Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To assist in the production and monitoring of budgets in accordance with Trust guidelines and agreed deadlines.

This includes:

• Supporting the production of management information, with particular emphasis on month-end management accounts and annual budgets.

• Processing and accounting for documents relating to management information in line with the Trust’s financial procedures, ensuring sufficient supporting evidence is retained to maintain a full audit trail. Investigate and resolve discrepancies as required.

• Assisting management in meeting statutory obligations.

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Divisional and Departmental Managers to position the Finance Department as a trusted advisory service.

• Providing the Assistant Management Accountant/Team Leader with the necessary information to build and maintain good relationships with external bodies. This includes addressing user needs, resolving funding issues, and ensuring income is received by raising invoices where appropriate.

• Assisting with the daily systems administration of the department and planning your workload to ensure all routine tasks (daily, weekly, monthly) are completed accurately and on schedule in line with agreed timetables.

• Contributing to the continuous improvement of the team and its processes.

Budgetary Control

• Prepare all supporting documentation for the Trust’s budget-setting process, ensuring all relevant factors are incorporated. Attend meetings with Divisional Managers and Department Heads to agree rolling budgets and ensure cost pressures for the coming year are identified and appropriately costed.

• Ensure the timely and accurate delivery of budget statements for specific areas, ensuring the information is clearly and accurately presented.

• Identify cost pressures within the division on a monthly basis and report them to the Finance Business Partner.

• Remain aware of any business cases being developed and report these to the Finance Business Partner.

• Ensure Divisional Managers receive financial information in a timely manner, arranging and attending meetings to discuss areas of concern with the support of the Team Leader.

• Ensure newly appointed Budget Holders are directed to finance training sessions provided by the wider finance team, in which the postholder will play a role in delivery.

Financial Management

• Maintain and update establishment budgets, ensuring Divisional Managers operate within their allocated resources. Provide guidance on the use of available budgets and any associated limitations. Use TRAC as an establishment control tool and carry out workforce checks to ensure budgets reconcile accurately at all times.

• Ensure compliance with the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions by Directorate Managers.

• Document significant variances in expenditure and ad hoc income on a monthly basis, reporting them to the Finance Business Partner. Recommend solutions to support the Trust in remaining within its agreed control total.

• Complete and provide commentary on various reports explaining variances for the Head of Reporting and Processing, to support the preparation of monthly Board papers.

• Provide information for performance monitoring meetings, highlighting cost pressures and other key issues to be discussed by the Clinical Director, Divisional Managers, and the Director of Finance.

• Attend ad hoc meetings with the Senior Finance Team to explain the financial position of the division and respond to queries raised by senior finance managers.

• Organise and participate in monthly meetings with Divisional Managers to review their month-end financial position, providing advice and recommendations on effective budget utilisation, cost analysis, and decision-making support.

• Produce figures and supporting information for divisional ad hoc returns as required.