About this role
Job summary
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is looking for a highly experienced Senior Financial Accountant to play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality financial accounting, reporting and assurance across the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident technical expert who brings strong accounting and auditing knowledge.
This is a varied and influential senior role, offering the chance to work across the full breadth of financial accounting while contributing as part of the wider Finance senior leadership team.
The role will require you to interpret complex accounting standards, provide clear financial advice on relevant policies and ensure that statutory, regulatory and audit requirements are met. You will be someone who can translate technical detail into practical guidance, supporting colleagues to make informed decisions with confidence.
We are seeking a strategic, collaborative and values-led finance professional with extensive experience in complex financial accounting and the confidence to provide expert advice in a dynamic NHS environment.
You will bring a strong track record of producing accurate, insightful financial reporting, alongside exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Just as importantly, you will be a supportive team player who is passionate about developing others, creating a positive team culture and leading a successful, high-performing service.
Main duties of the job
This senior role offers the opportunity to lead the production of the Trusts annual accounts, ensuring they are delivered in line with national and local guidance, agreed timetables and recognised accounting standards. You will play a key role in supporting colleagues to understand their responsibilities and in ensuring that working papers are clear, well organised and consistently prepared.
You will also take a leading role in maintaining strong financial governance across the Trust, including the upkeep of Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and the Scheme of Delegation. Working closely with managers and senior leaders, you will help ensure that these arrangements are understood, followed and kept up to date.
At the heart of the role is the leadership of robust financial reporting and control. You will take the lead in coordinating the Trusts statutory annual accounts, ensuring they are produced to a high standard and delivered in line with required timescales. You will also support the accuracy and timely completion of monthly financial performance returns, helping to maintain confidence in the Trusts financial position and reporting arrangements, as well as oversight of the Trusts Charitable Funds.
As part of the senior Finance Team, you will provide expert support, advice and leadership to help the Trust maintain robust financial control and make well-informed decisions.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description Job responsibilities
This is a pivotal senior finance role, leading the production of the Trusts annual accounts and ensuring they are delivered to the highest professional standard, in line with national and local guidance, statutory timetables, accepted accounting standards and recognised accounting principles. The postholder will bring clarity, pace and assurance to the accounts process, ensuring colleagues understand their responsibilities and that working papers are clear, consistent, well organised and ready for robust internal and external scrutiny.
The role provides energetic leadership for financial governance across the Trust. This includes maintaining and strengthening the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Scheme of Delegation, while ensuring managers understand, apply and comply with these arrangements in practice.
The postholder will ensure the Trusts statutory accounts, returns and related submissions are accurate, timely and compliant with financial, legal and regulatory requirements, interpreting complex guidance where needed and translating it into clear action for the organisation.
As a senior member of the Finance function, the postholder will support the wider senior finance team, contributing professional expertise, resilience and leadership wherever required.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communication & Working Relationships
The postholder will be a trusted senior adviser on highly complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious financial accounting matters. They will provide clear, confident and well-judged advice to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Associate Director of Financial Management, senior budget managers and other senior leaders, helping them understand the financial implications of decisions and identify an appropriate course of action.
Where required, the postholder will represent and negotiate on behalf of the Trust with external organisations on significant cost areas, bringing a constructive, evidence-based and commercially aware approach to complex discussions.
The postholder will present and explain complex financial accounting issues to finance and non-finance audiences, adapting language and style so that technical information is accessible, relevant and capable of supporting effective decision-making.
The role will also support Trust Directors and senior managers in identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve value and strengthen the Trusts cost improvement programme. This may involve navigating sensitive or contentious issues with professionalism, tact and a clear focus on sustainability and service impact.
Planning & Organisation
Lead the planning, preparation and completion of statutory NHS accounts and returns, ensuring delivery in line with national timetables, legal requirements, IFRS and Department of Health and Social Care guidance. The postholder will produce and interpret high-quality financial reports for the Board, NHS England and other external stakeholders, recognising that these outputs will be subject to audit and publication within the annual report.
Oversee the Trusts achievement of key financial accounting and cash-related targets, including the External Financing Limit and planning processes associated with the Target Return.
Lead the management of the Trusts charitable funds, including planning, preparing and completing statutory accounts and ensuring accurate submission to the Charity Commission.
Provide strategic oversight of the Trusts cash management function, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, banking arrangements and relevant transparency reporting.
Manage Trust purchase cards and treasury management arrangements, ensuring robust control, appropriate use and clear accountability.
Ensure effective financial systems are in place to support strong financial control across the Trust, integrating with wider systems and meeting the needs of internal and external users. The postholder will review, recommend and lead improvements in response to changing organisational requirements.
Lead and performance-manage the financial accounting, charitable funds, cash management and financial systems teams, including workforce planning, appraisals, recruitment, job description development, feedback, coaching and, where necessary, counselling or disciplinary processes.
Coordinate the preparation of plans, monitoring returns and submissions to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, ensuring quality, consistency and timely delivery.
Act as the Trusts point of contact for insurance, VAT and banking arrangements, providing clear technical advice and maintaining effective external relationships.
Maintain current knowledge of legal, professional and NHS financial reporting requirements, interpreting standards and guidance, advising colleagues up to Board level and supporting sound judgements where opinions may differ.
Advise finance and non-finance colleagues on financial and IT matters, using clear, accessible language to build confidence, understanding and compliance.
Provide cover and senior finance leadership across the wider Finance team as required, contributing flexibly to organisational priorities.
Maintain and develop professional, management and technical skills through training and continuing professional development.
Provide technical financial advice and support on capital matters, ensuring appropriate accounting treatment and governance.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
Although this is not a direct patient care role, the postholder may occasionally respond to queries from patients or service users on general financial matters, doing so with professionalism, clarity and sensitivity.
Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility
The postholder will lead the review and updating of the Trusts Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Scheme of Delegation, ensuring these remain current, practical and aligned to statutory and NHS requirements.
They will develop financial policies and processes for implementation across the Trust, interpreting internal, external and DHSC requirements and assessing the impact of national policy on the Trusts financial operations.
A key part of the role is to oversee and communicate financial procedures across the organisation, ensuring the Trust has a robust, understood and consistently applied financial operating framework.
The postholder will undertake surveys, audits and reviews where these support improvement in financial accounting services, strengthening controls, efficiency and user experience.
They will ensure the Trust is alerted to changes in financial accounting and reporting requirements, advising on the implications and recommending clear, timely and proportionate action.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources
The postholder is responsible for assessing, managing and advising on the Trusts working capital requirement, currently around £8.0m, ensuring associated arrangements are planned, controlled and aligned with the Trusts financial strategy.
On behalf of the Trust, the postholder will organise any borrowing requirements needed to support financial resilience, ensuring decisions are properly evidenced, governed and communicated.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management
The postholder will provide confident day-to-day leadership for the financial accounting, charitable funds and cash management teams. This includes direct line management of a Band 7 post, who has operational responsibility for team members including Band 5, Band 3 and apprentice colleagues. The role will support recruitment, appraisal, training, delegation, performance management and, where required, disciplinary arrangements.
As part of the senior finance team, the postholder will actively contribute to improving the overall performance, capability and reputation of the Finance function, modelling professionalism, curiosity, accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Information Resources & Administrative Duties
On an ongoing basis, the postholder will review, adapt and design financial systems and administrative processes within financial accounting functions, ensuring they enhance team performance, strengthen financial control and support the wider Trust to work efficiently and confidently.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
KNOWLEDGE Full understanding of the principles of accounting. Specialist knowledge of, and ability to apply and advise others of professional accounting standards. Detailed knowledge of computerised accounting systems and spreadsheet packages. Knowledge of Charitable Funds Accounting. EXPERIENCE Experience of working at a senior level within a large organisation. Knowledge and ability to apply and advise on financial regulations and procedures. SKILLS & ABILITIES Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to transfer knowledge to non-financial managers. Skills in partnership working across organisations. Excellent organisation skills and a logical approach to problem solving. Good analytical and decision-making skills. Strong management and leadership skills. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Able to plan and organise other workloads.
Desirable
Regular and reliable method of transport and mobility throughout the area
Qualifications Essential
CCAB / CIMA Qualified (or equivalent)
Desirable
Significant experience as an NHS Accountant Recognised NHS Leadership Programme
Employer details Employer name Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)