Finance Assistant

Job overview

The post holder will support the Financial Accounts team in maintaining the integrity of the Trust’s banking reconciliations, cash flow forecasts, general ledger and associated feeder systems. The role will support timely and accurate payment processing, completion of reconciliations, preparation of journals and maintenance of financial records in accordance with the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions, internal procedures and relevant statutory requirements, including VAT. The post holder will also support the Financial Accountants by providing information and working papers for internal and external audit.

Please be advised that sponsorship is not eligible for this post.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

Main duties of the job

• Download daily bank transactions and complete day-to-day treasury management duties, including the preparation of cash flow information and processing of payments in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions and internal procedures.
• Maintain the Trust’s Government Banking Service and commercial bank account cashbooks on the cash management system, reconciling daily to bank statements, investigating discrepancies and completing full monthly cashbook-to-bank reconciliations.
• Validate payment requests and input them accurately onto the banking system in a timely manner, ensuring bank authorisers have sufficient time to review and approve payments ahead of banking deadlines.
• Produce weekly payment runs, associated files and remittances, ensuring payments are correctly allocated within the purchase ledger system.
• Prepare key payment schedules for approval, including statutory and voluntary payroll deductions and salary sacrifice payment schedules.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Administer the weekly payment process for agency medical and allied health professionals via outsourced payroll providers, complete associated control account reconciliations and reconcile monthly commission charges.
• Prepare and post month-end transfer and accrual journals accurately and in line with the Trust’s monthly reporting timetable.
• Reconcile control accounts and other Statement of Financial Position accounts each month, resolving discrepancies or escalating issues to the appropriate person to support the accuracy of the general ledger.
• Maintain an up-to-date working knowledge of VAT issues and legislation relevant to the role, supporting accurate VAT treatment and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Maintain the Trust’s authorised signatory database to support compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and ensure authorised signatory records and approval limits remain accurate and current.
• Provide accurate information, working papers and supporting documentation to internal and external audit, supporting timely and effective audit processes.
• Prepare weekly NHS Supply Chain journals and ensure their timely and accurate entry onto the general ledger.
• Maintain the Road Traffic Accident / Injury Costs Recovery database in respect of claims made and income received, posting transactions and reconciling balances to the general ledger.
• Certify invoices to support prompt invoice processing and accurate creditor records.
• Use finance systems, spreadsheets and databases to input, extract, analyse and reconcile financial information accurately.
• Plan and organise own workload to ensure tasks are completed within agreed timescales and service deadlines.
• Draw up, maintain and follow financial and operational procedures relating to the post holder’s own work, supporting continuity, control and training for current and future post holders.
• Complete ad hoc tasks and take on new duties as required to support changes in the wider Trust and Financial Accounts team.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.