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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

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Documents to download

Apply online now

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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