Head of Financial Accounting | Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
JOB SUMMARY
The Head of Financial Accounting is a 'hands on' role, with the role holder having primary responsibility for maintaining the underlying financial records of the Trust, ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance. The Head of Financial Accounting also has primary responsibility for production of the Trust's annual financial statements and acts as the Trust's expert in financial accounting matters.
The Head of Financial Accounting manages a team of five staff covering accounts payable, credit control, procurement administration, income and expenses.
The key elements of the role are:- Production of the annual accounts of the Trust in compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements
- Supervision of 4 staff members involved in all aspects of accounts payable, debtors and cash book
- Dealing with complex queries regarding debtors and creditors referred by Finance Officers and SBS
- To interpret and apply Dept. of Health and NHS policies and guidance, International Accounting Standards etc. advising the Director of Finance on the potential impact
- Responsibility for maintenance / improvement of the Trust's internal control environment (as it pertains to finance-related matters) including overseeing the monthly balance sheet / control account reconciliation process
- Responsibility for overseeing the accounts of the Trust's charitable funds
- Liaising with SBS, monitoring and reviewing contract performance
- Overall responsibility for planning and producing the annual accounts of the Trust, in compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, including being the Trust lead with the external auditors and preparing papers for the Director of finance and the Audit Committee
- Interpretation and application of relevant statutory and regulator guidance and accounting standards, notably the NHS Foundation Trust annual reporting manual
- Liaise and negotiate with external auditors regarding the content of information provided in the Trust's Annual Accounts and Returns: For example the method of calculation of the Trusts Bad Debt Provision or the basis for the Partial Exemption VAT calculation
- Preparation of detailed working papers to satisfy external audit requirements
- Responsibility for securing the Agreement of Balances exercise. Negotiation with other NHS bodies where necessary and completing returns within the required deadlines.
- Specific responsibility for the balance sheet, fixed assets, debtors, creditors and cash flow statements.
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
The team is split by its core functions into Financial Management, Procurement, and Financial Accounting. The Trust currently outsources its general ledger functions to NHS Shared Business Services (“SBS”).
The Head of Financial Accounting is a 'hands on' role, with the role holder having primary responsibility for maintaining the underlying financial records of the Trust, ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance. The Head of Financial Accounting also has primary responsibility for production of the Trust's annual financial statements and acts as the Trust's expert in financial accounting matters.
The Head of Financial Accounting manages a team of five staff covering accounts payable, credit control, procurement administration, income and expenses.- Production of the annual accounts of the Trust in compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements
- Supervision of 4 staff members involved in all aspects of accounts payable, debtors and cash book
- Dealing with complex queries regarding debtors and creditors referred by Finance Officers and SBS
- To interpret and apply Dept. of Health and NHS policies and guidance, International Accounting Standards etc. advising the Director of Finance on the potential impact
- Responsibility for maintenance / improvement of the Trust's internal control environment (as it pertains to finance-related matters) including overseeing the monthly balance sheet / control account reconciliation process
- Responsibility for overseeing the accounts of the Trust's charitable funds
- Liaising with SBS, monitoring and reviewing contract performance
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
This advert closes on Tuesday 4 Mar 2025