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Band 5 Assistant
Management Accountant
Summary of role
This role is a development post to undertake a comprehensive training programme in the activities undertaken by Directorate Accounting with the aim of moving to a Band 6 Management Accountant role. The likely time period for this development role is 18 months and is dependent on the post holder delivering the key success criteria and obtaining the required financial qualification before promotion to the higher band.
The post holder will provide efficient and proactive financial information services to Departments within the Division and the Trust and external bodies ensuring objectives are achieved. They will be responsible for providing financial information to managers in order to facilitate sound decision making, for working within the monthly reporting timetable to enable the team to achieve its objectives and to undertake projects which will lead to improving the accuracy and timeliness of financial information being reported to Divisions.
Main duties and responsibilities
To be responsible for the provision of financial information, ensuring the following is achieved:
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To produce accurate and timely financial information, including detailed written reports outlining key financial issues.
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To review the draft budget statements each month and make necessary adjustments ensuring the statements accurately reflect the financial position.
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To investigate and obtain explanations for significant variances and to discuss these variances with budget holders and managers.
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To proactively assist the Directorate Management team in identifying cost and efficiency savings, enabling the Management Team to ensure a break-even position is achieved and that cost improvement targets are met.
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To re calculate and re profile budgets for in-year adjustments in accordance with policy.
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To meet regularly with budget holders and Directorate Management teams to assess financial performance, to discuss financial issues and to provide proactive advice.
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To help deliver appropriate training (internal and external to the department) to facilitate robust financial practices.
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To help assess the impact of changes in activity on the financial figures.
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To develop management information reports to facilitate the Directorate decision-making process
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To take shared responsibility for the year-end process within Directorate Accountancy, ensuring that procedures are adhered to and all objectives and deadlines are met.
Responsibility for budgeting and planning:
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To work with the Directorate management team ensuring that meaningful and balanced budgets are set within the resources available.
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To work with the Directorate management team on financial plans and forecasts.
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To develop benchmarking/VFM processes with internal and external sources which can be used to inform the financial planning process.
Responsibility for costing:
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To act as a conduit between the SLR team and Directorate Management to continually improve the accuracy of the SLR output.
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To assist the Finance & Business Manager with costing business cases and service changes.
To undertake projects leading to modernising financial services within the trust:
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To develop month end processes to increase accuracy and timeliness of financial information.
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To support development of other financial areas / systems.
Other:
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To represent and deputise for the Finance & Business Manager, ensuring that a Trust wide view is adopted.
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To provide assistance and absence cover for other members of the Finance team, as required.
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Any other duties as required, which are consistent with the grade and nature of the post.
Further information
This job description is a reflection of the current position and is subject to review and alteration in detail and emphasis in the light of future developments.
The post holder will be expected to:
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Share knowledge and best practice gained within the Department with other Finance colleagues.
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Undertake specialist training on behalf of the Department where appropriate.
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Undertake personal continuous improvement and development.
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Represent the Finance Department on the Trust Induction Programmes when required.
Confidentiality
All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and must not be divulged to any unauthorised person at any time, unless to do so is in the best interests of the individual. In this instance a Senior Manager should appropriately advise the post holder. A breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action being taken in accordance with the Trust's disciplinary procedure and may lead to dismissal.
The post holder's attention is also drawn to the Data Protection Act, the Computer Misuse Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
Person Specification
Essential (E); Desirable (D); Application (A); Interview (I)
Qualifications and training
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Significant progress towards CCAB professional qualification or AAT qualified (E, A / I)
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ECDL (D, A / I)
Experience
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Considerable experience of working in a Management Accounts Department (E, A / I)
Knowledge and skills
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Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written (E, A / I)
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Ability to interpret and utilise complex information for reporting, forecasting, costing and planning purposes (E, A / I)
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Ability to plan, organise and prioritise a number of tasks (E, A / I)
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Budget Setting (E, A / I)
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Excellent IT skills with the ability to accurately create input and manipulate data plus develop reports and documents, using a range of software (E, A / I)
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Ability to work to tight timescales (E, A / I)
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Ability to work in changing environments (E, A / I)
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Attention to detail (E, A / I)
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NHS Financial Regime (D, A / I)
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Service Line Reporting (D, A / I)
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Access Data bases (D, A / I)
Personal attributes
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Honesty and integrity (E, A / I)
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Excellent interpersonal skills (E, A / I)
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Excellent analytical skills (E, A / I)
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Self motivated (E, A / I)
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Team player (E, A / I)
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Professional approach (E, A / I)
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Proactive (E, A / I)
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Flexible and adaptable (E, A / I)
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Creative and innovative (E, A / I)
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Interested in working in a clinical environment (D, A / I)
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Effective Staff Motivator (D, A / I)