Applications are invited for a Bank Management Accountant to provide temporary support to the existing Finance team at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
The Bank role is anticipated to conclude on 31st October, 2026.
The successful candidates' primary responsibility is the production of the Trust's budget and monthly management accounts for the Trust's acute and/or community services and corporate/support services.
Applicants should be educated to degree level, or with equivalent experience as well as holding or actively studying towards a professional finance qualification at postgraduate diploma level - CCAB (or CIMA) / AAT Level 3 qualification - or able to demonstrate that they are qualified by experience.
Please note that we are unable to support sponsorship roles on Bank as we are not able to guarantee hours.
This post may be closed earlier than the advertised date, should a high volume of applications be received.
Main duties of the job
The Bank Management Accountant will:
Provide comprehensive, timely and accurate financial information and support to operational teams and budget holders.
Analyse data to help provide insights to inform decision making.
Help to prepare ledger budgets, assist with financial planning through the provision of accurate financial forecasts in collaboration with budget holders.
Work proactively with budget holders to address their queries and help to ensure budget holders adhere to the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions.
The post holder must possess excellent interrogation and presentation skills, pay strong attention to detail and requires a good working knowledge of all accounting principles involved. They will ensure a customer focused service is delivered to the division(s) and provide technical finance support to non-financial colleagues.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job responsibilities
1. 1. Communication: Meet regularly (monthly where there are concerns, less frequently where not) with both clinical and non‑clinical budget holders to focus on resolving queries, discuss budgetary issues and other financial matters. Use strong communication, persuasion and negotiation skills to explain complex financial matters to non‑finance middle and senior managers. Ensure actions from these meetings are documented with any specific requests for analysis passed onto the relevant Finance team member and any specific concerns being passed onto the Finance Business Partner. Provide training to budget holders and other key stakeholders in budget management and control. Assist in the provision of financial training and budget management to all budget managers. Present Financial Awareness sessions to new starters within the Trust, ensuring that they are aware how their small decisions can have a financial impact. Engender a culture of service and visibility to the internal and external customers of the department.
2. 2. Analytical and judgemental: Produce monthly management accounts and complete a robust rolling (12 month) forecast in line with agreed timetable, incorporating information provided by Finance Business Partners and Deputy Finance Manager. Provide regular and ad‑hoc reports and analysis to internal stakeholders from a Trust wide perspective (e.g., Trust wide CIP schemes, budget setting summary and annual planning). Provide ad‑hoc costings and investigations as required.
3. 3. Planning and Organisational Skills: Ensure the finance team delivers a service which meets the priorities and service requirements of the responsible division. Contribute to the provision of financial input to strategic planning processes, with the Deputy Finance Manager and Finance Business Partner. Contribute to managing the financial aspects of all business planning activity in the divisions, with the Deputy Finance Manager and Finance Business Partner.
4. 4. Governance: Participate in the annual budget setting process in line with agreed timescales through discussions with budget holders, information provided by Finance Business Partner, Deputy Finance Manager and other Finance colleagues. Provide notes based on the management accounts for Finance Business Partners to inform Performance review meetings and the Trust's monthly Board reporting. Provide information and support to aid contract discussions and negotiations as well as to meet any contractual requirements. Ensure budget holders have access to the information and tools they require to maintain the departmental establishment control system, which will support the running of Divisional vacancy control panels in recruitment to funded posts.
5. 5. Finance and Resources: Provide financial information, advice, and support to budget holders, responding to their queries and supporting resolution of their concerns. This includes ensuring significant variances are investigated, working with budget holders to interrogate the financial ledger sub‑systems and other information systems, to identify causes and propose solutions. Ensure all sales invoices are raised appropriately and in a timely manner. Assist the Accounts Receivable Team to maintain the debtors ledger, by following up non‑payment of invoices. Carry out all month end adjustments including material accruals and prepayments, posting journals, raising invoices, budget reconciliations and statutory record maintenance.
6. 6. Leadership and Management: Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in appraisal, supervision, action learning and by maintaining a professional/personal portfolio of learning. Ensure that all information required from finance and non‑finance colleagues is delivered in line with finance timetable, sense‑checked and any concerns raised directly with the provider of the information. Provide training to ensure budget holders are able to utilise systems and tools to manage their budgets effectively.
7. 7. Information Resources: Clearly and concisely support communication of information between budget holders and other Finance departments. This may include preparing information for Divisional Board meetings. Provide information as required to auditors. Provide ad‑hoc information to internal and external users, as required. Design and develop appropriate reporting systems in order to present information in a systematic and informative style. Ensure accuracy and relevance of information provided, with consistent cross‑referencing and sense‑checks.
8. 8. Research & Development: Undertake appropriate research in order to sense‑check information and inform financial analysis, reporting and budget setting. Any other duties and ad‑hoc support as required by the Deputy Finance Manager.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
* Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience
* Holds or is actively studying towards a professional finance qualification at postgraduate diploma level - CCAB (or CIMA) / AAT Level 3 qualification - or able to demonstrate that they are qualified by experience.
Experience & Knowledge
* Prepare and present financial information to senior managers including executive directors.
* Experience of budget management in highly complex environment, including preparing complex rolling financial forecasts.
* Advanced computer skills, especially in relation to modelling (spreadsheets), reporting and use of accounting systems.
* Experience of changing processes.
* Experience of reporting and monitoring of non-financial information.
Skills & Abilities
* Able to understand complex stakeholders needs quickly and respond effectively to them.
* Sound knowledge of NHS Policy and its application to Finance (including activity).
* Understanding of Finance IT Systems.
* Analytical skills and high levels of persuading and influencing skills
* Sound understanding of NHS funding, including the concept of payment by results (PbR).
* Contextualise business reporting through an understanding of both financial and non-financial information, including key performance indicators.
Personal Qualities
* Influence business decisions through reports, presentations and discussions with senior managers and directors
* Able to organise their work to meet deadlines and quality standards.
* Critical, but constructive in approach, with good organisational, presentation and communication skills.
* Professional individual who demonstrates leadership potential, with a commitment to CPD.
Values & Behaviours
* Build positive working relationships, respecting and valuing the contributions made by others and acting in a considerate, helpful and inclusive manner at all times.
* Encourages others to develop themselves and the service through improvement, innovation and continuous development.
* Motivated to deliver the highest possible standards and quality outcomes
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.
£39,959 to £48,117 a year Per annum, pro rata
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