Management Accountant

St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust is seeking a Management Accountant to join our financial team, providing expert financial advice and developing timely reporting for operational managers.

The post requires CCAB/CIMA qualification, strong NHS financial knowledge, and the ability to lead month-end processes and staff development across a large organisation.

Qualifications

• Ability to analyse, investigate and interpret financial information

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial advice and oversight of financial management
• Lead aspects of the month end reporting process, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of the monthly financial position
• Monitor financial performance against agreed budgets, analysing and reporting on variances and assisting in formulating corrective actions
• Co-ordinate the budget setting and forecasting processes for their areas of responsibility
• Ensure the provision of high quality financial reporting to budget holders and other non-finance managers in order to support delivery of the Trust's strategic, corporate and financial objectives, including delivery of Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) efficiencies

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

GAAP & IAS knowledge

Budget monitoring

Education

CCAB/CIMA Qualified or equivalent experience

Tools

Oracle General Ledger

Spreadsheets & databases

Job description

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for the role of Management Accountant, playing a key role in managing and reporting the financial position of the organisation.

We are looking to recruit a motivated and an enthusiastic individual who is ready to develop their career in an acute healthcare provider with strong track record of delivering five star quality care for its patients.

The post holder will provide expert financial advice to operational colleagues and play a key role in providing an effective financial management and reporting service. They will support and work closely with the Senior Financial Management team to generate, analyse and report financial information to stakeholders internal and external to the Trust.

The successful candidate will hold a CCAB or CIMA qualification, with financial management experience in a large organisation and knowledge of the NHS finance regime. They will have excellent I.T. and communication skills and experience of managing and developing staff. They will have demonstrated the ability to deliver timely and accurate financial reporting.

Please note the Job Description and Person Specification are subject to AfC review

Main duties of the job

The Management Accountant's main duties will be to:

• Provide expert financial advice and oversight of financial management for their areas of responsibility
• Lead aspects of the month end reporting process, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of the monthly financial position both internally and externally to the organisation.
• Monitor financial performance against agreed budgets, analysing and reporting on variances and assisting in formulating corrective actions.
• Co-ordinate the budget setting and forecasting processes for their areas of responsibility.
• Ensure the provision of high quality financial reporting to budget holders and other non-finance managers in order to support delivery of the Trust's strategic, corporate and financial objectives, including delivery of Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) efficiencies.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships to enable effective working. The post holder will be expected to liaise with both internal departments and external bodies.
• Manage and develop staff

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.

Advertising date: 9th September 2026

Closing date: 16th September 2026

Shortlisting date: 18th September 2026

Proposed Interview date: 25th September 2026

Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• CCAB/CIMA Qualified or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable evidence of continuous personal and professional development

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Expert theoretical knowledge of accounting, NHS accounting and Public Sector accounting policy.
• Significant Financial Management experience
• Knowledge and experience of strategic and business planning and investment appraisal process
• Experience within a finance function of a large organisation
• Knowledge and experience of performance management techniques
• Specialist knowledge of capital, expenditure and revenue budgets
• Experience of budget setting to prepare plans for financial and human resources

Desirable criteria

• Experience of managing and developing finance staff
• Experience of formulating and developing long term strategic plans, often involving uncertainty that may impact on the whole organisation
• NHS Finance experience
• Experience of contract monitoring and reporting
• Experience of the Oracle General Ledger System

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to analyse, investigate and interpret financial information and queries
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to report and present financial information to both finance and non-finance individuals (internal and external)
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information
• Well organised, able to prioritise own workload to deliver tight deadlines
• To be able to carry out business ensuring all accounting treatments are adhering to Generally Agreed Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Accounting Standards (IAS)
• High level of ability in designing, developing, managing and maintaining complex computerised financial systems, spreadsheets and databases
• Proven high level of communication skills using a range of methods e.g. Written, verbal presentation to Executive Management Team as well as budget holders of all levels
• The ability to manage conflicting priorities
• The ability to formulate arguments and express them clearly to lay people and to persuade clinicians and senior management over a course of action
• The ability to deal with highly complex facts or situations including those relating to business case development
• The ability to make judgements where there is no precedent and where other leading opinions conflict
• Ability to influence, command respect and establish credibility quickly. Ability to work effectively with directors. To display good negotiation skills
• Ability to plan and organise a broad range of highly complex plans and adjust these through time
• ECDL or equivalent is essential - i.e. experienced in the use of financial systems/spreadsheets/databases/word processing. Advanced keyboard skills essential

Other

Essential criteria

• Team Player
• The ability get on with others and build good relationships with a wide variety of both internal and external to the organisation
• Evidence of continued professional and personal development and learning through the PDR process
• Willingness to travel. Self motivated and able to work to tight deadlines
• Concentration required for effectively multi-tasking, analysing data, writing detailed reports etc.
• The post holder has to be able to work successfully under pressure of time and resources

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader

We commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact