Management Accountant – Band 7

JOB SUMMARY

The Accountant will assist the Assistant Director of Finance in providing a range of financial support to Senior Managers and budget holders in order to achieve the effective financial management.  He/she will also be responsible for the development of business cases and development proposals to support investment in services, and provide accounting expertise and advice to senior managers and budget holders. 

In addition, he/she will support the Assistant Director of Finance to provide proactive high quality financial support to all levels within the Trust and support the drive for continuous improvement in service delivery in line with the strategic objectives of the Trust. 

Location: Belfast

Job Type: Temporary 

Duration of booking: Expected to last 6 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: Up to £26 – 28per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

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

Sector: Healthcare 

Based: Office / Hospital 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Projects and Business Cases

• To be responsible for providing a range of financial support to Senior Managers and budget holders in order to achieve effective financial management.  
• To be responsible for the development of business cases and service development proposals by providing costing information and complex financial analysis to effectively manage projects.
• To provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance to Senior Managers and budget holders.
• To investigate the causes of any variance from target/plan and proactively contribute to the implementation of solutions.
• To manage a risk tracking mechanism and its proactive resolution and escalation processes.
• To contribute to the strategic planning of the Trust, identifying interdependencies across projects/functions, potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.
• To co-ordinate and participate in relevant internal and external working groups, and provide advice, expertise and support where requested.
• To liaise with internal and external audit and ensure that any recommendations are considered and where agreed, implemented.

Financial Strategy/Financial Planning and Reporting

• To contribute to capital reporting, including responsibility for the management and monitoring of the Trust’s asset acquisition programme in accordance with the Trust’s financial policies and procedures. 
• To liaise with the Financial Accounting Function as appropriate to ensure that all relevant service and budgetary agreements, adjustments and findings for other service developments are accurately reflected within Directorates in order to maintain accurate financial reporting and effective financial control.
• To assist with the provision of expert analysis, interpretation and evaluation of financial and non financial data.
• To assist in the preparation of Trust Monitoring Returns, Financial Plans and Monthly Financial Position.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of accounting and financial policies and procedures which impact across the Trust.

Budget Setting and Control

• To assist with the annual budget setting process, within agreed guidelines and timelines and to ensure that they reflect the Trust’s Financial Strategy.
• To be responsible for budget setting, monitoring and reporting using Budgetary and General Ledger Systems.
• To support the Assistant Director of Finance in the early identification of threats to the financial stability of the Trust by highlighting risks within Directorates and agree rectification measures to ensure breakeven is achieved.

Support Services to Budget Holders

• To assist budget holders review financial performance and where necessary instigate further investigation to ensure remedial action is implemented in order to achieve balanced budgets.
• To ensure all budget holders are provided with accurate and meaningful financial information to enable them to manage their service within available resources including as necessary option appraisals and service development proposals.
• To assist in the provision of budgetary control training for budget holders and other non finance managers.
• To participate in the review of management information needs of both internal and external key users and contribute to the development and improvement of management information to match internal and external user needs.