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Job summary

Main area
Finance
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Cover maternity leave)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Hybrid)
Job ref
285-9462-CORP
Employer
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Jack Judge House
Town
Oldbury
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
11/11/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Financial Accountant

NHS AfC: Band 6

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We’re looking for people who care about others, take responsibility, treat people with respect and have the confidence to speak up and shape what comes next.

We’re focused on the future, with a clear Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme driving improvement across our services and communities.

What we do

·       Adult and older adult mental health

·       Children and young people’s mental health

·       Specialist learning disability services

·       Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley

Why join now

We’ve got real momentum. Clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.

Our culture is built around being compassionate, accountable, respectful and empowering each other - you’ll see this in how teams support patients and colleagues every day.
You’ll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and opportunities to learn and develop.

There’s room to grow. A wide range of services, space to try ideas and a voice that’s heard.

It’s a great place to live. Diverse communities, good transport links, strong schools and green space, with a lower cost of living than many city regions.

What it’s like to work here

You’ll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share pressures and celebrate wins. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, speak up and learn from experience. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate.

Who we are

We’re 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you’re interested in the role but don’t meet every requirement, please apply — we value potential, different perspectives and people who want to grow.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Armed Forces Community

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, service leavers, military spouses and members of the wider Armed Forces community. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and attributes developed through military service and are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community in their careers.

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Financial Accountant to join our Finance team. This key role will lead on statutory and regulatory financial reporting, support the annual accounts and external audit process and charitable accounting, and help ensure strong financial controls and timely month-end delivery. The post holder will manage and develop colleagues, provide expert technical advice and deputise for the Financial Controller when required.

At Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be part of an inclusive organisation providing vital mental health, learning disability and community healthcare services across the Black Country. We value compassion, respect, accountability and the confidence to make a difference.

Main duties of the job

·       Preparing statutory returns and reviewing related working papers prepared by the Financial Services team,

·       Liaise with external auditors on audit queries during the interim and final audit of the annual accounts, and all other assurance reviews.

·       Charitable Accounts Accountant - Management of the BCHFT Charitable Accounts ensuring all cash and expenditure is accounted for in the correct account

Working for our organisation

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

We currently employ over 5,000 members of staff and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·       Preparing statutory returns and reviewing related working papers prepared by the Financial Services team, in line with accounting standards, Trust policies, NHSI guidance and audit specifications; including annual accounts, NHS agreement of balances exercise and other regulatory returns to external authorities.

·       Liaise with external auditors on audit queries during the interim and final audit of the annual accounts, and all other assurance reviews.

·       Charitable Accounts Accountant - Management of the BCHFT Charitable Accounts ensuring all cash and expenditure is accounted for in the correct account

·       Coordinate control account reconciliations within strict month-end reporting deadlines. This should be supported by regular review and monitoring of the trial balance and KPIs to highlight and explain exceptions.

·       Contribute to the Trust’s annual business planning process by providing supporting information to the Head of Financial Services.

·       Support the development and improvement of policies, procedures, systems and processes within Financial Services, in order to increase efficiency and reduce controls risk in compliance with statutory and internal reporting requirements.

·       This includes supporting internal audit reviews in own area of work and assisting the Financial Controller to deliver agreed actions as part of the on-going audit and counter fraud processes.

·       Management of monthly timetable to ensure the month-end duties are completed within tight timescales for the month-end accounts close.

·       Deputise for Financial Controller

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Degree level or equivalent professional qualification
  • CCAB Finalist accountant or equivalent

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable practical financial accounting experience within the NHS
  • Experience of supervising/managing staff
  • Knowledge of NHS regime and current issues
  • Experience of liaising with external and internal stakeholders
  • Knowledge of financial and accounting procedures, legislation and NHS Finance policies
  • Knowledge of Financial Services – including treasury management and capital
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of financial accounting within the social care sector or voluntary sector
  • Experience of working within a NHS Foundation Trust regime

Skills/Personal qualities

Essential criteria
  • Good inter-personal skills and ability to work as a member of a team and on their own initiative
  • Proficient in the use of Computers and spreadsheet applications in order to provide quality information to all levels of the organisation
  • Possess knowledge & experience of computerised accounting systems
  • Implement financial policies and systems to ensure integrity of financial information
  • Ability to prepare accurate & concise financial reports and information within tight time constraints & conflicting demands
  • Ability to manage a number of on-going projects, with little recourse to others
  • Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise own work & staff under their supervision
  • Ability to make timely and sound decisions
  • Ability to concentrate for long periods while producing and analysing financial information
  • Ability to switch tasks as the need arises

Trust Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Be compassionate, empathetic and caring to everyone
  • Enable yourself and others to act with confidence and authority in order to achieve the best outcome for everyone
  • Work with others. Be inclusive by understanding and valuing others to achieve the best results for everyone and everything we do
  • Act with transparency and honesty; respect and value others to do the right thing at the right time for everyone

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Bronze Award

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kelly Joseph
Job title
Financial Controller
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0121 227 6031
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