Head of Financial Accounting

at  East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

The Head of Financial Accounting is a key leadership role in the Finance Department. It is responsible for developing and managing the financial accounting services within the Finance Department.

Financial Accounting

• To work as part of the senior finance team to develop and implement the Trust’s long term financial strategy, and in-year strategies necessary to meet the Trust’s financial requirements.
• To contribute to the short, medium and long term planning process with particular responsibility for cash flow, working capital, financing charges, and movements in provisions.
• To manage and develop the system for the forecast and control of the liquid assets of the Trust and charitable funds. Ensure borrowing requirements are effectively controlled and optimum benefit is derived from working capital and cash balances.
• To ensure the Trust’s liquidity levels are managed and reported.
• To ensure the Trust and charitable funds have appropriate banking arrangements.
• To lead continuous improvement in the Financial Accounting Team, taking into account internal and external requirements, and identify opportunities to streamline processes and systems where possible.
• To liaise with the Financial Management lead and Procurement to improve and develop the finance function to maximise its potential to achieve the Future Focussed Finance accreditation levels.
• To provide expert financial advice and technical support to the Trust Cash and Capital Management Group
• To provide advice on highly complex financial and corporate issues to non-financial managers, and discuss financial queries with staff and suppliers, which may be highly complex, sensitive, or contentious, and require developed negotiating skills.
• To lead the tendering process for both external and internal audit services.
• To ensure the integrity of accounting services and transactions functions and of the data in the ledger and liaise with internal and external auditors in audits designed to improve financial services.
• To ensure that internal and external audit recommendations relating to financial systems, policies and procedures are implemented.
• To lead and manage the relationship with outsourced service providers for the financial services function, ensuring that the Trust receives services that are value for money, fit for purpose, and in line with agreed contractual obligations.
• To review the integrity and development of financial systems to ensure they meet all statutory requirements and are fit for purpose and provide strategic oversight of the relationship with the outsourced provider of finance services systems development.
• To ensure the financial reporting structure is kept up to date, meeting the requirement of the Finance Department, the Divisions and budget holders, and maintain the specifications for standard reports to consider internal and external requirements.

Financial Reporting and Governance

• To be responsible for leading and managing the preparation of the Trust’s and charitable funds statutory annual accounts including interpretation and application of the required accounting standards and SORP within the required deadlines and without qualification , including the agreement of balances exercise and reports on the Trust’s compliance with statutory financial duties and targets including for capital spend (CRL), cash balances (EFL) and the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC).
• To ensure the accurate and timely completion of monthly statutory returns, including reports on the Trust’s compliance with statutory financial duties and targets including for capital spend (CRL), cash balances (EFL) and the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC).
• To ensure the maintenance of a robust financial control framework including leading the finance elements of the Annual Report and Annual Governance Statement.
• To be responsible for the maintenance of robust financial procedures and Standing Financial Instructions, ensuring that the Trust financial transactions/records comply with the above as well as with national requirements. Recommend and develop new policies and procedures where appropriate.
• To lead the Trust compliance with Tax, National Insurance, IR35 and VAT regulations and ensuring that returns are submitted to HMRC.
• To attend appropriate forums to support the Trust including reports to the Audit Committee and ensuring good liaison with the Internal and External Audit services.
• To be responsible for ensuring that accurate Capital Accounting information is produced, and that national guidance and accounting standards are applied, including the implementation of IFRS 16.
• To oversee the administration of the Trust’s Charitable Funds and providing information as required by the Trustees.
• Interpret and understand NHSE and Statutory Accounting guidance for all financial reporting aspects for the Trust and Charitable Funds, including the identification of the financial implications for the organisation.
• Actively check for changes in legislation, Trust accounting regulations, assess the impact and potential benefit or cost to the Trust, and where there is uncertainty of interpretation, consult directly with the relevant body for clarification. Proactively participate in dialogue with internal and external bodies to develop new or revised systems and/or processes ensuring compliance with all internal financial instructions and external regulation or guidance.
• To be the Information Governance lead for Finance to ensure compliance with GDPR.
• To manage processes to ensure that the schemes of delegation relevant to financial systems, transactions and services are accurate and updated on a regular basis.

Other Duties

• Represent, cover, support or deputise for the Deputy Director of Finance or senior colleagues as required.
• Carry out other reasonable duties required.
• To contribute to the overall development of the Finance Department.
• To contribute to special projects as required throughout the Trust.