Divisional Finance Advisor

The post holder will assist the Head of Financial Management (HoFM) and Deputy Divisional Finance Managers (DDFMs) in the provision of sound financial information to the Senior Finance Team, Divisional budget managers and other stakeholders. The post holder will ensure that all work is completed, either directly or by staff under their supervision, in line with both local & national timetables and the Trust's Standing Financial Orders and Instructions. The post holders will be assisting in the provision of a management accounting service to the Trust's Divisions. This will involve ensuring that all financial information relating to these Divisions is correctly processed. The post holders will also provide effective financial support and advice to the Divisions, Ø Producing and assisting in the development of accurate monthly budgetary and associated information Ø Reporting to the Divisional/Deputy Finance Manager upon the monthly performance of a range of designated budgets highlighting any significant movements. Ø Advising, supporting and being a point of contact to budget managers within the Trust. Ø Providing accurate advice and detail in relation to ESR and act as a point of contact to the Department. Ø Assisting the DDFM and other Senior Divisional Finance Advisors with internal training. Ø Support Innovation and the Finance 'Continuous Improvement' Agenda in day to day working., Producing and assisting in the development of accurate budgetary and associated information.

• The accurate coding of prime documents including the authorisation and completion of expenditure journals and budget journals.
• Authorise and ensure all budget adjustments required are accurately calculated recorded and actioned.
• The authenticity and accuracy of all expenditure transactions. This requires knowledge of payroll and accounts payable systems. Incorrect payments must be identified and resolved.
• The authenticity and accuracy of all expenditure accruals and recharges, both internal and external.
• Ensure that debtor invoices are raised for income due.
• Carry out the reconciliation of the establishments between the Finance ledger system and the Trusts Personnel Information System.
• Interrogate and analyse various computer systems / software packages to produce financial information and reports. This will include the day-to-day responsibility for specific computer systems.
• Responsible for the distribution of all relevant month end budget statements and associated information to budget holders in line with the set timetable.
• Ensure that the integrity of the coding structure in the financial ledger is always maintained, and that revised summary reporting hierarchies are developed as required in response to organisational change.
• Keep up to date with VAT guidance and ensure VAT is reclaimed through correct coding.
• Ensure that all information and returns are produced in line with the Trust's Standing Orders & Standing Financial Instructions.
• Assist the HoFM in working with the Trust's Internal and External Auditors as and when required.
• Assisting the Financial Management Team in the annual budget setting process.
Reporting to the Divisional Finance Manager upon the monthly performance of a range of designated budgets
• Resolve financial queries, by using own judgement and interpretation skills.
• Assist the Deputy Divisional Finance Manager as and when required.
• Report to the Divisional Finance Manager upon the monthly performance of budgets highlighting any significant movements.
• Provide financial analysis through spreadsheets, databases, and the ledger report writer to meet the needs of the Divisional Finance Managers
• Frequently carry out non routine management accounting tasks. These will include such tasks as the costing of skill mix reviews, service development proposals and efficiency schemes
Advising, supporting & being the point of contact to budget holders on a range of budgets within the Divisions.
• To act as a point of contact for all Divisional budget holders on a range of day-to-day financial issues. This involves responding to budget holder's financial queries and information requests. Such requests will have to be prioritised to ensure timely, accurate and customer focused responses. The effective delegation to support staff of these tasks will be required.
• Arranging and attend meetings with budget managers on a pro-active and reactive basis. Will attend such meetings unsupervised and give budgeting advice as appropriate. Parameters to be determined by the Divisional Finance Managers and Deputy Divisional Finance Managers.
• Produce and present accurate and meaningful financial information to budget holders to enable them to manage their service within the available resources. This will include activity data and health care income.
• To carry out training for non-financial managers in financial matters. This will extend to assisting in formal training sessions presenting to groups of staff.
All the above contact with budget managers may concern issues that can be confidential and contentious in nature Role within Financial Management Team MANAGEMENT
• Manages own workload. Plans, organises, and reviews workloads in-line with monthly and annual financial timetables.
• Will be responsible for monitoring and reviewing the day-to-day workload of any staff under their control. Must carry out effective delegation and prioritisation of tasks.
• Ensure staff absences and "peak times" are covered by working flexibly and coordinating the workload and hours of the staff within the department.
• Contribute to the development of the skills and competencies of staff under their control. Providing the necessary guidance and training to ensure the motivation and development of staff and the safeguarding of accounting standards.
• Ability to deal with staff issues which at times can be sensitive, confidential and distressing. This is within the parameters of day-to-day supervision. Any Formal and serious staffing issues to be referred to a senior member of staff.
COMMUNICATION
• Within the duties outlined must communicate effectively to ensure complex issues are clear and understandable. This will involve verbal, written and presentational skills.
• Is expected to provide complex information in a clear and persuasive manner to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other members of staff, internal and external to the Finance Department
POLICY · Carry out duties based on an advanced level of understanding of technical accounting principles and procedures.
• Ensure that working practices within the Financial Management Department are up to date and fit for purpose.
• Ensure that working practices within the Financial Management Department are harmonised. Participate in the production of desk top procedure notes for all Financial Management tasks
• Continually assess and audits own work and that of the management accounting teams to further improve the quality and effectiveness of financial information.
• Participate in the implementation of new policies within the Financial Management Department as instructed by. The Chief Management Accountant Identify any weakness in systems and procedures and initiate any action to remedy the problem. Improve control and efficiency by enhancing accounting procedures. This may affect external departments and organisation
• Contribute to the identification of system and procedure weakness and improve accounting procedures to enhance control and efficiency. This may affect external departments and organisations., 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.
  
  AAT Member / Degree / CCAB Certificate level accountancy qualification., Extensive experience in using all Microsoft Office programmes. Able to use Microsoft excel to an advanced level., Experience of working within a finance department. Must be familiar with a wide range of finance procedures., Understanding of Financial Management and Accounting Techniques and Procedures in a large, varied and complex organisation., Proven ability to communicate with confidence with people of all different levels and backgrounds., Ability to train, develop and motivate staff
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., The Finance Department has been at the forefront of change and continual improvement and has recently won a national HFMA award for embracing technology as well as the Public Sector Finance award for Training & Development. The Department is both FSD and FFF level 3 accredited so there is no better time to join this inspiring team.
Our accreditation displays our commitment to being a leading-edge Finance Function, supporting the wider improvement of the North West finance system and influencing local and national strategy. We provide a supportive environment in which to learn and develop, with the opportunity to further your skills and career within an exciting and evolving environment., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

We actively participate in mentoring and coaching programmes and all staff have opportunities for protected learning time. Joining our inclusive and innovative team comes with a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements, training e.g., apprenticeship options, a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. With our training schemes and support networks, you will be empowered to play a leading role in the future of healthcare, whatever your specialism or interest. And as a member of NHS staff, you will receive plenty of discounts from a host of restaurants and high-street stores too., It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.