Finance Assistant Apprentice

Job overview

This role is an 18 month apprenticeship and offers a hybrid working arrangement.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Finance Team within Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust - you will be joining at a time when you can help to redefine the team’s ethos.

For that reason, we are looking for candidates who can already demonstrate embodiment of the Trust’s vales:

• Professionalism – including self-development and demonstrating compassion to colleagues
• Respect – creating and fostering positive relationships
• Innovation – looking for continuous improvement
• Dignity – treating colleagues as individuals
• Empowerment – building your confidence and independence

You will be part of a team which has gone through significant change over recent months and are therefore looking to rebuild their resilience. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment where employees can work to the best of their abilities. We value professional development and care about health & wellbeing of our staff with many initiatives in place to make us an employer of choice and an organisation than employees are proud to be a part of.

The role will be an integral part of the Finance Directorate providing support to the wider team and providing a reliable and responsive financial support service to ensure the provision of high quality financial advice and information to Service Managers, Senior Managers and other stakeholders.

Main duties of the job

The role will link with NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) to monitor the purchase ledger in respect of chasing invoice approvals and dealing with supplier queries. The role will also be responsible for raising sales invoices, aid Oracle users with procurement queries and supplier set ups.

The job requires the post holder to have effective communication skills, both oral and written. The post holder will also be required to use their own judgement in order to find solutions in their own area but escalate any issues requiring decisions beyond their responsibility. The post holder will keep up to date with Accounting Standards and other NHS Financial guidance, be aware of the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• Assist in responding to queries in the Finance Queries in box and from budget holders in a timely manner.
• Maintain the Oracle User Hierarchy and Authorised Signatories Database.
• Prepare and post journals as required and maintain backing papers for audit purposes
• Raise sales invoices and credit notes in line with agreed schedule or as required.
• To review the Trust’s unpaid invoices report on a weekly basis and liaise with Management Accountants to ensure all invoices are processed within the prompt payment policy.
• Support the Finance team in the maintenance of the ledger, undertaking queries and setting up codes as required. This will include clearing the Trust suspense accounts.
• To contribute to the accurate allocation of overheads and recharges as necessary.
• To contribute to the costing of system transformation projects.
• To assist the Financial Accountant in preparing the Trust Annual Accounts and working papers, including the Agreement of Balances exercise.
• Support Management Accountants in the financial planning process as required.
• To contribute to the development of systems and processes within the Finance Directorate.
• To participate in the continuing professional development process.
• To organise team meetings.
• Maintain filing, in both paper and electronic form, in accordance with Trust policies

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.