Finance Assistant

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; Sunderland, Swindon; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is recruiting a Finance Assistant to join the finance team. This Band 4 role provides essential administrative support to the Management Accountant across both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, with duties spanning analysis, budgeting, and cost improvement activities.

The post supports income and expenditure processes and requires strong MS Office skills and NHS financial awareness.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent).
• IT qualification; proficient in Microsoft Office and Oracle.
• High level business qualification or NHS experience.
• Basic knowledge of health service financial management information analysis.
• Basic accounting and forecasting skills.
• Strong communication with non-financial managers on financial issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the Management Accountant within Finance.
• Support financial analysis to inform management decisions.
• Assist with expenditure and income processes for both trusts.
• Support Cost Improvement Plans and budget setting in line with the Operating Plan.
• Liaise with budget holders and external partners; disseminate financial information.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Interpret and present information

Flexibility/adaptability

Delivery under deadlines

Education

GCSE level (or equivalent)

High level business qualification / NHS experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Oracle

Job description

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Finance Assistant

The closing date is 15 November 2026

This vacancy is open to employees of Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust only.

NHS Band 4 Salary:£28,392 - £31,157 per annum

Hours Per Week: Full time 37.5 hrs

Contract Type: Permanent

Location Base: Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Corporate Hub, Block 4000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3EN & St Mary's Hospital, Parkhurst Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5TG

Main duties of the job

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.

About us

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.

Job responsibilities

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 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

• Computer skills including excel spreadsheet and database techniques.
• Experience of health sector issues across organisational and geographical boundaries.
• Experience of working within a NHS organisation.

Skills and Knowledge

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

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Corporate Hub

Block 4000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Cosham

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Corporate Hub

Block 4000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Cosham