Finance Analyst- Income & Costing

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and analytical Finance Analyst to join our Income and Costing team. This is a key role supporting the management of c.£400m of clinical income, ensuring activity is accurately captured, priced, and reported in line with National Tariff rules and local contractual agreements.

The post holder will lead on the preparation of monthly SLAM (Service Line Agreement Monitoring) returns, manage complex data flows, and provide detailed analysis of activity, income, and variances. Working closely with Finance, Information, Contracting, and operational teams, you will play a pivotal role in supporting performance management, resolving data quality issues, and maximising income recovery.

You will act as a subject matter expert on NHS payment systems, liaising with internal stakeholders and external commissioners to investigate queries, validate challenges, and support robust contract monitoring. The role also contributes to month-end processes, including income reporting, accruals, and trend analysis.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong analytical skills, high-level Excel (and ideally SQL), and an interest in NHS finance, contracting, and data-driven decision making.

Main duties of the job

• ·         Preparation of the monthly flex and freeze Service Line Monitoring files in accordance with National Tariff guidelines and local agreements. Responsible for ensuring c£400m of activity is priced correctly and Commissioners receive summary and patient level data in line with agreed timescales.
• ·         Preparation and maintenance of SLAM (contract and income management software)/Costing data feeds to ensure data is transformed correctly in line with system requirements
• ·         Help with queries relating to SLAM submissions and responsible for monitoring Commissioner Income against agreed plans.
• ·         Ensure the coordination across contracting, finance, information and quality functions to undertake complex information analysis to support decision making and integrated performance reporting.
• ·         Work closely with the Information Team to ensure systems are fit for purpose to ensure that activity is accounted for and priced correctly.
• ·         To lead on system design and manipulate large volumes of data using internal and external data systems ensuring charges are reflected accurately and using this data to prepare monthly contract monitoring reports.
• ·         Working closely with Head of Income, Costing & Contracts to ensure values of contracts align with planning assumptions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Relationships

Externally: Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS England, CSU’s, DSCROs, NHS providers

Internally: DCFO, Head of Income, Costing & Contracts, Information Department, Business Managers, Finance Department, Service Managers.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

SLAM/Costing Preparation

• Preparing the monthly SLA Monitoring reports to a strict reporting timetable using data from the Trust’s SLAM database and other systems.
• Managing multiple feeders and data sources to ensure that all Activity is captured for Costing and Income.
• Responsible for Costing data to be transformed in line with CTP guidance.
• Ensuring the development and upkeep of the SLAM databases in line with reporting requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring all activity is priced correctly within the SLAM database using National or Local pricing structures.
• Collating and distributing summary and patient level data to Commissioners within deadlines.
• Ensure any accepted challenges are reflected in the SLAM and Trust position accurately each month.

SLAM Monitoring

• Responsible for preparing and developing contract monitoring reports for commissioning income.
• Identifying and investigating variances to planned activity and income levels and communicating this information both internally and externally.
• Be a point of contact within the Income Team on all issues relating to over and under performance.
• Investigation of variances on price or activity and working with the Information Team, Coding or clinical departments where necessary to resolve discrepancies.
• Reporting and Analysis
• The post holder will play a role at the monthly Finance and Information Group and be prepared to be questioned by Commissioner Colleagues on the financial position therefore, an in depth understanding of variances is essential. The post holder will be expected to follow up on any actions that arise.
• The post holder will be expected to lead on the Data Quality and Excluded Drugs Challenges with the Trust’s Commissioners and follow up on any queries/actions that are raised.
• Assist the Finance Manager for Income with Month End Reporting including analysis of in month movements, trend analysis, prepare/upload income accruals journals for Divisional Income, Excluded Drugs and ERF (Elective Recovery Fund).
• The Finance Manager for Income and Contracts is the first point of contact for all queries from Commissioners relating to activity, price and income.
• Analyse the recording, coding and pricing of all activity billed to Commissioners to ensure income is maximised.
• Developing local prices for services outside the National Tariff such as critical care, overseas and private patients in line with national guidance. Ensure price lists are updated and distributed appropriately.
• Working with Clinical Teams, and using contracting guidance, ensure that services are correctly coded and priced.
• Ad hoc analysis and reporting on clinical activity and income.

General duties

• To provide cover for the Income & Costing Accountant and deputise for the Senior Finance Manager for Income when needed.
• Support the costing team on income related SLR tasks.
• Meet with Divisions on regular basis to discuss activity performance and any business changes, providing professional contracting advice to help support decision making.
• To ensure that financial transactions are undertaken in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions (SFI’s) and Standing Orders (SO’s). The post holder is responsible for informing the Director of Finance or Deputy of any breach of SFI’s or SO’s and reporting incidences of fraud.
• To ensure all sensitive information is distributed in line with Information Governance policies and procedures.
• To undertake any other duties as reasonably requested.

Confidentiality

• The post holder is required not to disclose such information, particularly that relating to patients and staff. All employees are subject to the Data Protection Act 1998 and must maintain strict confidentiality.

Health and Safety

• The post holder must co-operate with management in discharging responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and take reasonable care for health and safety of self and others.

Equal Opportunities

• The post holder is required to carry out responsibilities with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

Risk Management

• All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly.

Conflict of Interests

• The post holder must declare to the Trust all private interests which could potentially result in a conflict of interest.