Capital Accountant

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Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for two Capital Accountants to join the Capital Finance team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The successful candidates will work at and across the interface of capital and revenue budget management, giving capital programme, technical capital accounting and operational financial management advice whilst also supporting business case production, value for money assessments, and financial control arrangements.

Main duties of the job

• To support the Capital and Investment Senior Finance Manager in the management of both the Trust's Capital Programme and Capital Charges budget.
• To support the co-ordination and completion of the Trust's Capital Accounting input into the In-Year reporting and Annual Accounts processes, maximising benefit to the Trust as appropriate.
• To work closely with Capital Ring-fence Budget leads in establishing and delivering capital expenditure plans for the relevant financial years.
• To ensure Capital Ring-fence Budget leads & Project Managers are aware of Trust governance arrangements and follow due process in relation to expenditure commitments.
• To support the completion of the annual production of the Trust's Capital Charge Estimates.
• To manage the Trust's Capital income recovery process, ensuring that policies and procedures are in place for the effective, timely and accurate billing of Trust capital income.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Capital Programme Development and Delivery:

Support the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager in the management and monitoring of the Trust's capital programme.

Work closely with the Capital Ring-fenced budget holders for Medical Equipment, Estates Infrastructure, Facilities, Ward Refurbishments and Theatre Refurbishments, providing updates as to the progress of expenditure plans during the year, and highlighting areas for action by the Budget Holder.

Review the monthly Capital Monitoring Report content in relation to progress on relevant scheme capital expenditure and income plans, identifying any schemes at financial risk and highlighting any areas for action by Capital Budget Holders, the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager or CIT. Ensure any internal reporting matters, e.g. identified miscodes, delayed staff recharges, omitted receipting, etc. are promptly resolved.

Ensure a monthly review of capital expenditure in revenue (capital redefinition) and revenue expenditure in capital is undertaken. Ensure the appropriate financial adjustments are made as necessary.

Support the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager in providing professional advice to Medical Equipment, Estates and Facilities Capital Budget Holders and Project Managers, ensuring that the budget holder/manager is aware of and complies with Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Schemes of Delegation and other guidance relating to financial control.

Provide regular training for Medical Equipment, Estates and Facilities Capital Budget Holders/Project Managers in order to improve awareness of financial management requirements, Trust financial procedures and financial risk management as appropriate.

Manage and maintain the capital income recovery processes, ensuring expenditure on donated schemes is appropriately analysed and recorded, including any VAT implications. Liaise with donors to ensure that the appropriate processes for the recovery of income are followed.

Review the level of capital receivables at each month end, ensuring debts are raised and recovered on a timely basis. Supervise monthly reconciliations of receivables (including cash flow) and payables in report of capital income and expenditure. Escalate any contentious issues to the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager.

Determine and proactively manage the process of VAT recovery/payment as appropriate on Estates Capital schemes, ensuring recovery is processed in a timely and effective manner and maximised within the guidance provided by HMRC. Ensure own VAT knowledge is up to date and relevant.

Capital Financial Planning :

Work closely with the Capital and Investment Senior Finance Manager and the Capital Ring-fenced budget holders for Medical Equipment, Estates Infrastructure, Facilities, Ward Refurbishments and Theatre Refurbishments in establishing capital plans for the financial year within available ring-fence funds, in particular

• Clarifying remaining available funding, and reconciling with the original annual funding envelope,
• Providing advice and analysis as required on the capital or revenue nature of proposals,
• Providing guidance to Senior Managers and Project Managers in respect of due governance and process for the overall plan and individual scheme approvals,

Attend and support the Medical Equipment Devices Prioritisation Sub-group in the management of the Capital ring-fence envelope, both in relation to clinically led replacement programmes and the management of ad-hoc bids, by:

• Working closely with Clinical Engineering colleagues in the establishment and maintenance of medical equipment replacement programmes, validating information with the Trust Asset Register and/or the Clinical Engineering database, and working with programme leads on the risk profile of planned replacements.
• Establishing a practical methodology for the on-going maintenance of such programmes and ensuring this is enacted and communicated.
• Establishing the initial list of prioritised investments against resources available prior to the start of the financial year, and then regularly maintaining the schedule, reconciling monthly with the over-arching Capital Programme.

Capital Business Case Development and Investment Value for Money Appraisal:

Contribute to the development of selected business cases, as delegated by the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager. In particular provide financial analysis and appraisal of options available, including financial and economic option appraisals to determine value for money.

Provide professional advice to project teams in relation to capital/revenue accounting treatment, asset registration issues and right of use asset issues, including advice on capital charge arrangements. Attend Project Team meetings as necessary.

Undertake Value for Money assessments on proposed capital investments, as delegated by the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager. Work closely with Procurement colleagues in undertaking robust tender processes which evidence and maximise value for money investments from constrained resources. Lead the financial input into the production of tender documentation, including tender structure, pricing schedules and evaluation criteria/methodology to ensure the Trust delivers a value for money outcome, which remains affordable.

Capital Charges Management:

Support the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager in producing the annual Capital Charge estimates, in line with national guidance, co-ordinating data collection and information analyses.

Ensure monthly capital charge projections are entered into the Financial Ledger, working closely with the Capital & Investment Senior Finance Manager and Capital & Investment Finance Manager to reflect any changes from the annual estimated position, and ensuring non-cash implications are promptly recognised. Produce the monthly capital charges budget report.

Support the annual production of Reference Costs by providing an analysis of capital charges over Trust services, as accurately as possible from the Fixed Asset Register, to the Trust's Costing Accountant.

Financial Management Duties:

Within the financial policies set out for each Directorate by the Finance managers in the team to provide confidential, sensitive and specialist financial advice and support to nominated Directorate(s) in order that it meets the targets set by the Trust Board, particularly, those relating to containing expenditure within budget, maximising income and meeting patient activity targets from available resources. This advice may be communicated verbally or in writing and it may be supported by the production of detailed and accurate financial information without advice from the line manager.

To monitor the performance of the Directorates and, as directed by the Senior Finance staff initiate, negotiate, influence and implement, with Directorate Team colleagues, corrective action or developments to ensure that Directorate targets are achieved.

To be responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the production and distribution of accurate and timely monthly budget reports for nominated Directorates, and to produce comprehensive, formal financial reports for submission by the Senior Finance staff to the Trust Executive Group and the Directorate Management Team.

Within the multi-disciplinary Team setting, to influence the operational policies within the Directorate in order to optimise performance and efficiency and be proactive in the search for and implementation of efficiency savings, innovations and income generation opportunities. This includes the analysis and evaluation of proposals.

To participate in Directorate decision making with regard to Business Planning and Contracting and provide the financial components therein. This will include the preparation of complex, accurate, robust, sustainable Cost Pressure, Service Development and Patient Activity funding bids for submission by the Senior Finance staff. To assess affordability of activity changes to contract levels within Tariff income.

To be responsible for the preparation for the Directorates annual Financial Plan which will then be consolidated into the overall Trust Financial Plan for Trust Board approval. The Directorate Plan, which will be framed within its approved Business Plan, will be submitted so as to meet all targets set by the Trust Board and/or Director of Finance

To ensure that relevant financial information, particularly with regard to capital expenditure, recurrent and non-recurrent revenue expenditure and savings, is included within every Business Case developed by the Directorates. This information will be submitted to the Senior Finance staff for approval. To give continued support to the Senior Finance staff in monitoring financial consequences of approved bids.

To support the annual production of Reference Costs for the patient related services provided by the Directorate(s) as directed by the Trust's Cost Accountant. To provide comprehensive feedback to Directorate colleagues with regard to the setting and monitoring of reference cost targets for the Directorates as set by the Trust Board, and to be involved in the accessing, analysing and interpreting of benchmarking information to correct performance of Reference Costs.

To respond to urgent requests for detailed financial information and advice from Senior Finance/Directorate Managers. This requires the assessment and evaluation of workload priorities and where appropriate allocating staff resources accordingly.

To provide advice on all other financial responsibilities delegated to the Directorate, for example Trust Funds and Research Grants, within the policies and procedures agreed by the Trust.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• CCAB/ CIMA qualified or other accountancy qualification
• Knowledge and expertise of Financial Governance and the Financial Governance arrangements in place: Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, and Schemes of Delegation.
• Knowledge of procurement processes from a financial perspective in relation to the control and operation of non-pay expenditure.

Desirable criteria

• Honours degree
• Relevant post graduate qualification
• European Computer Driving Licence (or equivalent)

Experience
Essential criteria

• Sufficient relevant experience in a Capital Accounting function.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS Financial regime, in A/I (Previous/current work or any other relevant experience)
• Sufficient relevant experience in a Management Accounting function.
• Demonstrable staff management experience, including management, co-ordination and direction of a team of staff producing timely and accurate information.
• Demonstrable track record of finance system development.
• Understanding of system functionality requirements for asset management issues.
• Experience of manipulating/ interrogating ledger and information systems.
• Demonstrably good IT skills including Advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrable experience of governance arrangements in relation to Capital Programmes.
• Knowledge of finance and accounting practices, procedures and policies particularly pertinent to the NHS including legislation.
• Knowledge & understanding of VAT regime as applicable to NHS services.
• Knowledge & understanding of NHS tender and value for assessment processes.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of NHS Financial regime, in particular in relation to FT capital funding regimes and Acute Hospitals.

Further Training
Essential criteria

• Evidence of recent CPD/relevant experience

Special Skills
Essential criteria

• Understanding and interpretation skills necessary to perform technical expert adviser role
• Strong verbal reasoning and oral & written communication skills.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Ability to undertake complex and involved analysis, producing results that may have material consequences for the Organisation.
• Ability to meet deadlines through effective organisational and planning skills.
• High degree of numeracy.
• Self motivation & ability to work under own initiative
• Ability to motivate and develop teams to achieve targets.
• Positive Team Player
• Methodical approach to work.
• Meticulous and attention to detail.
• Conscientious.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional credibility at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to question and learn quickly.
• Flexible and adaptable - able to manage competing and changing workloads.
• Confidentiality

Desirable criteria

• Negotiation and persuasion skills

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. In addition, in submitting an application form, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Trust is committed to its obligations in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, and we positively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Should you require any assistance in applying for the position please contact the General or Medical Human Resources Departments on the number identified on the NHS Jobs page for the organisation.

Job Share applicants are welcome for all full time posts unless indicated but cannot be guaranteed. In addition for Fixed Term Contracts, internal secondments may be considered, please seek the approval of your current line manager before applying for the position.

All employment with the Trust is subject to a number of NHS Employment Checks being met to a satisfactory standard including verification of identity, eligibility to work in the United Kingdom, references and qualifications in addition to professional registration, a disclosure and barring records check and occupational health check if these are deemed to be a requirement for the position to be undertaken.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• JD ( PDF , 257.7 KB )
• PS ( PDF , 257.6 KB )
• Candidate Application Best Practice Guide - please read before completing your application ( PDF , 236.3 KB )
• Information for Applicants on the Trust & Selection Process ( PDF , 763.8 KB )
• Getting to Work at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals ( PDF , 501.0 KB )
• Candidates with Disabilities Useful Contacts ( PDF , 113.1 KB )
• Applicants - How We Use Your Information ( PDF , 181.0 KB )
• Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders ( PDF , 124.0 KB )