procedures and financial controls, identifying areas requiring change as a result of developments in accounting standards, NHS financial policy, regulatory requirements, audit findings and organisational priorities.

Develop recommendations for changes to capital financial governance and present these to the appropriate senior management and governance forums for approval

Provide input and advice on capital accounting, investment options and modelling in the appraisal of new capital schemes.

Provide capital Project Managers and other non-finance staff with advice and guidance on the capital ordering and capital accounting processes.

Capital Planning

Develop and maintain the financial framework and timetable for capital planning, business-case development, approval, monitoring and year-end delivery.

Lead the development of the Trust's annual capital programme and medium-term capital investment plan, assessing competing investment requirements, affordability, available capital resources, delivery capacity, financial risks and the alignment of proposed investments with Trust strategy.

Responsibility for setting, maintaining and monitoring the financial profile of the capital programme within the overall capital resource allocation approved by the Trust.

Formulate and recommend changes to capital budgets, expenditure profiles and forecasts within delegated authority

Implement NHSE annual and medium-term capital planning guidance requirements

Capital Reporting

Analyse highly complex financial, accounting and business information relating to capital investment proposals and provide expert recommendations on financial, accounting, affordability and resource implications.

Maintain oversight of the financial position of the Trust's portfolio of capital schemes and advise senior management on affordability, prioritisation and delivery

Prepare capital expenditure analysis for the FIG and for external reporting to NHSE via monthly monitoring returns.

Trust Capital Expenditure Control Totals

Identify emerging financial risks within the capital programme and determine corrective action, escalating only matters requiring senior management or executive decision, to ensure the Trust remains within its Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL)

Financial Management and investment decisions

Evaluate complex capital business cases, challenge assumptions, assess risks and benefits, and advise senior managers and FIG on preferred options.

Challenge capital project managers, budget holders and senior managers where proposed expenditure, project scope, financial assumptions, forecasts or delivery timescales create financial, affordability or capital-resource risks. Require appropriate corrective action within the post holder's delegated authority and elevate unresolved matters to the appropriate senior management.