County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Contracting Accountant
The closing date is 26 May 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a suitablyexperienced and motivated Contracting Accountant to join our successful teamwithin the award winning, Financial Management function at County Durham andDarlington NHS Foundation Trust.
The role is a key part of our finance team providingfinancial support and guidance to the organisation and supporting the financialstrategy of the department. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who ispassionate about what they do in order to support delivering the best care forpatients.
In return we will offer you a warm and welcoming environmentwhere you will be fully supported.
We operate an agile working policy, whereby, the team arebased on site for a proportion of the week and have the option to work at home,for 2 days per week, on a rota basis.
This role is positioned to enable excellentdevelopmental and career progression opportunities.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be the trust expert in NHS contracts, theNHS Payment Scheme (National Tariff), Reference costs and patient levelcosting.
The post holder will be responsible for the management andperformance of the Contracting & Development Team in the provision of ahigh quality and responsive service to the Finance Department and to the Trust.The post holder will be responsible for monitoring contracts, managingrelationships with Commissioners as well as leading costing and pricing for theorganisation. The post holder will work closely with Financial Management,Financial Services, Tendering and with other senior managers within the Trust.The role encompasses;
Contracting & Income
Financial Planning & Budget Control (Clinical Income)
Efficiency & Productivity Improvement
Management of the Contracting & Development Team
Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
The scope of the role, specifically in terms of financialplanning and control and financial performance and reporting covers the entireclinical income of the Trust, which will be c£688m.
The post holder will be responsible for the management andperformance of the Contracting and Development / Costing Team in the provisionof a high quality and responsive service to the directorate and will lead onthe setting, maintenance and development of financial standards of performanceand service delivery within the team.
In the discharge of his/her duties the post holder will beexpected to communicate closely and effectively with commissioners, clinicaldirectors, lead clinicians, care group & other service managers and willrepresent the finance department at sub committees of the care group and theTrust at meeting with external agencies.
The main duties associated with this role are detailedbelow.
Contracting and Income:
Through the provision of expert, high quality, timely,financial and business advice the Contracting & Development Accountant willtake lead responsibility for the monitoring and contract management and controlof the Trusts clinical contract income and thereby assist the Trust in the achievementof financial surplus. More specifically this will include leading on:
Planning, implementing, managing and designing thespecifications and outcomes for the legally binding acute and communitycontracts and service level agreements with commissioners
Performance management of contracts and service levelagreements and the identification and implementation of remedial action plans
Design, control and pro-active management of the contractvariation processes, both financial and non-financial.
Evaluating the financial implications and risks associatedwith changes in methods of service delivery
Assessing the financial and economic implications ofnational and local policies, targets and procedures relating to contracting.
The accuracy and maximisation of the Trusts income underthe NHS payment system regime (*or current contractual framework) ensuring allactivity is recorded onto Trust Information systems in order to ensure theaccuracy and maximisation of Trust income
Production of internal income financial and activityreports to Management Teams and Trust Board
Provision of timely and accurate financial information,guidance, advice to Trust Directors and Senior Management for decision makingpurposes.
Acting as the Trusts technical expert on the NHS PaymentSystem and commissioning issues
Developing and maintaining systems to monitor the Trustscontract income performance providing detailed financial and activity reportsand forecasts to the Associate Director of Finance and Care Groups of the Trustas well as various commissioners
Liaising with the Associate Director of Finance FinancialServices to ensure all income due to the Trust is recovered in a timely andaccurate manner
Ensuring all commissioner income reports are sufficientlydetailed and accurate to allow commissioners to process payments with theminimum of query
Provision of training, advice and support to finance andnon finance colleagues on the financial implications of complex NHS legislation,NHS financial policies and UK accounting standards particularly in relation tothe NHS Payment System and commissioning
Costing and Pricing
The Contracting & Development Accountant will take thelead role for costing and pricing for the Trust, this will include leadingPatient Level Costing, reference costs and benchmarking:
Developing, improving and maintaining the Trust costingsystems including the Trusts Patient Level Costing system.
Leading on the production and submission of Reference Costsin accordance with national deadlines; continually improving the quality of thesubmission; achieving at least, significant assurance in audit review;
Ensuring all activity is recorded in line with nationalrequirements and the development of procedure costing in conjunction withclinical and non clinical staff
Responsible for the production of all service prices
Responsible for the production of accurate and timelyfinancial information and submissions in line with national formats anddeadlines
Responsible for the benchmark returns and analysisassisting the identification of opportunities to drive improvements in clinicalefficiency and productivity
The provision of advice and support for the costing of allinternal and external service developments.
Production and co-ordination of financial plans for servicedelivery at both operational and corporate level
Financial Planning & Budget Control (Clinical Income)
The Contracting & Development Accountant will take thelead on Clinical Income planning and budgetary control, leading on:
Setting and maintenance of the Trust Level Clinical IncomeBudgets
Dissemination of service line income budgets & reportsto care groups and their financial management teams
Input into the production of the Trusts annual estimatesprocess
Financial modelling of income using activity growth,referral rates, conversion rates, modernisation shifts and the Choice agenda
The accurate reporting of income and variances within theTrust Financial Reporting system ensuring the effective completion of monthlyand annual closedown.
The Contracting & Development Accountant will take thelead role on the ongoing strategic development of the Patient Level Costingsystem, ensuring that the resulting business information and intelligence iseffectively fed into the financial management teams and reported to the Trustto inform decision making and service development. This will include:
Developing, improving and maintaining service linereporting systems
Provision of timely and accurate service line reports toSenior Management & Directors within the Trust
Identifying opportunities to increase income and profitsmargins
Management of the Contracting and Development Team
The Contracting & Development Accountant will supervise,manage and motivate the financial management team to ensure delivery of highquality and timely financial advice & information. More specifically thiswill include:
Leading on staff appointment, development, training andeducation including annual appraisals, giving advice and guidance on careerdevelopment, and contribution to the professional training of team members
Leading, alongside the other Care Group & CorporateAccountants, a process of continuous improvement at all levels in thedepartment, which will contribute to increased productivity within the team,and to improving the quality and usefulness of financial and business adviceand information provided to the Clinical Care Groups and Corporate Divisionalteams.
Other Corporate Finance Responsibilities
To ensure compliance with the requirements and deadlinesfor key financial returns such as Annual Accounts, NHSIE plans and returns,Tariff Road Testing, freedom of information requests, liaison withinternal/external audit etc.
To contribute to the development of the financial skillsand business awareness of clinical staff in order to maximise the potential forimprovement in clinical quality, operational efficiency & financial performanceresulting from decisions made at divisional level
To perform any other duties as may be delegated from timeto time.
Person Specification
Special Skills and Knowledge
* Communication & Relationship Skills
* The ability to effectively communicate complex, contentious or sensitive information to staff of a wide variety of professional backgrounds and seniority.
* The ability to advise, influence and negotiate including those of greater seniority, in matters effecting financial performance and delivery of financial objectives. This will include the presentation of complex financial and non financial information to non financial managers, occasionally in large groups.
* Understands, and can effectively convey current financial concepts clearly and persuasively.
* Analytical & Judgement Skills
* Ability to analyse highly complex situations, scenarios and projects, and is able to determine the financial impact of these and contribute to effective decision making in an uncertain environment.
* Ability to produce and analyse business cases, including the development and appraisal of options, to optimise the allocation of resources.
* Ability to make judgements and financial decisions via risk based assessments of leading options which may conflict.
* Planning & Organisation Skills
* The ability to formulate financial plans for responsible areas, and contribute to the formulation of financial strategy.
* Ability to plan and manage the workload of own team, to ensure workload is delivered to a high quality within deadlines.
* Governance and Risk Management
* Introduces and manages issues relating to corporate and financial governance and ensures that financial risk is planned for and managed
* Ensures compliance with Standing Orders, SFIs and Schemes of Delegation
* Promotes strong financial management culture and develops finance skills and knowledge of governance issues
* Customer Focused Business Advice
* Uses a broad understanding of the organisation, clinical issues, customers and stakeholders to provide business advice
* Generates and interprets financial information to help the Care Group understand itself more fully
* Identifies and implements opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services provided
* Using Information Technology
* Uses IT to gather, interpret and manipulate information to meet the needs of the Care Group
* Mental & Physical Attributes
* Excellent organisational skills
* Ability to cope with rapid and sustained change
* Capable of working independently
* Able to work under pressure and deliver high quality work within challenging deadlines
* Interpersonal Skills
* Clear and effective communication and presentation skills.
* Strong people management skills team working, motivation & delegation.
* Strong influencing, analytical and negotiation skills
* Able to cope with and resolve conflict.
* Project management skills with the capability of managing complex tasks to tight deadlines within a complex changing environment.
* Experience of Oracle general ledger and Microsoft Office (including MS Access)
* Experience of Patient Level Costing Systems
* Experience of PowerBI
* Experience of SQL
Experience
* Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience at middle management level
* In depth knowledge of the Trust financial regime, including the NHS Payment System, costing & information processes within the NHS.
* Able to advise finance and non finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing detailed advice and guidance;
* Knowledge, experience and expertise in finance management and staff management.
* Good understanding of the performance management and financial framework within the NHS.
* Exposure to working at senior management level
Special Requirements
* A commitment to the continuous development of the finance department to be innovative and to constantly seek new ways of working / improving performance.
* Ability to meet the travel requirements of this post.
Qualifications
* CCAB Professional Accountancy Qualification with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience.
* Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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