About this role
Job summary
The Group Financial Accountant supports the Financial Accounts team in delivering accurate and timely financial reporting across the GESH Hospital Group. The role has a particular focus on treasury management, cash flow, bank and control account reconciliations, balance sheet reporting, statutory returns and audit support.
Main duties of the job
The postholder is responsible for monitoring the Trust's daily cash position, preparing short- and medium-term cash flow forecasts, managing bank reconciliations, supporting treasury activities and helping ensure that sufficient cash is available to meet operational requirements. The role also supports monthly and quarterly NHS financial returns, year-end accounts, Agreement of Balances exercises and preparationof audit working papers.
A key part of the role is ensuring that financial transactions are accurately recorded and compliant with IFRS, NHS accounting guidance, Trust policies and Standing Financial Instructions. This includes preparing and reviewing journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet adjustments, as well as supporting payroll, VAT and other key controlaccount reconciliations.
The postholder will also work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including Accounts Payable, Payroll, Management Accounts, Income, NHS Shared Business Services, commercial banks and external auditors. The role includes responding to audit queries, maintaining appropriate audit trails and supporting improvements tofinancial systems, controls and processes.
The position also provides support to the Capital Accounting team, including fixed asset and lease reconciliations and IFRS 16 reporting where required.
About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.
Job description Job responsibilities
Professional:1. Support the Finance Manager in maintaining effective treasury management processes, including daily cash monitoring, short-term investments, and management of the Trusts bank accounts in line with NHS and Trust policy.2. Assist in preparing and maintaining accurate daily, weekly, and monthly cash flow forecasts, identifying funding requirements and investment opportunities.3. Reconcile all bank and control accounts on a regular basis, ensuring variances are promptly investigated, documented, and resolved.4. Prepare and post journals relating to income, expenditure, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet adjustments, ensuring compliance with IFRS and NHS guidance.5. Assist with the Agreement of Balances process for NHS and non-NHS debtors and creditors, supporting the completion of quarterly and year-end exercises.6. Prepare monthly treasury and balance sheet reports, supporting management review of cash position, liquidity, and working capital.7. Contribute to the production of the Trusts annual accounts, including notes and schedules relating to cash, investments, borrowings, and leases.8. Support the management and reconciliation of payroll, VAT, and other key control accounts, ensuring accurate financial records are maintained.9. Assist the Finance Manager and Capital Accounting team with the reconciliation of fixedasset and lease schedules, including IFRS 16 reporting where required.10. Liaise with commercial banks, NHS Shared Business Services, and internal departments on treasury-related matters, resolving queries efficiently.11. Provide accurate and timely information to support internal and external audits, addressing audit queries and implementing recommendations.12. Ensure that adequate audit trails are maintained for all reconciliations, journals, and supporting documentation in line with Trust policy.13. Participate in the development and improvement of financial systems and procedureswithin the Financial Accounts team, promoting efficiency and consistency.
***For further info please see the JD attached***
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
AAT qualified or studying towards CCAB/ACCA/CIMA, Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Demonstrable post-qualification development and achievement of CPD.
Desirable
Acute Trust experience, actively pursuing a CCAB or equivalent professional accountancy body qualification.
Experience Essential
NHS Trust Finance experience
Skills Essential
Good knowledge on accounting standards (IFRS and IAS) and policies Good level of competence in Excel, Word, Outlook, MS Teams and Advanced keyboard skills Ability to train the graduate trainees and other colleagues in the finance team. Ability to prepare any ad-hoc report requested by the management Ability to communicate complex information effectively to all levels of staff Analyse financial information using a variety of analytical skills using all relevant factors Plan and organise own area of responsibility to ensure the achievement of the sections targets/goals Able to work well under pressure to meet demanding deadlines. Able to show initiative and be flexible in order to priorities a busy workload with minimum supervision.
Knowledge Essential
Expert understanding of NHS Trust financial framework, advanced grasp of accounting techniques and principles (especially as they apply to the NHS), and expert understanding of Trust accounting systems Good understanding of NHS Trust financial framework, sound grasp of accounting techniques and principles (especially as they apply to the NHS), Knowledge of Accounting Standards Awareness of current NHS finance issues I and sound understanding of Trust accounting systems
Desirable
Ability to train the graduate trainees and other colleagues in the finance team.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address St George's Hospital (post holder may be required to work at any of the Trust's sites)
Blackshaw Road
London
SW17 0QT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)