Job Description

The main purpose of the role is ensure the provision of a comprehensive, efficient, timely and professional management accounting service to the Directorates across the Trust. Post holders will create monthly income and expenditure budget statements allowing projections, monitoring and reporting of variances as well as cost analysis for benchmarking purposes.
In addition the post holder will provide support to the Finance Managers on issues associated with management accounting within the department and assist in the preparation of annual and monthly budgets, suggesting and calculating long term cost improvement programmes/schemes and supporting the preparation of service developments, business case plans and the medium term business planning process.
The Deputy Finance Manager will deputies for the Finance Manager in management accounting issues as appropriate.

We promote agile working and face to face meetings where possible so the successful candidate will be expected to be in the office for at least 2-3 days per week.
Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide monthly statements and other relevant financial information to Trust Directorates, according to agreed timetables, together with appropriate interpretation and advice.
• To monitor, on an on-going basis, financial performance against agreed delegated budgets, incorporating the latest information available to allow services to operate within their resources.
• To investigate and report significant budgetary variances and costs to both the Finance Manager and the budget holder, discussing the necessary remedial action as appropriate. This will include making judgments about complex and uncertain financial outcomes.
• To develop and maintain an integrated financial performance report, including a year-end forecast, highlighting key variances and trends in activity and finance, commenting on influencing factors and advising on any necessary management action.
• To develop sensitivity analysis techniques using analytical tools in the presentation of annual forecasts of operational income and expenditure.
• To meet regularly with Directors, Senior Managers and budget holders to assess financial performance and to provide financial management information, analysis and advice.
• To recognize and provide financial management support to Directors, Senior Managers and budget holders on identified key risks and critical success factors in achieving financial targets.
• To ensure budget holders and managers have an awareness of financial performance requirements, including the need for budgetary control and adherence to SFI’s, and to provide financial awareness training where necessary.
• To contribute to the annual budget setting/financial planning process as
• To ensure budgetary information contained within the Trust’s budget system is kept up-to-date and is a reliable source of information.
• To develop an understanding of the impact of Service Line Reporting to be able to assess the impact on income and expenditure of any in-year changes in activity levels resulting from changes in referral patterns and/or capacity.
• To assist in the preparation of business cases as required and to understand and be able to explain the relationship between surpluses, Cash and Monitor’s risk ratings.
• To liaise with Human Resources, Payroll and Procurement in the maintenance of financial controls relating to workforce establishment and procurement of goods and services.
• To maintain accurate financial records of staff in post and to ensure that this is reflected in the Trust’s budgeting software and that budget managers receive this information on a monthly basis.
• To ensure that all expenditure items incorrectly coded for payment purposes are dealt with promptly. Thereafter to advise budget holders on the use of correct financial codes and to ensure their coding structures are appropriate for their needs.
• To design, format and maintain Microsoft Excel spread sheets and databases for the calculation of actuals and prepayments and subsequent posting to the general ledger.
• To raise invoice requests promptly for income due from external organizations, in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions and internal procedures.
• To maintain a record of regular recharges, particularly where staff are seconded to and from the Trust to other organizations.
• To keep accurate and orderly documentation to support financial transactions such as journals, budget adjustments and invoice requests. Documentation to be kept easily accessible for other members of staff.
• To assist the Finance Manager in maintaining accurate budgets as a result of pay awards, service changes, virements and new developments.
• To cost forecast budget statements for service developments and business cases using software packages such as Microsoft Excel and the Trust’s in-house budgeting package.
• To provide Trust Managers and budget holders staff costings as necessary for recruitment purposes.
• All costing to be calculated using the latest employer national insurance and superannuation information.
• To keep the Finance Manager informed of all issues, including reasons for variances and deviations from forecast outturns.
• To work with the Finance Manager and budget holders to ensure all necessary year-end transactions are completed according to the timetable.
• To continually review and monitor processes with a view to identifying improvements and efficiencies, and to implement these improvements in conjunction with the rest of the Financial Management team.
• To comply with Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and audit requirements, providing appropriate advice to the Trust’s Directorates as necessary.
• To maintain records, electronic or otherwise, as appropriate.
• To ensure all budget holders have the opportunity to access financial support and that a visible presence is achieved by the arrangement of regular meetings.
• To respond to requests for information and queries from budget holders in a timely and professional manner.
• To represent the Finance Manager at meetings as required.
• To oversee the work of the Management Accountants and to deputies for the Finance Manager as necessary.
• To supervise the performance of the Management Accountants.
• To be involved in the recruitment of staff and the day to day management including sickness, discipline and appraisal.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with members of the Finance Department, staff within the organization and external contacts in order to deliver a professional service focused on achieving the production of management accounts and provision of financial advice.
• To provide assistance and absence cover for other members of the Finance team, as required.
• To continually review, recommend and implement changes to financial processes and procedures within the Trust.
• To represent the Finance department on Trust-wide groups as required.
• To keep technically up-to-date and maintain a continuing professional development plan in accordance with professional requirements.
• To carry out any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Finance Managers, the Head of Financial Management, the Deputy Director of Finance or the Chief Finance and Investment Officer.
• To be fully aware of the Trust policies on the Code of Conduct of staff.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities