Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified accountant in our Financial Control Team as Financial Accountant to:

• Manage the capital financial charity financial reporting
• Contribute to corporate strategy, policy & decision making within the Trust by leading on the implementation of IFRS16 across the Trust, by supporting the Chief Accountant deliver a clean audit opinion on the year end consolidated accounts & supporting the South Central Ambulance Charity’s financial reporting requirements
• Assist in service modernization & the adoption of best practice in relation to financial probity & compliance by aiding & assisting the reporting process in the production of reports which support the Annual Accounting process, ensuring financial control & the achievement of financial targets
• Support in delivering the Trust’s audit obligations, ensure the Trust is audit compliant & further develop & improve accounting processes to meet audit requirements
• Be responsible for the delivery of timely & comprehensive financial accounting services for the Trust, providing proactive financial & management advice to all levels of management throughout the division in line with statutory financial duties & Trust requirements
• Support the delivery of the Trust’s capital plan including production of the capital budget & monthly capital spend monitoring & reporting
• Contribute to the production of the subsidiary company’s annual accounts & supporting the delivery of a clean annual audit.

It is also responsible for the creation and development of a Trust wide leasing plan to aid the capital plans along with the maintenance and development of the Trust's fixed asset registers. At year end this role will be pivotal within the Trust's closedown team assisting auditors and creating robust working papers to ensure the Trust progresses through the audit on time and achieves a clean audit opinion. In addition this role will support the South Central Ambulance Charity and work with the Trustees to ensure robust management accounts and year end accounts are produced.

Benefits we offer:

• Full training and support when you join and ongoing throughout your employment with us.
• Holiday entitlement is 27 days rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time).
• Enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Access to continual professional development and opportunities within SCAS and the NHS.
• Occupational Health support along with an Employee Assistance Programme.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. You will be required to provide leadership to your team to ensure the effective provision of the service they provide and to champion change in the organization. You will ensure that your staff are motivated and express a positive attitude towards the organization. You will address any issues and concerns that may inhibit your staff from achieving both their personal and organizational goals. To represent the Director of Finance at a local level and to support the Director of Finance in the delivery and execution of the Trust’s statutory financial duties
2. To directly support the Chief Accountant in the delivery and execution of the Trusts statutory financial duties and by assisting in the planning and production of the Trusts’ Annual Accounting process
3. To provide technical and professional support to the Trust managers and directors when appropriate, explaining complex, sensitive or contentious financial issues or consequences in a comprehensible and cogent manner, assisting and supporting the strategic decision making process
4. To lead on the implementation of IFRS16 and ensure the Trust is IFRS16 compliant and meets all of its obligations under the legislation
5. To ensure financial control processes are in place and adhered to within the financial reporting remit and that they are in line with the Trust’s Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions
6. To ensure the maintenance of the Trusts financial systems and support the development of new reporting templates
7. To be responsible for the implementation, management and monthly budget monitoring of a robust lease plan
8. To be responsible for recording of all leases holding all salient records as part of the authorization and signing off of leases and assist in the orderly return of Patient Transport Service (PTS) and other operational vehicles, duties to include raising of PTS lease orders as appropriate
9. To be responsible for creating and maintaining the Trusts’ Group IFRS16 Right of Use Fixed Asset Register, under the guidance of the Chief Accountant, ensuring that the annual lease liabilities and depreciation forecasts are prepared in accordance with the requirements of IFRS16 and the Department of Health and Social Care ensuring its ongoing robustness in support of the Capital Plan
10. To directly support the creation of the annual capital plan and subsequent monthly monitoring of the capital plan liaising with budget managers as necessary
11. To oversee the maintenance of the group’s Fixed Asset Registers and ensure assets are correctly recorded and depreciated in line with the accounting policies
12. To maintain a record of the CO2 emissions from the Trust’s Group’s lease vehicle fleet and estates so that the Trust can monitor progress against its Sustainable Development Plan
13. To support in the procurement of lease assets, advising and supporting Senior Procurement staff on the impact of financial standards
14. To produce the routine finance reports in relation to the SCAS Charity providing technical support to the Charity Officer in matters relative to the Charity Finance Ledger System including assistance in the production of monthly management accounts, annual accounts and the annual return
15. To ensure financial services are provided to the Trusts subsidiary company in order to fulfil their statutory financial duties
16. To lead on the production of annual capital business cases for leases
17. To be responsible for the line management of the assistant accountant , providing advice and mentorship, managing performance issues effectively and constructively, ensuring that standards of best practice are understood and applied, and by developing initiatives aimed at improving the level of support for staff by developing and encouraging a culture of responsibility for personal development which ensures that all the requirements necessary for personal and professional skills are met and maintained and that effective and consistent working systems are in place to achieve the efficient and effective running of the team, in line with current policies, procedures and protocols
18. To represent the Chief Accountant at meetings when required
19. To ensure that all Trust policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to the finance department are implemented and adhered to across the Division, helping to ensure that all staff are confident and competent in their use
20. To ensure that staff are able to work in a safe and conducive working environment and that responsibilities regarding Health and Safety and staff welfare legislation and best practice are fulfilled throughout the department, ensuring that the finance department meets and complies with all relevant and national H and S legislation, taking appropriate remedial action in a timely and effective manner. Working closely with the Trust’s risk managers to ensure compliance with pending or future legislation in relation to working environments and ensuring best practice at all times
21. To adhere to all Trust and regulatory body operational procedures, protocols and guidelines at all times
22. To ensure that the Trust’s policies in relation to Equality and Diversity are central to the working ethos of all staff

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities