Cost Accountant

NHS; Rainham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Band 4/5 Cost Accountant for their finance team in Rainham. The ideal candidate will be AAT qualified or in progress and will possess strong analytical and IT skills, including Excel. The role offers a hybrid working environment and the opportunity for professional development in a supportive setting. Salary ranges from £27,485 to £37,796 annually, plus High Cost Area Supplement.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Comprehensive induction training

Supportive work culture

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or working towards professional accountancy qualification.
• Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths and English.
• Experience in NHS finance or management accounting environment is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support and develop Patient Level Costing.
• Manage data accuracy and reliability.
• Review data quality with Business Partners and Information staff.

Skills

Strong numerical skills

Good IT skills

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Education

AAT qualified

Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths & English

Studying towards CCAB professional accountancy qualification

Tools

Excel

Accounting systems

Costing systems

Job description

Go back NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Cost Accountant

The closing date is 08 December 2025

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.

We are advertising for one full-time post to work in the finance team, based at our office in Rainham.You will ideally be AAT qualified or working towards it and have a good working knowledge of IT systems, particularly Excel. Previous finance experience in an NHS environment is an advantage, although not essential, as appropriate training will be available. Previous finance experience in Business partnering is also an advantage, as you are required to have a full understanding of finance principles.

The role available is hybrid and will cover the borough within NELFT, requiring travel from time to time.

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.

To be an exemplar of the Trusts costing system; to model, develop and ensure the Trust is always working with the latest version.

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have coproduced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently 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 High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 per annum (pro rata for part time).

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post:

• To support and develop the National Cost & PLICs collection both internally and externally.
• To continually develop systems and procedures to improve accuracy and reliability of outputs.
• To 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

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or previous experience of working in an management accounting environment
• minimum of 5 GCSE's including Maths & English
• Studying towards CCAB professional accountancy qualification

Experience Assessment method *

• Experience of working in a NHS Finance Environment with examples
• Previous experience of using accounting systems with examples
• Previous experience of using a costing system with examples

Knowledge

• o An understanding of the key principals of Costing
• o Experience in analysing Patient Data
• o Experience in variance anaylsis 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
• Able to delivery accurate, quality work within agreed timescales

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.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

£27,485 to £37,796 a yearper annum pro rata plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working