Job summary
- Main area
- Finance
- Grade
- Band 4 Annex 21 - Band 4
- Contract
- 20 months (fixed term 20 months)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 188-THQ240526
- Employer
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Southampton General Hospital
- Town
- Southampton
- Salary
- £24,852.56 pa Annex 21 - Pay
- Closing
- 17/06/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 22/06/2026
Employer heading
Senior Finance Assistant (Apprentice)
Band 4 Annex 21 - Band 4
Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to build a rewarding career in finance within the NHS?
We are delighted to offer a Senior Finance Apprentice role within our Finance Team, supporting a £1bn+ high‑performing NHS Foundation Trust and its subsidiary companies. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated individual who is keen to develop their finance knowledge while gaining hands‑on experience in a large, professional and highly respected finance function.
We are committed to your continuous professional development and provide a supportive, flexible and collaborative working environment, where your health and wellbeing are equally valued alongside your career progression. You will be fully supported to complete a Level 4 Finance Apprenticeship, studying either AAT Level 4 or the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, while gaining valuable practical experience.
As part of our 100‑strong Finance Team, you will gain insight into a wide range of accounting services and benefit from working alongside experienced, committed professionals. The Subsidiary Finance Team provides accounting support to the three subsidiary companies of UHS, with a combined turnover of approximately £215m, offering excellent exposure to complex, real‑world financial operations at scale.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, detail‑focused individual who is eager to learn, contribute and grow within a successful NHS organisation.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
WHAT YOU’LL DO
As a Senior Finance apprentice, you’ll support the subsidiary finance team with day-to-day core financial operations, including supporting month-end activities, payments to suppliers, raising invoices, answering budget manager queries, reconciling control accounts and using Excel to analyse and present financial data to support decision-making. This role offers genuine variety and the chance to understand how finance supports the wider organisation.
Alongside the practical experience, you will undertake a Level 4 finance apprenticeship and study Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 4 or CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. You’ll receive fully supported study time and off-the-job training, which is valued equally alongside your practical experience. This role is designed to help you succeed both professionally and academically.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for someone who is motivated, curious and genuinely keen to learn. You’ll enjoy working as part of a team, take pride in your work and feel confident asking questions and sharing ideas.
This opportunity will provide a strong stepping stone for further career development. At the end of this Level 4 apprenticeship, you will be either a member of AAT or hold the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. Both provide a strong foundation for further progress and completion of a Chartered Accountancy Qualification.
As this is a higher-level apprenticeship, applicants must already hold an AAT Level 3 or equivalent qualification, and ideally have some finance experience.
Due to the nature of this role, you will be a team player with strong communication skills who is willing to work hard and be adaptable to the different demands of the department. You will have strong attention to detail and will be honest with all the work that you do. You will demonstrate independence and initiative when carrying out tasks. A good working knowledge of Excel is important, such as proficiency in data manipulation through the use of Pivot Tables, formulas and filters.
Person specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential criteria
- Capable of attaining Level 4 apprenticeship.
- Level 3 or equivalent experience.
- Previous experience in a Finance environment.
- Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent standard.
- Ability to effectively cope with variety of ongoing tasks/issues at the same time.
- Clear and concise verbal & written communication at all levels, including managers and executives.
- Ability to work to deadlines.
- Accurate and timely production of information.
- Follow procedures and guidelines.
- Can work alone or as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
- Courses / further study attended to demonstrate evidence of personal development.
- NHS Finance experience.
- Knowledge of Oracle financial systems.
- MS Access experience.
- Experience of cash forecasting.
Skills and competencies
Essential criteria
- Attention to detail
- numeracy skills
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Patients First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Pearce
- Job title
- Senior Management Accountant
- Email address
- [email protected]
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