Cost Accountant

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 4,000 - 6,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a dynamic Band 4/5 Cost Accountant to join their team in a full-time role. The ideal candidate should have a minimum of five GCSEs including Maths and English, and good knowledge of IT systems, particularly Excel. Previous experience in NHS finance is preferred. Key responsibilities include supporting the development of costing systems and ensuring data accuracy. The role comes with a 15% High Cost Area Supplement in addition to the base salary.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Proactive health and wellbeing support

Supportive networks for staff

Qualifications

• Experience of working in an NHS Finance Environment.
• Experience using accounting systems.
• Good working knowledge of IT systems, particularly Excel.

Responsibilities

• Support development of Patient Level Costing.
• Ensure timely presentation of costing information.
• Manage data and information accurately.
• Review quality of data provided from costing systems.

Skills

Strong numerical skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Good IT skills

Analytical skills

Education

Minimum five GCSEs including Maths & English

Studying towards CCAB professional accountancy qualification

Tools

Accounting systems

Costing systems

Job description

Joining #TeamNELFT means you'll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We are CQC rated Good and we are working towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

We have award‑winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Job overview

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to join our team as a Band 4/5 Cost Accountant. We are open to offering this as a Band 4 developmental opportunity. The role is full‑time, based at our office in Rainham. AAT qualified or working towards qualification and a good working knowledge of IT systems, particularly Excel, is required. Previous finance experience in an NHS environment is an advantage, although not essential, as appropriate training will be available. Business‑partnering experience is also an advantage.

Main duties of the job

• Support development of Patient Level Costing by ensuring that all necessary data is captured and that the information is presented in an appropriate format for a broad range of staff.
• Be an exemplar of the Trust’s costing system; model, develop and ensure the Trust is always working with the latest version.
• Support and develop the National Cost & PLICs collection both internally and externally.
• Continuously develop systems and procedures to improve accuracy and reliability of outputs.
• Manage data and information accurately and completely using the latest versions of policies and procedures in manual and electronic systems.
• Continually review the quality of data provided/downloaded from the costing system, working closely with Business Partners and Information staff to constantly improve and enhance the data.

Working for our organisation

Our Values 2025 - 2030
We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities. These three values help us to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT
All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undergo a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and allocation of equipment.

Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period unless they are part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff.

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London
This post also attracts payment for a High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum £4,714, maximum £5,941 per annum, pro rata for part time).

Person specification

Qualifications

• Minimum five GCSEs including Maths & English.
• Studying towards CCAB professional accountancy qualification (desirable).

Experience

• Experience of working in an NHS Finance Environment with examples.
• Previous experience of using accounting systems with examples.
• Previous experience of using a costing system with examples (desirable).

Knowledge

• An understanding of the key principles of Costing.
• Experience in analysing patient data.
• Experience in variance analysis and investigation.

Skills

• Strong numerical, written and verbal skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and adjust to changing requirements.
• Good IT skills including creating and maintaining spreadsheets.
• Ability to deliver accurate, quality work within agreed timescales.

Benefits

• A long‑standing and award‑winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long‑term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
• Work‑life balance through flexible working opportunities and support for working parents and carers.
• Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
• Details of our wellbeing and benefits offer are available on request.

Equal opportunities employer

We are a Disability Confident employer and a commitment to employing more people with disabilities. If you require this application in another format (Braille or audio tape) please contact the recruitment team on 0300 300 1530 or email [e-mail].

Documents to download

• JD Band 4/5 Cost Accountant (PDF, 424.4KB)
• Candidate Recruitment Pack (PDF, 671.2KB)
• Acceptable Use of AI in Recruitment (PDF, 3.9MB)