Assistant Financial Accountant – Band 4

Job Purpose

To support the Treasury Manager in delivering the Trust’s treasury functions, including daily cashbook updates, control account reconciliations and VAT returns. The post holder will also support the administration of the Trust’s salary sacrifice schemes.

Location: Norwich

Job Type: Temporary 

Duration of booking: Expected to last 18 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: £14.60 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm 

Sector: Healthcare 

Based: Office / Hospital

Key Responsibilities

Treasury and Financial Operations

• Download and analyse daily bank transactions, updating the cashbook with receipts and payments.
• Set up manual payments on the bank system and take telephone card payments for salary overpayments and Trust invoices.
• Run weekly BACS files in the absence of the Treasury Manager.
• Import the monthly payroll feed into the nominal ledger when required.

VAT and Financial Reconciliation

• Assist with preparing the Trust’s VAT return, reviewing transactions and processing correcting journals where necessary.
• Support the NHS Agreement of Balances exercise for receivables, payables, income and expenditure.
• Prepare and clear designated control and balance sheet account reconciliations, ensuring accurate records and compliance with deadlines.
• Investigate and correct erroneous balances, escalating issues to the Treasury Manager.
• Maintain the Losses and Special Payments Register, ensure supporting paperwork is received and reconcile it monthly to the general ledger.
• Prepare quarterly reports on losses and special payments for the Head of Financial Services.

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

• Administer the Trust’s lease car and other salary sacrifice schemes, ensuring regular reconciliations comply with HMRC guidance and Trust policies.
• Liaise with HR to obtain relevant employee information and assess affordability of vehicle agreements, making recommendations to the Senior Finance Manager.
• Respond to queries from employees and scheme providers.
• Liaise with Payroll when employees leave schemes to ensure deductions are accurate.
• Communicate with scheme members about fines, termination costs, vehicle damage and excess mileage charges.

Audit and Continuous Improvement

• Liaise with and support internal and external auditors as required.
• Identify and support improvements to financial processes and procedures to increase efficiency.

Key Stakeholders

• Internal
• Treasury Manager
• Financial Services Manager
• Senior Finance Manager
• Head of Financial Services
• Head of Finance
• Human Resources
• Payroll staff
• External
• External and internal auditors
• VAT consultant
• Salary sacrifice providers
• Bank

Essential Qualifications

• Five GCSEs at grades A–C or equivalent, including English and Maths.
• NVQ Level 4, AAT qualification or equivalent experience working in a finance function.

Experience

• Substantial experience working in a finance function, particularly Financial Services.
• Experience using computerised financial accounting and reporting systems.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong IT skills and confidence using financial systems.
• Working knowledge of spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel.
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Personal Qualities and Abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and manage own workload.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience working within the NHS.
• Skills and Knowledge
• Knowledge of NHS VAT rules.
• Knowledge of ESR.
• Knowledge of Agresso finance accounting software.