Senior Financial Accountant

NHS; Urmston; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust seeks a Senior Financial Accountant passionate about improving patient outcomes through financial stewardship. The successful candidate will lead the Financial Services Team, ensuring compliance, improving cash flow, and collaborating across departments. A Professional Accountancy qualification (CCAB/CIMA) and relevant experience in NHS financial management are essential. The role offers a salary between £55,690 to £62,682 per annum with opportunities for professional development and impactful change in healthcare delivery.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Dynamic and inclusive work environment

Commitment to employee wellbeing

Qualifications

• Professional Accountancy qualification required with current membership.
• Demonstrable post qualification development and CPD.
• Master's degree or equivalent job-related experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Financial Services Team and ensure compliance with professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with various financial teams.
• Drive improvements that enhance patient experience and service efficiency.

Skills

Financial management expertise

Analytical abilities

Team leadership

Knowledge of NHS accounting principles

Education

Professional Accountancy qualification (CCAB/CIMA)

Master's degree in relevant field

Tools

Financial management software

Job description

Senior Financial Accountant

The closing date is 20 January 2026

We are particularly proud of our exceptional and highly‑skilled staff – and they in turn are passionate about the contribution they make within the Trust. Therefore you will focus on quality, promoting high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes in a financial capacity, whilst using evidence to make improvements and seeking out innovative ways of working to develop financial solutions. Inevitably, you'll also be commercially astute and able to drive business growth and improve cash flow. It is essential for you to hold a Professional Accountancy qualification (CCAB/CIMA) with current membership registration and be educated to master's degree level or an equivalent professional qualification and possess significant management experience.

Main duties of the job

You will play a key part in setting clear standards and expectations ensuring compliance with professional accountancy standards and practices are met consistently and effectively. You will lead the Financial Services Team in the FBU and also work closely with colleagues in the Charities, Accounts Receivable, Tax and Capital teams.

About us

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe – what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.

We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000+ strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.

You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You'll work collaboratively with clinical and non‑clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You'll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.

We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation's success. Join us and help shape the future of our Trust – make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU for our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application – especially personal statements and responses to role‐specific questions – is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Professional Accountancy qualification (CCAB, CIMA) with current membership registration
• Demonstrable post qualification development and continued achievement of CPD
• Study to master's degree in a relevant technical, scientific or information systems discipline or equivalent job‑related experience.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in all aspects of financial management at a management level in a large, complex organisation
• Thorough understanding of current NHS accounting principles and procedures including audit requirements
• Sound understanding of software packages

Experience

• Ability to analyse complex information and determine solutions
• Significant experience in a large, complex NHS organisation
• Substantial experience in the implementation and development of financial systems and processes
• Ability to lead and motivate a team whose roles are quite diverse
• Ensures the function processes financial transactions and produces statutory accounts and financial returns
• Experience in a complex partnership‑dependent environment
• Substantial experience of working in NHS finance

£55,690 to £62,682 a yearper annum (pro rata)