Job summary
- Main area
- Finance
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 193-7749434COR
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Finance Assistant - Planned Care
NHS AfC: Band 4
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Finance Assistant to join the Finance Team supporting Planned Care services at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
The role is ideal for someone with strong numerical skills, attention to detail and an interest in developing an career in NHS Finance. You will place a key role in supporting the production of management accounts, monthly reporting and budgetary control, working with both clinical and operational teams, to help the Trust deliver high quality patient care.
Main duties of the job
Please refer to full Job Description but in summary:
Support the preparation of monthly management accounts
Assist with budget monitoring, forecasting and variance analysis
Work closely with budget holders to provide accurate and timely financial information
Assist with adhoc costings, income analysis and reporting
Support annual processes including budgeting and year end closedown, along with some audit requirements
Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Finance Directorate and Planned Care Teams
Working for our organisation
Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.
Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.
If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.
Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for supporting the Care Group Finance Team in the provision of professional analysis of financial and business information to contribute to operational management and decision making within designated areas of the Trust.
To assist in the provision of financial support and advice to Directorates
· To be responsible for a specified workload, with the support of the Finance Manager, in the production of monthly management accounts and performance information
· Helping to maintain the accuracy of Finance General ledger, including requesting invoices, monthly accruals & prepayments, plus any changes required to budgets
· Provide support to the Finance Manager in responding to enquiries from budget holders and managers and assisting them on all operation finance and performance issues
· Support the Finance Manager in the training of new budget holders
· Meet budget holders unaccompanied where appropriate
· Assist in the formulation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts, using appropriate spreadsheets and software packages to calculate pay and non-pay expenditure projections and correctly input into the financial system
· Produce ad hoc reports, including spreadsheets and graphs, as required
· Be responsible for requisitions and invoicing queries related to centrally managed services within the Care Group
Manage own workload
· Responsible for reconciliation of ESR to the budgeted establishment and processing changes to the both ESR and the ledger in line with the Budget Virement process
· Responsible for checking payroll data and the production of code correction journals
· Raise all accruals and prepayment journals as appropriate and then be responsible for the input of them onto the financial ledger
· Be responsible for the raising of invoices to ensure the correct level of income is received and cash flow maintained
Ensure that all work is completed in line with Care Group and Trust deadlines
· To undertake all work within Trust financial procedures, policies, guidelines and best accounting practices
· Be responsible for planning own work to meet monthly and periodic Care Group and Trust timetable deadlines
Investigate and analyse monthly variances
· Investigation and analysis of initial budget variances, performance management and expenditure trends, with guidance/direction from Finance Manager
· Monitoring of computer generated accounting information, comparisons with budget and correction of errors
· Raise and input budget variations and accrual journals as necessary
Assist in providing information for statutory and regulatory returns
· Assist in providing information to support the production of annual accounts, external audit and Monitor returns, as guided by Finance Manager
Other duties and responsibilities
· Support the Finance Manager as required
· Cover the duties of the Finance Manager in the event of short term absence
· Undertake other ad hoc duties as and when required by Finance Manager and Care Group Director of Finance
· Provide support to cover other Care Group finance needs during periods of absence
Professional/Technical
- Become an expert user on Excel/Jedox, and a user of Oracle and any other internal financial systems
Person specification
Education and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of using accounting ledger systems
- AAT Intermediate level or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Management accounts experience
- Actively Studying for a full professional qualification
Skills, Knowledge & Attributes
Essential criteria
- IT literacy: proficient in use of MS Office systems including Excel & Word
- Pro-active and good inter-personal skills.
- Has a results orientated perspective and problem solving approach
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with a range of finance and non financial colleagues
Skills, Knowledge & Attributes
Essential criteria
- Assertive, self-confident and self-motivated
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Ability to work on own initiative.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tagara Muza
- Job title
- Finance Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01183227525
- Additional information
If Tagara is unavailable please contact Joanna Bevan (Director of Finance - Planned Care) [email protected] or call 01183225636
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