About this role
Job summary
The South West Provider Collaborative is an award winning partnership of seven provider organisations, of which Devon Partnership NHS Trust is the lead provider.
The Collaboratives are national initiatives designed to encourage different providers within different geographical areas to design, commission and deliver services more closely together.
Working together, the Collaborative improves the care pathway for people needing specialised mental healthcare in the South West.
The Senior Management Accountant (SWPC) will support the Associate Director of Finance (SWPC), working directly with senior managers across the Collaborative and within Devon Partnership to support and advise on highly complex issues, and provide strategic financial and business planning advice.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be required to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information relevant to financial matters. Where appropriate the post-holder will deputise for the Associate Director of Finance (SWPC).
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 role will involve having multiplicity of objectives and will be required to make judgements regarding allocation of finances.
The role will require the providing of comprehensive and high level senior finance support and advice to senior managers, Directors, Clinical Directors. 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 contribute to the leading of the Trusts Commissioning financial strategy, in particular advising on service level plans to meet the overall service objective.
The post-holder will be key in developing, monitoring and accurate reporting of the SW Provider Collaborative revenue expenditure (annually circa £175m 2025/26) on a monthly basis.
The role will manage the SWPC Assistant Management Accountant and be required to ensure personal and professional development.
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 Collaborative, 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 Assistant 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 Associate Director of Finance - SWPC, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer as required.
Person Specification
Communication, Judgement and Relationship Skills 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 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
Qualifications Essential
CCAB/CIMA Qualified (or equivalent) / post graduate diploma / masters, or equivalent knowledge or skill gained through experience
Desirable
Significant experience as an NHS Accountant
Experience Essential
Experience of working at a senior level within a large organisation Knowledge and ability to apply and advise on financial regulations and procedures particularly in relation to Foundation Trust Status
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)