About this role
Job summary
Eligibility requirement: Applications are restricted to individuals who are currently substantively employed by an NHS organisation within the East of England. Applications from anyone who does not meet this criterion will not be considered.
We are seeking a Financial Services Officer who will support the delivery of the financial services function within the ICB.
The team ensures the integrity of our ledger, our reporting and our annual accounts close down. This team is crucial to everything the wider team delivers and have a key role to play in ensuring the organisation realises its ambitions.
The team is responsible for managing the overall accounts payable and receivables function for the ICB. This includes managing invoice workflows, raising debtors invoices, dealing with internal and external queries, supplier setups, processing journals, analysing and preparing internal reports.
The team will be key to interpreting technical guidance and will work as a conduit across the finance and commercial directorate, as well as with external partners where required.
Main duties of the job
Responsibilities will include:
Ensure the ledger supports the appropriate functioning and delegation in respect of the SFIs and Standing Orders.
Support analysis required for statutory accounts completion and month end requirements.
Assist Coders/Approvers in the resolution of queries relating to invoices.
Advise suppliers to communicate directly with SBS in the first instance with regard to invoice settlement queries.
Review of Oracle activity and proactively work with Budget Holders to ensure invoices are coded and approved in a timely manner.
Assist with elements of ICB payments including faster payments when required, Primary Care Payments and Collaborative Payments.
Support the finance team in ensuring appropriate systems and processes are in place to enable the effective management and reporting of the organisations finances.
Support all relevant financial control related tasks such as Agreement of Balances and mismatches and providing coding guidance to finance staff.
To participate in projects, initiatives and other work as required by the Senior Financial Accountant or Associate Director of Financial Management, Accounts and Financial Services.
About us
NHS Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and funding of NHS services for around 1.9 million people across Essex. Our role as an ICB is to bring health and care services together, improve the health and wellbeing of our population and ensure equitable access to services and outcome for everyone. The organisations headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model (2 office-based days) that includes working across Essex and from home. Essex ICB currently has offices in Brentwood, Harlow and Colchester, in addition to the Chelmsford HQ.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We know that different experiences, ideas and perspectives help create a stronger and more innovative organisation that delivers better outcomes for patients. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people of all ages, disabilities, sex, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Our policies ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.
Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsorship licence.
Job description Job responsibilities
ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY
The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.
By establishing clear and transparent funding arrangements, triangulated with activity and workforce within our system we aim to support our collective understanding of how resources are allocated across the system for both revenue and capital.
Our Financial Services Officer will support the delivery of the financial services function within the ICB. The team ensures the integrity of our ledger, our reporting and our annual accounts close down. This team is crucial to everything the wider team delivers and have a key role to play in ensuring the organisation realises its ambitions. The team will deliver the monthly cycle of close down and reporting working closely with our Business Partnering team to support the budget holders, project owners and senior responsible officers across the organisation to ensure they have the right insight to deliver their objectives. Sharing and learning from each other to shape forecasting, resource utilisation, risk, mitigation, productivity and value opportunities. The team will be key to interpreting technical guidance and will work as a conduit across the finance and commercial directorate, as well as with external partners where required.
As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Director of Finance in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:
From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:
Policy and service development
Assist with the implementation of policy and / or service developments related to financeEnsure compliance with relevant ICB policiesUse audits to inform service improvements or performance managementEnsure the ledger supports the appropriate functioning and delegation in respect of the SFIs and Standing Orders.
Strategy and analysis
Analysis of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to FinanceTurns analysis into useful insights and reports that can be used to inform decision making and deliveryAssist in presenting complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefingsUse of data and insight to contribute to reporting, including performance management, financial and quality reporting against agreed contractual or project deliverablesSupport analysis required for statutory accounts completion and month end requirements.
Planning and organisation
Assist in developing and delivering project plans relating to finance, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reportingManaging competing priorities, prioritizing own and team resources to effectively deliver on short, medium and longer term prioritiesEnsure accurate reporting and records managementSupport the Senior Financial Services Officer and Senior Financial Accountant, to deliver all key financial statements for the ICB, including cash flow and management arrangements and working balances.
Communications and Partnerships
Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadershipAble to take account of a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision makingComfortable presenting information and training to internal and external stakeholder groupsBuild strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities as neededEffective engagement with patients and the public as requiredWork effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of projects that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care systemShare complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffingAble to manage conflict, find compromise and persuade based on evidence as needed
Financial and resource management
Liaise with SBS to review and resolve issuesForward any invoices received direct by the ICB to NHS SBS at the agreed addressAssist Coders/Approvers in the resolution of queries relating to invoicesAdvise suppliers to communicate directly with SBS in the first instance with regard to invoice settlement queriesFor new suppliers complete and electronically submit the New Supplier Set Up Request FormsPurchasing card; reconciliation to statement and raising of journalReview of Oracle activity and proactively work with Budget Holders to ensure invoices are coded and approved in a timely mannerSupport the finance team in ensuring appropriate systems and processes are in place to enable the effective management and reporting of the organisations financesTo plan and organise own time in conjunction with other team members to ensure that team deadlines are metContribute to the delivery of the teams objectivesTo participate in projects, initiatives and other work as required by the Senior Financial Accountant or Deputy Director of Financial Management, Accounts and Financial ServicesTo support the management of cash and cash flow forecasting for the ICB, including credit control, and debt management.To assist with all aspects of the ICB Payment Run within our cash limit.To support and help deliver the monthly and annual statutory reporting requirements and to provide monthly performance information to key decision-making forums of the ICBSupport all aspects of ledger management control in line with the ICB Scheme of Reservation and Delegation.Support the management of all control reconciliations and associated balance sheet accounting for the ICB.Support on all matters in respect of VAT, sharing advice, delivering returns as and when required and participating in any reviews as appropriate.Assist with the transactional elements of provisions accounting and returns.Support all relevant financial control related tasks such as Agreement of Balances and mismatches and providing coding guidance to finance staff.Lead and assist with elements of ICB payments including NHS block payments, faster payments when required, payment runs, Primary Care Payments and Collaborative Payments.
Team management and capability building
Management of the Finance Assistant overseeing recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team memberAble to influence in order to deliver effectively through those not directly line managingSupport staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transitionSupport the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB BlueprintWork collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangementsMaintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transitionSupporting effective Information Asset Management for the team
Other
Use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of the rolePrimarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetingsAble to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel)
Flexibility and evolving responsibilities
As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:
-ICB senior leadership
-Information Governance team
-Local Authority partners
-NHS Providers
-NHSEI regional partners
-Other system partners, such as VCFSE
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience managing complex and often confidential information, including supporting responses to media and political inquiries . Experience of delivering complex and contentious change and transformation projects Uses technology to effectively plan work and evaluate effectiveness through audits.
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Degree level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development in finance
Partnerships & Communities Essential
Experience working across teams and organisations in the development and delivery of projects. Able to represent the organisation credibly and positively. Able to effective influencing and challenge within areas of responsibility, escalating appropriately where necessary
Governance and Assurance Essential
Experience supporting delivery of projects that require collective decision-making and how to negotiate success in those situations. A good understanding effective corporate governance and the route for decision making within the ICB
Personal Attributes and Values Essential
Personal commitment to the values of the NHS 10-year Plan, the NHS People Plan, the Nolan Principles, to championing equality, diversity and inclusion within the ICB and the wide health system Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Able to work as part of a team and independently. Advanced IT skills in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and excellent keyboarding skills
People & Culture Essential
Line management experience, including supporting individual development and addressing under-performance, when necessary Acts as a positive, compassionate and inclusive team member, demonstrating commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity. A commitment to continuous improvement, organisation learning and achieving positive outcomes for all staff, patients, service users and carers working in line with the NHS People Promise
Strategy & Analysis Essential
Experience using analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex problems, ability to recognise policy implications and how to manage potential competing priorities / interests in developing strategies Good data analysis and interpretation skills involving highly complex data, including an understanding of analytical methods and how to use data to support Population Health Management Experience using proven programme service development and project management methodologies to ensure delivery
Employer details Employer name NHS Essex Integrated Care Board
Address Seax House
Victoria Road South
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.essex.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)