Appendix I
Division – Central Functions (Finance)
Job Description
Job Title:
Band:
Location:
Hours of Duty:
Managerially accountable to:
Professionally accountable to:
Key Relationships:
Head of Accounts
8a
Finance based
37.5 hours
Assistant Director of Finance – Chief
Accountant
Director of Finance
Senior Finance Team, Divisional Finance
Teams, Capital Groups, Supplies, Internal and
External Audit, Customers, Suppliers, HMRC
Role Summary
To take responsibility for:
 All major transactions except for payroll, ensuring that they are processed
in an efficient and controlled way
 All actual (i.e. not including budget) balances in the general ledger to
support production of a set of accounts that show a true and fair view
 Managing the credit control, purchase ledger, capital, treasury and
charitable funds functions
Key Areas
Communication & Relationships Skills
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information;
agreement or co-operation required; persuasive, motivational, negotiating,
training skills are required
Discusses complex financial queries with staff (in particular complex accounting issues
relating to capital, including the highly complex accounting treatment of the PFI scheme
under IFRS), suppliers, customers, including reasons for delays in payment and other
sensitive issues; discusses financial issues which have been escalated to the postholder
with customers, which may be contentious and deal with performance, feedback,
coaching, training and counselling issues relating to staff including the training of nonfinance staff; provides advice on complex financial and corporate issues to non-financial
managers; negotiates with NHS and external organisations over cost, service issues
within an agreed governance framework
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Advanced specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience
Expert knowledge of financial accounting principles, standards and procedures including
a knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards specifically including an in
depth understanding of how they are applied to the accounting treatment of the Trust’s
PFI scheme, financial & other aspects of legislation and NHS finance policies. Advises
finance and non-finance managers on matters relating to their own area, providing
detailed advice and guidance; equivalent knowledge and experience to: CCAB
Professional Accountancy Qualifications plus knowledge, experience and expertise in
technical financial accounting and staff management
Analytical & Judgemental Skills
Highly complex facts or situations, requiring the analysis, interpretation and
comparison of a range of options
Analyses complex problems relating to technical accounting and is able to review a trial
balance, identifying significant errors quickly. Identifies weaknesses in systems of
internal controls and proposes ways to address them, which might require changes to
Trust policies including Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions. Designs
simple processes to manage complex transactions in an efficient and controlled manner.
Investigates and resolves complex errors
Planning & Organisational Skills
Plan & organise complex activities, or programmes
Develops and contributes to long term financial plans (including balance sheet and cash
flow forecasting) within a structured framework, makes plans for tax and legislative
changes, co-ordinates and plans activities with other professionals and agencies. Within
own area and working with others in related areas (e.g. Supplies) plans and implements
significant changes to numerous systems and processes specifically with a view to
enhancing financial controls and improving efficiency
Physical Skills
Physical skills obtained through practice
Requires standard keyboard skills.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care
Assists patients/clients during incidental contacts
Incidental contact with patients, clients.
Responsibility for Policy/Service Development
Propose policy changes and be responsible for implementation and development
for more than one area of activity
Proposes, designs and implements changes to accounting and financial policies and
procedures in own area and related areas taking into account impact on other areas.
Manages the HR implications of changes implemented, overcomes minor barriers to
change and escalates more significant barriers appropriately so that they can be
addressed
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
Authorised signatory
Reviews work of direct reports and authorises transactions and balances in accordance
with the departmental authorisation matrix (a key element of the system of internal
controls which is essential for maintaining the integrity of financial information across the
Trust)
Responsibility for Human Resources
Day-to-day management/line manager for several areas within the financial
accounting function
Responsible for day to day management including: recruitment (or assisting with
recruitment), appraisal, discipline, training, delegation/line manager for department.
Responsibility for Information Resources
Adapt, design information systems to meet specifications of others
With the support of the systems accountant, responsible for introducing, adapting and
improving financial systems in own area of responsibility for use by others.
Responsibility for Research and Development
Undertakes surveys or audits as necessary to own work/Regularly undertakes
R&D activity
Undertakes surveys or audits for own work/designs and conducts complex audits
designed to improve financial & accounting services.
Freedom to Act
Broad occupational policies
Works to achieve agreed objectives and is given freedom to do this in own way working
within broad professional policies; acts without reference to manager
Physical Effort
Combination of sitting, standing, walking
Light physical effort
Mental Effort
Frequent concentration, work pattern predictable/unpredictable; occasional
prolonged concentration
Concentration required when inputting data, checking and reconciling information,
making calculations and when answering queries from staff, customers/may be required
to switch tasks with no notice; occasional requirement to concentrate for long periods
when analysing complex data, statistics and preparing financial returns.
Emotional Effort
Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
Deals with staff performance and disciplinary issues
Working Conditions
Exposure to unpleasant conditions is rare
Office conditions
Personal/Professional Development



To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional
knowledge and competence
To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a
personal development plan
Maintain CPD in accordance with CCAB membership requirements
Standards of Behaviour


Managers who have responsibility for supervising/managing people must comply
with the guidelines that can be found in the “Code of Conduct for NHS Managers”
The principles of “Improving Working Lives” must be upheld at all times
Health and Safety


To take reasonable care for your own Health and Safety and that of any other
person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work
To co-operate with University Hospital of North Staffordshire Trust in ensuring
that statutory regulations, codes of practice, local policies and departmental
health and safety rules are adhered to
Confidentiality

To ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times
Equality and Diversity

To promote equality and diversity in your working life ensuring that all the staff
you work with feel valued and treated in a fair and equitable manner
Infection Control
Infection Control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non clinical, are
required to adhere to the Trusts’ Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make
every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing
the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.
All staff employed by the UHNS Trust have the following key responsibilities:

Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical
areas and between each patient contact.

Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training
provided for them by the Trust.

Staff members who develop recurrent skin and soft tissue infections and other
infections that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact
Occupational Health.
Other
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list and may be subject to
change from time to time. All documents referred to throughout this Job
Description can be found on the Trusts intranet, or alternatively copies can be
obtained from the Human Resources Directorate.
Signed Employee ________________
Print ________________
Signed Manager _________________
Print ________________
Date _______________