About this role
Job summary
Are you someone looking to further your career in one of the UKs most respected mental health trusts?
Would you like to do a job that makes a difference every day?
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for highly motivated, enthusiastic and flexible finance professionals to work as Senior Management Accountants in a hybrid working arrangement.
Due to Team developments we are able to offer:
1 x substantive full time post1 x 9 month fixed term post
Both are 37.5 hours per week over 5 days.
We are looking for candidates who can make a difference and support service improvement - those with the skills to actively engage with stakeholders both internal and external.
Main duties of the job
As a key member of the Finance team, you will be responsible for working in partnership with our directorates as well as corporate Senior Managers to help them manage their financial performance by providing incisive value-adding financial support and insights.
This includes providing expert financial advice, budget management support, and playing a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the organisations financial plan and cost improvement programmes. You will also lead on the financial appraisal of complex and high value cases and advise and implement financial strategy and policy and will also support other aspects of the wider finance agenda, as well as contributing to the development of the Finance Team.
You will build strong relationships with your stakeholders, gaining an in-depth knowledge of the drivers and challenges that they face to inform the analysis of the results. You will use your knowledge, experience and financial expertise to promote best financial practices across the organisation, enabling the Trust to forecast its financial performance accurately and then operate within its forecasts abiding with statutory requirements and deadlines.
Post-holders should have excellent analytical, technical and interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritise and manage workload within their team to meet deadlines.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is growing as we establish ourselves us as one of the leading providers of mental health services in the country.
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
Working directly with Senior Managers across the Trust and externally, to support and advise on highly complex issues, and provide strategic financial and business planning advice.Provide the financial lead on the development of the financial planning for area of responsibility, ensuring robust plans in place to ensure delivery of cost improvement programmes.Responsible for the analysis, finalisation and presentation of the budget performance for area(s) of responsibility, ensuring Senior Managers are aware of reasons for any variance and will be instrumental in developing and supporting robust and timely mitigation plans to ensure financial balance.Ensure, as appropriate, the Trusts Statutory Accounts and relevant returns are accurate and meet financial timescales and legal requirements, interpreting these where necessary.Responsible for the overall financial management and performance of specified Directorate area(s) and corporate area(s), both of which may change in line with business needs in the future.Provide corporate reports and strategic and business planning advice to the Trust.Working directly with the Business Case / Tender Lead, the post-holder will be a critical member of the business case / tender team (to be determined on a case by case basis) and will lead on the financial analysis and development of modelling and analysis of volumes, costs and benefits, including scenarios to create economic and financial evaluation of options to support the business case or tender at each stage.To meet regularly with any designated Management Accountant support to ensure financial information is of a satisfactory standard and discuss improvements.Lead on the final analysis and agreement of the monthly management accounts information, budget setting and year end accounts for the agreed area of responsibility that is reported to the Trust Board. This will include ensuring all relevant business investments, cost improvement plans and all other financial information have been incorporated within the budget position and a full review has been undertaken, agreeing necessary adjustments as required, before final presentation.To support the Head of Finance - Operational, Associate Director of Financial Management, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer as required.
Communication & Relationship Skills
The post-holder will be required to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information relevant to financial matters.The post-holder will be required to advise the Head of Finance - Operational, Associate Director of Financial Management, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer, Trust Directors and Senior Managers on financial issues and as necessary pointing them to a course of action.Where appropriate the post-holder will deputise for the Head of Finance - Operational over the prescribed range of these duties.Where necessary, the post-holder will negotiate on behalf of the Trust with NHS and any other external organisations over significant cost areas.As appropriate, the post-holder will be required to deliver presentations and interpret complex financial matters to non-finance managers conveying financial concepts clearly and persuasively.The post-holder will be required to advise Trust Directors and Senior Managers on cost improvements or investment opportunities which may be sensitive and contentious in nature and where required, contribute to developing the Trusts investment and efficiencies programmes.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
The post-holder will be required to analyse highly complex problems relating to financial management and business case production requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.The post-holder will have multiplicity of targets/objectives and will be required to make judgements regarding allocation of finances, analyses highly complex budgets and data sets and interpret financial accounts, make judgements of financial decisions and financial risk where there is no precedent and where opinions may conflict.
Planning & Organisation
The post-holder will provide comprehensive and high level senior finance support and advice to Senior Managers, Directors, Clinical Directors, Directorate Managers, Senior Budget Holders, working with the Management Accountants to ensure consistent and quality advice is given. The role will involve making judgements on financial issues, often where an element of risk exists and there are a number of options, sometimes conflicting.The post-holder will be required to contribute to the Trusts financial strategy, in particular advising on service level plans to meet the overall service objective of the organisation. As appropriate attend corporate and service level performance meetings as a representative of the finance function.The post-holder will play a key role in linking the Commissioning function of the Trust to the overall financial position and will support and advice on highly complex issues linked to Local and National policy initiatives. Communication of these issues may involve making formal presentations to senior managers and clinicians.The post-holder will be required to play a lead role in overseeing the collation and finalisation of the information for the financial position for the Trust for Board sign off each month.The post-holder will be required to liaise with Senior Managers on a routine basis to identify possible corrective action on budgets in deficit, and will work with Senior Managers to examine methods of maintaining a balanced financial position.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
The post-holder may occasionally be required to answer queries from patients/carers on general financial issues and may have incidental contact with patients/clients.
Responsibility for Policy/Service Development
The post-holder will be responsible for developing policy and procedures in a particular area financial services, which will impact across the Trust.The post-holder is required, at times, to carry out surveys and audits designed to improve the Trusts management accounting services.The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that the Trust is made aware of any changes to reporting requirements and advising the Trust on the appropriate course of action.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
The post-holder is responsible for ensuring the correct reporting and budget setting of its network or service budgets, providing financial advice to them as required.
Responsibility for Human Resources
If applicable, the post-holder would be responsible for the direct line management of a management accountant support post, including assisting with recruitment, appraisal, discipline training and delegation arrangements.The post-holder will be required to contribute as part of the senior finance team, to raising the general level of performance of the finance function.
Responsibility for Information Resources
On a continuous basis the post-holder is required to review, adapt and design financial systems to enhance the performance of the team and the Trust.
Responsibility for Research and Development
The post-holder will to undertake complex surveys/audits of work to improve financial and accounting services as required.Freedom To ActThe post-holder is required to work autonomously and interpret standards e.g. NHS policy, Trust policy, accounting standards etc.
Review of this Job Description
This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing service needs. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the post-holder.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
CCAB/CIMA Qualified (or equivalent) / post graduate diploma / masters.
Desirable
Significant experience as an NHS Accountant
Communications skills Essential
Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to transfer knowledge to non-financial managers Skills in partnership working across organisations
Analytical & judgement skills Essential
Excellent organisation skills and a logical approach to problem solving Good analytical and decision making skills
Other Desirable
Regular and reliable method of transport and mobility throughout the area
Planning & Organising Skills Essential
Strong management and leadership skills Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team Able to plan and organise other workloads
Experience Essential
Experience of working at a senior level within a medium/large organisation. Knowledge and ability to apply and advise on financial regulations and procedures particularly relating to NHS Trusts.
Knowledge Essential
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
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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)