Financial Accounts Assistant

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Crawley; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

27 days holiday

Personal and professional development

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Occupational health & counselling

NHS discounts

Job summary

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in Crawley is seeking a Financial Accounts Assistant to support monthly reporting, year-end accounts and reconciliations. The role covers VAT, ledgers, and finance systems within an NHS environment.

You will work with Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, assist with audit evidence and supplier queries, and contribute to financial governance and planning in a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Studying or educated to Level 4 (e.g. AAT) or equivalent finance experience.
• Evidence of CPD (Courses etc.).
• Knowledge of financial accounting, reporting and control reconciliations.
• Experience with Ambulance Trusts service considered
• Use of SBS Oracle.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation of monthly reporting and year-end statutory accounts.
• Complete balance sheet and payroll control reconciliations for review.
• Provide evidence and support for internal and external audit.
• Support VAT calculations and queries with VAT advisors and stakeholders.
• Assist Accounts Receivable including raising sales orders and debt management.
• Support Accounts Payable including creditor reconciliations and supplier queries.
• Help complete Agreement of Balances and NHS/DHSC reporting.
• Maintain the financial ledger and finance systems; ensure access and documentation.
• Respond to finance-related queries (FOI requests, supplier emails).
• Contribute to financial planning, budget setting, governance and process improvement.

Skills

Financial accounting

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Payable

Excel

Financial systems

Education

Level 4 qualification (e.g. AAT)

Tools

SBS Oracle

Job description

Main area Finance Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 7.5 hours per day) Job ref 278-FAA-0926-AS

Employer South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Headquarters, Crawley Town Crawley Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 25/09/2026 23:59

Financial Accounts Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 4

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

Job overview

This role supports the delivery of high-quality financial accounting, reporting and control services across SECAmb. The postholder will help with month-end and year-end reporting, balance sheet reconciliations, audit evidence, VAT, accounts receivable and payable, financial systems, and responding to finance-related queries.

The role would suit someone who is organised, accurate and proactive, with a good understanding of finance processes and the ability to work to deadlines. Strong attention to detail, good Excel and systems skills, clear communication, and the confidence to work with colleagues across finance and the wider Trust are essential.

Working for SECAmb means contributing to an organisation that supports frontline ambulance services and patient care across the South East. You will be part of a professional finance team where your work helps ensure public funds are well managed, financial controls are strong, and the Trust can make informed decisions. It is a great opportunity to develop your NHS finance experience in a supportive environment built on integrity, kindness and courage.

Main duties of the job

• Supporting the preparation of monthly reporting and year-end statutory accounts.
• Completing and preparing balance sheet and payroll control reconciliations for review and sign-off.
• Providing evidence and support for internal and external audit.
• Supporting VAT calculations and queries, including liaison with VAT advisors and internal stakeholders.
• Assisting with Accounts Receivable, including raising sales orders, setting up customers and supporting debt management.
• Supporting Accounts Payable, including creditor reconciliations, supplier invoice queries and payment performance reporting.
• Helping complete Agreement of Balances returns and other NHS/DHSC reporting requirements.
• Maintaining and supporting use of the financial ledger and finance systems, including user access and process documentation.
• Responding to finance-related queries, including FOI requests and supplier emails via the Treasury mailbox.

Working for our organisation

• Option to join NHS pension scheme
• A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years’ service.
• Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
• Access to occupational health and counselling services.
• Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money-saving deals.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification.

The main responsibilities of the Financial Accounts Assistant are to support the Trust’s financial accounting, reporting and control processes. In practical terms, this includes:

• Supporting the preparation of monthly reporting and year-end statutory accounts.
• Completing and preparing balance sheet and payroll control reconciliations for review and sign-off.
• Providing evidence and support for internal and external audit.
• Supporting VAT calculations and queries, including liaison with VAT advisors and internal stakeholders.
• Assisting with Accounts Receivable, including raising sales orders, setting up customers and supporting debt management.
• Supporting Accounts Payable, including creditor reconciliations, supplier invoice queries and payment performance reporting.
• Helping complete Agreement of Balances returns and other NHS/DHSC reporting requirements.
• Supporting the administration of charitable funds, including payments, acknowledgements and cashbook updates.
• Maintaining and supporting use of the financial ledger and finance systems, including user access and process documentation.
• Responding to finance-related queries, including FOI requests and supplier emails via the Treasury mailbox.
• Supporting counter fraud work, including National Fraud Initiative queries and escalation where needed

Contributing to financial planning, budget setting, financial governance, process improvement and service development.

In short, the role is about helping keep the Trust’s financial records accurate, controlled, timely and compliant, while providing practical support to colleagues across finance and the wider organisation.

Person specification

Learning

• Studying or Educated to Level 4 (e.g. AAT) or equivalent finance experience
• Evidence of CPD (Courses etc.)
• Studying towards CCAB Accountancy qualification

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience of financial accounting (including AP and AR), reporting and control reconciliations
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel
• Experience of Ambulance Trusts service.
• Use of SBS Oracle

Please note that the salary range noted on the vacancy is in line with agenda for change (AFC) pay scales. All successful applicants would be placed automatically at the bottom of the banding, unless proven, relevant NHS or equivalent