Finance Assistant

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; Newport; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust seeks a Finance Assistant to support the busy Management Accountant in the Finance Department, handling routine financial queries and assisting with analysis and reporting.

You will contribute to expenditure/income monitoring, budgeting, and cost improvement plan processes, working with NHS teams. Strong GCSE, IT skills, and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• GCSE level or equivalent; IT qualification preferred; NHS experience beneficial.
• Basic accounting knowledge and forecasting skills as part of NHS finance.
• Experience communicating financial information to non-financial managers; strong communication is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist Management Accountants with financial analysis to inform management decisions.
• Support expenditure and income monitoring for both Trusts.
• Assist with budgeting and cost improvement plan monitoring.
• Communicate routine financial information to service managers; defer to senior staff for complex costing.
• Collaborate with Planning & Analytics to disseminate income and costing information.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Flexibility

Forecasting

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

IT qualification (MS Office and Oracle)

High-level business qualification / NHS experience

Tools

MS Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Oracle

Job description

To provide a comprehensive and effective administrative service to support the smooth and efficient running of the busy Management Accountant within the Finance Department and to be part of a multidisciplinary team delivering a high-quality service to both Trusts. To support the Management Accountants in the completion of financial analysis to inform management decisions. To support the development, implementation and monitoring of expenditure and income processes on behalf of both Trusts, as required. To support the Management Accountants in the development, implementation and monitoring of Cost Improvement Plans to aid the delivery of the Financial Strategy of both Trusts. To support the annual budget setting process in conjunction with, and in support of, the Operating Plan and Cost Improvement Plan., The Finance Assistant will discuss routine financial, income, expenditure and costing queries with staff, budget holders and external partners. The Finance Assistant will communicate routine details to service users but will defer to more senior staff for complex costing issues. Discussions may sometimes be sensitive and contentious. NHS income and expenditure is subject to external scrutiny and the Finance Assistant will be required to assist with the provision of information to regulatory bodies. The Finance Assistant will, in conjunction with the Management Accountants, be responsible for the dissemination of financial information to service managers. The Finance Assistant will, in conjunction with the Planning & Analytics team, be responsible for the dissemination of income and costing information to service managers. For full job details and person specification please refer to attached Job Description. Job description, The Finance Assistant will discuss routine financial, income, expenditure and costing queries with staff, budget holders and external partners. The Finance Assistant will communicate routine details to service users but will defer to more senior staff for complex costing issues. Discussions may sometimes be sensitive and contentious. NHS income and expenditure is subject to external scrutiny and the Finance Assistant will be required to assist with the provision of information to regulatory bodies. The Finance Assistant will, in conjunction with the Management Accountants, be responsible for the dissemination of financial information to service managers. The Finance Assistant will, in conjunction with the Planning & Analytics team, be responsible for the dissemination of income and costing information to service managers. For full job details and person specification please refer to attached Job Description.

Essential

• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent)
• IT qualification, preferably in the use of Microsoft Office and Oracle (or equivalent software)
• Relevant high level business qualification and/or equivalent NHS work experience.
• The post holder is required to have basic knowledge of health service financial management information analysis and the use of information across the NHS.
• Basic accounting skills and forecasting skills.
• Evidence of communication skills with non-financial managers on financial issues.

Experience Essential

• Computer skills including excel spreadsheet and database techniques.

Desirable

• Experience of health sector issues across organisational and geographical boundaries.
• Experience of working within a NHS organisation., Full working knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to interpret and present complex, sensitive, contentious or technical information in a user-friendly and understandable manner.
• Being flexible and adaptable at work in order to meet competing priorities.
• Track record of delivery of objectives to tight deadlines.
• Highly developed ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Political awareness in managing sensitive policy issues in confidence.

Desirable

• Overall understanding of current health service sector issues.
• Knowledge of management accounting techniques and working with the general ledger.

Working as a partnership, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust have a shared vision for excellence in care for our patients and communities; with a set of strategic aims underpinning how we will achieve this.

The single corporate service is delivered across both organisations. You may be based at either IWT or PHU and individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staff across multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in person leadership. The arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally.