Job overview

The Head of Financial Accounting is a key leadership role within the Finance and Procurement team at DCHS.

The role purpose is to ensure the effective operation and development of financial control and reporting mechanisms maintaining a focus on integrity and efficacy of these systems in support of overall organisational objectives.

Key role responsibilities include overall management of the financial ledger system, development of the financial accounting team and accounting for fixed assets and capital expenditure.

Although accountable to the Deputy Director of Finance, the post holder will be expected to work autonomously, guided by policies and professional accounting standards. The post holder will be expected to interpret such policies and standards.

This post is only available to candidates who are currently employed by one of the following organisations within the Derby & Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB cluster:

DCHS

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS FT

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT

University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS FT

Derbyshire ICB

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS FT

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS FT

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust

United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Lincolnshire ICB

Main duties of the job

Overall responsibility for planning and producing the annual accounts of the Trust, in compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, including being the Trust lead with the external auditors and preparing papers for the Director of finance and the Audit Committee research.

Interpretation and application of relevant statutory and regulator guidance and accounting standards, notably the NHS Foundation Trust annual reporting manual.

Liaise and negotiate with external auditors regarding the content of information provided in the Trust's Annual Accounts and Returns: For example, the method of calculation of the Trusts Bad Debt Provision or the basis for the Partial Exemption VAT calculation research.

Preparation of detailed working papers to satisfy external audit requirements research.

Responsibility for securing the Agreement of Balances exercise. Negotiation with other NHS bodies where necessary and completing returns within the required deadlines.

Working for our organisation

Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people’s own homes and via virtual consultations.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) is one of the largest providers of specialist community healthcare in England and we currently employ around 4,500 staff.  We deliver a variety of services across Derbyshire, caring for nearly 1.8 million patients each year.

We deliver patient care through 11 community hospitals, 4 minor injury units, 29 health centres and a learning disability centre.  Another key part of our service is out in the community where we care for people in their own homes via therapists, health visitors and district nurses, and promoting public health in the wider community.  As a Trust we care for patients of all ages with a special focus on the needs of elderly people and the very young.

DCHS has been recognised as a top 10 NHS organisation to work for in the UK by the Health Service Journal and NHS Employers in their Best Places to Work 2015 campaign.  The Trust is also the runner-up in the category for the best NHS community trust employer.

TWITTER/FACEBOOK - DCHS has its own Social Media accounts for recruitment. Follow us/like us via @dchsjobs

Our vision “to be the best provider of local healthcare and to be a great place to work”

Our values:

1) To get the basics right
2) To act with compassion and respect
3) To make a difference
4) To value and develop teamwork
5) To value everyone’s contribution because everyone matters

The majority of our locations offer free parking facilities for staff.

We will communicate with you regarding your application via email so please check your email account on a regular basis.  If using hotmail, MSN or yahoo email accounts please check your 'junk/spam' mail regularly.

If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team,   01332 564856, option 1, option 1  or   [email protected]  and we will be happy to provide assistance.

Please note - if we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you.  Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.