Head of Financial Accounting

Main area Finance Grade NHS AfC: Band 8b Contract 12 months (Fixed term) Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 sessions per week (Include remote working) Job ref 260-TP-869

Site Tavistock Centre/Hybrid Working Town London Salary per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAS Closing 19/02/:59

It is a condition of this employment that you must live in and remain a resident of the United Kingdom during your employment with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19. We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.

Job overview

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.

Main duties of the job

• 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
• Preparation of detailed working papers to satisfy external audit requirements
• Responsibility for securing the Agreement of Balances exercise
• 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.

Person specification Qualifications

• CCAB professional qualification Degree or equivalent level of tertiary education Evidence of post graduate / qualification study

Knowledge I Experience

• Significant post qualification experience as a financial accountant / financial controller / head of financial accounting
• Significant experience of preparing financial statements / accounts
• Significant experience of interpreting / applying international accounting standards
• Experience of NHS financial policies and processes
• Confident user of IT e.g. Microsoft Office, integrated financial ledger system, databases. Advanced Excel
• Able to form judgements and make autonomous decisions guided by policies and procedures
• Practical experience of financial accounting practices (preparation of reconciliations, accounts payable, credit control, banking etc.)
• Good communication skills, able to explain complex financial issues to non-finance managers
• Good analytical skills, able to solve complex financial and non-financial problems
• Experience of managing a team

Personal Attributes

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and a desire to live by the Trust's values.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to plan and prioritise the completion of high volume / complex tasks
• Motivates others
• Acts with integrity and professionalism at all times
• Approachable both to staff, Finance colleagues and Trust budget managers
• Ability to negotiate and resolve disputes.
• Team player with a positive 'can do' attitude to objectives and challenges

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are particularly keen to attract candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to better meet the needs of the service users and students that we serve.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely.