Financial Accountant Band 7

The Recruitment Co; Belfast; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency seeks a finance professional in Belfast. The role involves assisting with annual accounts, managing audits, and ensuring compliance with financial policies. Candidates should have membership in a professional accounting institute and at least one year of finance experience. Advanced Excel skills are required, along with strong abilities in stakeholder management and leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year’s finance experience after professional accountancy exams.
• Experience working with stakeholders for a minimum of 2 years.
• Demonstrated people management, governance, and leadership skills for at least 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing annual accounts for the Trust.
• Ensure timely completion of government accounts and returns.
• Oversee capital accounting function and asset register maintenance.
• Develop and maintain financial systems and processes.
• Manage internal and external audits.
• Provide support to Trust Committees.

Skills

Influencing and negotiating

Data analysis

Time management

Process evaluation

Staff management and motivation

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Education

Full membership of a professional accounting institute (CCAB or CIMA)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Job description

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Based in Knockbraken, Belfast. 37.5 hrs per week

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the Head Accountant with the preparation and delivery of the annual accounts for the Trust (to include the preparation of individual notes within revenue, charitable funds and patient funds accounts).
• Ensure the completion of Whole of Government Accounts and TFR E&S Returns on an accurate and timely basis.
• Ensure that all tasks and functions within the department are maintained on an ongoing basis throughout the financial year, thus facilitating the completion of the annual accounts and various returns.
• Participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of financial accounting systems and processes to meet the objectives of the post and the wider Finance Directorate.
• Ensure the effective management of the capital accounting function to include the maintenance of the relevant aspects of the asset register.
• Ensure reconciliation and review of control account balances is completed in a timely and accurate manner, including the resolution of balancing items where

required. Ensure that documented system knowledge and reconciliation procedures exist for all control accounts and that these procedures are kept fully up to date.

• Ensure that the interface from the payroll system (HRPTS) to the General Ledger (eFin) is maintained and reconciled, and that processes exist to ensure the timely and effective receipt and application of all related information.
• Assist the Head Accountant with the management of the relationship with the BSO Shared Service functions – Payroll, Accounts Payable and Accounts
• Oversee the management of any Payments and Income function retained within the Finance Directorate.
• Creation, maintenance and updating of all formal and desktop procedures relating to Financial Accounting and Services Department.
• Represent the Finance Directorate on various directorate, Trust and regional working groups as required.
• Liaise with internal and external audit to ensure effective input to audit work and timely implementation of agreed recommendations.
• Assists with providing support to the Trust’s Committees (eg, Audit and Charitable Trust Funds).
• Assist with ensuring that the Trust complies with all statutory and DoH financial policies and guidelines and providing specialist technical accounting advice to the Trust.
• Assist as required with the completion of the Trust monitoring returns for the
• Contributes to the Trust’s overall corporate governance process to ensure compliance with public sector values, codes of conduct and
• To be an authorised cheque signatory in accordance with the Finance Directorate’s procedure.

Experience

Qualifications/ Registration

Full membership of one of the five professional accounting institutes within the CCAB or CIMA;

AND

Minimum of 1 year’s finance experience following successful completion of final professional accountancy exams (dated from notification by institute of completion);

AND

Worked with a range of Stakeholders, both internal and external to the organisation, to achieve successful outcomes for a minimum of 2 years;

AND

Successfully demonstrated people management, governance, leadership and organisational skills for a minimum of 2 years.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on

appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case

Shortlisting by Application Form

of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

· Ability to influence and negotiate with staff at senior levels both internal and external to the Trust.

· Ability to analyse highly complex data and to communicate subsequent analysis.

· Ability to plan and work effectively within timescales and deadlines.

· Ability to review and challenge current processes in own area and throughout the organisation where there is a financial impact.

· Ability to manage and motivate staff.

· Have extensive working knowledge of ICT systems to include Microsoft Office, in particular having advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Interview / Test

Knowledge

§ Knowledge of Health and Social Care Northern Ireland

§ Knowledge and understanding of the key finance issues within Health and Social Care

Interview / Test

The successful candidate will need to provide evidence and demonstrate their Leadership capabilities against the required dimension on the NHS Leadership framework.

A shortlist of candidates for interview will be prepared on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore essential that all applicants demonstrate through their application how and to what extent their experience and qualities are relevant to this post and the extent to which they satisfy each criterion specified. An assessment centre may also be used as part of the short-listing process.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The dimensions concerned are given in the Healthcare Leadership Model (see below link)

Particular attention will be given to the following:

• Inspiring shared purpose
• Leading with care
• Evaluating information
• Connecting our service
• Sharing the vision
• Engaging the team
• Holding to account
• Developing capability
• Influencing for results

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.