Job summary
As part of a recent restructure of the Trust's Finance Department, an exciting opportunity has arisen for the post of Assistant Business Support and Costing Accountant.
This role will support the Head of Costing in the production of data for in the production of Patient Level Information and Costing System (PLICS) and Service Line Reporting (SLR), both of which will allow the successful candidate to develop a good understanding of the operations of the whole Trust. They will also support the Trusts Business Support Accountants, allowing them to develop a sound knowledge of the Trusts Financial Reporting processes.
The successful candidate will hold a professional accountancy qualification at diploma level such as AAT qualified or CCAB/CIMA part qualified and show evidence of Continuous Professional Development. Further study would be supported if this was something the candidate wished to pursue and can be discussed at interview.
The Finance Department maintain an office base in Sleaford, but predominantly work from home. Hot desking is available across the county, so hybrid working options can be discussed with the successful candidate. Regular attendance for initial training and at face-to-face meetings with the department and wider Trust will be required so the ability to travel is essential.
Our Standard working week is hours, which are managed according to the Trusts Flexible working procedures.
Main duties of the job
To support the Head of Costing in the production of Patient Level Information and Costing System (PLICS) and Service Line Reporting (SLR) information, ensuring that the Trust's mandatory national returns are submitted accurately in accordance with national guidance and timescales, and work with clinical/service managers to develop and agree cost apportionment methods to be used.
To support Business Support Accountants in providing service managers with financial management support.
Full duties are outlined within the detailed job description for the post.
About us
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services and a number of learning disability, autism and social care services in the county of Lincolnshire. Employing around 2,900 staff, and serving a population of over 768,400, our people lie at the heart of everything we do.
You could be part of a Trust rated by staff as one of the best mental health and learning disability trusts in England. We firmly believe the key to high quality care is a contented workforce. This is reflected in our Care Quality Commission rating of 'outstanding' for well-led and 'good' overall. In the most recent National NHS Staff Survey, our staff rated us as the number one trust nationally for staff morale and one of the top scoring NHS Trusts in the Midlands for being compassionate and inclusive. We're really proud of this!
We offer options for flexible working and provide a wide range of training and promotion opportunities in all professions. We support and celebrate diversity, have active staff networks groups and are always looking at what more we can do to support our staff.
Whether you're taking the first exciting steps in your career, itching for a new challenge or searching for a better place to raise a family, Lincolnshire has arange of rewarding health and social care careers in a county that's friendly, fascinating, affordable and brimming with everything you need to live a happy life. Visit to find out more .
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details
Support and be involved in the production of timely, accurate and reliable financial information in line with the month end and annual reporting processes.
Provide analysis of significant YTD variances and key drivers of divisional financial performance, whilst ensuring a detailed review of transactions is carried out to inform the accurate forecasting of future transactions of both the Trusts Income & Expenditure and Statement of Financial Position accounts.
Work alongside the Business Support Accountants to ensure that established budgets accurately reflect the financial plans submitted to the Trusts independent regulator, whilstensuring that managers are able to understand and use the budgets to effectively manage services.
To assist the Business Support Accountants in providing service managers with financial management support, including analysing variances, forecasting income, expenditure and working capital transactions and ensuring that service managers fully understand the financial performance of their services.
Support the Business Support Accountants in enhancing the financial understanding and awareness of service managers and non finance staff through working within service teams to provide advice and guidance.
Support in the monitoring and reporting of the Trusts efficiency schemes through providing financial advice to managers to ensure that efficiencies generated are achievable, closely monitored and remain in line with plans.
Provide service managers with ad hoc financial support including, but not limited to, analysis and explanation of budget reports, budget virements and skill mix calculations etc.
Support in the production and financial appraisal of business cases working closely with service managers to ensure costs proposed are supported by accurate information and assumptions to ensure decision making bodies are presented with sufficient financial information to make a clear and informed decision on proposals.
Support the operational finance team in completing the agreement of balances exercise ensuring that all transactions on the financial ledger system are reported and agreed upon by counter parties.
Work closely with the finance team to ensure maintenance of the integrity and accuracy of financial reports alongside developing financial information produced to meet the evolving needs of clinical /service managers.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Qualified at diploma level in an accounting based qualification eg AAT, Degree level.
2. Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Experience
Essential
3. Experience of working within a financial environment
4. Knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and applying these to work.
5. Experience of generating, analysing and forecasting monthly financial reports or Annual Accounts
Desirable
6. Experience of developing new or existing financial systems.
7. Experience of Both Income & Expenditure and Statement of Financial Position reporting.
8. Experience of the use of financial costing systems
Skills
Essential
9. Able to work under pressure to meet monthly and ad hoc deadlines.
10. To be competent in the technical use of Word processing, Spreadsheet, and Database applications.
11. Ability to extract, use and interpret data from a number of systems including financial and information systems.
12. Ability to adapt to different systems, including modules of financial ledger and trust information / Data systems
Special requirements
Essential
13. Ability to travel independently throughout the county without the use of public transport