Senior Financial Accountant

This is a pivotal senior finance role, leading the production of the Trusts annual accounts and ensuring they are delivered to the highest professional standard, in line with national and local guidance, statutory timetables, accepted accounting standards and recognised accounting principles. The postholder will bring clarity, pace and assurance to the accounts process, ensuring colleagues understand their responsibilities and that working papers are clear, consistent, well organised and ready for robust internal and external scrutiny. The role provides energetic leadership for financial governance across the Trust. This includes maintaining and strengthening the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and Scheme of Delegation, while ensuring managers understand, apply and comply with these arrangements in practice. The postholder will ensure the Trusts statutory accounts, returns and related submissions are accurate, timely and compliant with financial, legal and regulatory requirements, interpreting complex guidance where needed and translating it into clear action for the organisation. As a senior member of the Finance function, the postholder will support the wider senior finance team, contributing professional expertise, resilience and leadership wherever required. Duties and Responsibilities Communication & Working Relationships The postholder will be a trusted senior adviser on highly complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious financial accounting matters. They will provide clear, confident and well-judged advice to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Associate Director of Financial Management, senior budget managers and other senior leaders, helping them understand the financial implications of decisions and identify an appropriate course of action. Where required, the postholder will represent and negotiate on behalf of the Trust with external organisations on significant cost areas, bringing a constructive, evidence-based and commercially aware approach to complex discussions. The postholder will present and explain complex financial accounting issues to finance and non-finance audiences, adapting language and style so that technical information is accessible, relevant and capable of supporting effective decision-making. The role will also support Trust Directors and senior managers in identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve value and strengthen the Trusts cost improvement programme. This may involve navigating sensitive or contentious issues with professionalism, tact and a clear focus on sustainability and service impact. Planning & Organisation Lead the planning, preparation and completion of statutory NHS accounts and returns, ensuring delivery in line with national timetables, legal requirements, IFRS and Department of Health and Social Care guidance. The postholder will produce and interpret high-quality financial reports for the Board, NHS England and other external stakeholders, recognising that these outputs will be subject to audit and publication within the annual report. Oversee the Trusts achievement of key financial accounting and cash-related targets, including the External Financing Limit and planning processes associated with the Target Return. Lead the management of the Trusts charitable funds, including planning, preparing and completing statutory accounts and ensuring accurate submission to the Charity Commission. Provide strategic oversight of the Trusts cash management function, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, banking arrangements and relevant transparency reporting. Manage Trust purchase cards and treasury management arrangements, ensuring robust control, appropriate use and clear accountability. Ensure effective financial systems are in place to support strong financial control across the Trust, integrating with wider systems and meeting the needs of internal and external users. The postholder will review, recommend and lead improvements in response to changing organisational requirements. Lead and performance-manage the financial accounting, charitable funds, cash management and financial systems teams, including workforce planning, appraisals, recruitment, job description development, feedback, coaching and, where necessary, counselling or disciplinary processes. Coordinate the preparation of plans, monitoring returns and submissions to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, ensuring quality, consistency and timely delivery. Act as the Trusts point of contact for insurance, VAT and banking arrangements, providing clear technical advice and maintaining effective external relationships. Maintain current knowledge of legal, professional and NHS financial reporting requirements, interpreting standards and guidance, advising colleagues up to Board level and supporting sound judgements where opinions may differ. Advise finance and non-finance colleagues on financial and IT matters, using clear, accessible language to build confidence, understanding and compliance. Provide cover and senior finance leadership across the wider Finance team as required, contributing flexibly to organisational priorities. Maintain and develop professional, management and technical skills through training and continuing professional development. Provide technical financial advice and support on capital matters, ensuring appropriate accounting treatment and governance. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy Although this is not a direct patient care role, the postholder may occasionally respond to queries from patients or service users on general financial matters, doing so with professionalism, clarity and sensitivity. Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility The postholder will lead the review and updating of the Trusts Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Scheme of Delegation, ensuring these remain current, practical and aligned to statutory and NHS requirements. They will develop financial policies and processes for implementation across the Trust, interpreting internal, external and DHSC requirements and assessing the impact of national policy on the Trusts financial operations. A key part of the role is to oversee and communicate financial procedures across the organisation, ensuring the Trust has a robust, understood and consistently applied financial operating framework. The postholder will undertake surveys, audits and reviews where these support improvement in financial accounting services, strengthening controls, efficiency and user experience. They will ensure the Trust is alerted to changes in financial accounting and reporting requirements, advising on the implications and recommending clear, timely and proportionate action. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources The postholder is responsible for assessing, managing and advising on the Trusts working capital requirement, currently around £8.0m, ensuring associated arrangements are planned, controlled and aligned with the Trusts financial strategy. On behalf of the Trust, the postholder will organise any borrowing requirements needed to support financial resilience, ensuring decisions are properly evidenced, governed and communicated. Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management The postholder will provide confident day-to-day leadership for the financial accounting, charitable funds and cash management teams. This includes direct line management of a Band 7 post, who has operational responsibility for team members including Band 5, Band 3 and apprentice colleagues. The role will support recruitment, appraisal, training, delegation, performance management and, where required, disciplinary arrangements. As part of the senior finance team, the postholder will actively contribute to improving the overall performance, capability and reputation of the Finance function, modelling professionalism, curiosity, accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement. Information Resources & Administrative Duties On an ongoing basis, the postholder will review, adapt and design financial systems and administrative processes within financial accounting functions, ensuring they enhance team performance, strengthen financial control and support the wider Trust to work efficiently and confidently.