Deputy Finance Manager

Join us at an exciting time for Barnet, Haringey and Enfield Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust. After three years working in Partnership, we are due to create a new Trust, to be known as the North London NHS Foundation Trust on 1 November 2024, subject to Secretary of State approval. Join us to be part of the North London Way as we:
+ Collaborate at every level by living our Values to create the right conditions for us all to work together
+ Develop our new Trust culture, to help make our new Trust a great place to work and to receive great care
+ Empower our teams to lead the planned improvements in our services, by skilling them and giving them the tools to make the changes
+ Focus on delivering excellence at every level to improve our performance and ensure consistently high quality care across all our services
+ Ensure that research, Quality Improvement and technology lead the way and are embedded in our services
+ Take a trauma informed approach to everything we do
We look forward to welcoming you to the new North London NHS Foundation Trust, where we work in the North London Way to deliver: Better Mental Health, Better Lives, Better Communities.
Our new trust website is: Home | North London Mental Health Partnership, An opportunity has arisen for a Deputy Finance Manager, Haringey & Barnet The post holder will be responsible for: 2 x Management Accountants.
Key Relationships: Finance, Executive Directors of the Trust, Service
Directors, Clinical Directors, operational managers throughout the Trust, budget holders (including clinicians), Human Resources & Payroll, Clinical
Commissioning Groups, Local Authorities, Internal and External Audit.
This vacancy has been advertised in accordance with the new NHS pay rate which will take effect from autumn 2024. Please note if your employment starts before the 24/25 pay scales are implemented you will be paid under the 23/24 pay scales and any backpay will be adjusted accordingly. Further information can be found at https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202425., The main purpose of the role is ensure the provision of a comprehensive, efficient, timely and professional management accounting service to the Directorates across the Trust.
Post holders will create monthly income and expenditure budget statements allowing projections, monitoring and reporting of variances as well as cost analysis for benchmarking purposes.
In addition the post holder will provide support to the Finance Managers on issues associated with management accounting within the department and assist in the preparation of annual and monthly budgets, suggesting and calculating long term cost improvement programmes/schemes and supporting the preparation of service developments, business case plans and the medium term business planning process.
The Deputy Finance Manager will deputise for the Finance Manager in
management accounting issues as appropriate., 1. To provide monthly statements and other relevant financial information to Trust Directorates, according to agreed timetables, together with appropriate interpretation and advice.
2. To monitor, on an on-going basis, financial performance against agreed
delegated budgets, incorporating the latest information available to allow
services to operate within their resources.
3. To investigate and report significant budgetary variances and costs to both the Finance Manager and the budget holder, discussing the necessary remedial action as appropriate. This will include making judgements about complex and uncertain financial outcomes.
4. To develop and maintain an integrated financial performance report, including a year-end forecast, highlighting key variances and trends in activity and finance, commenting on influencing factors and advising on any necessary management action.
5. To develop sensitivity analysis techniques using analytical tools in the
presentation of annual forecasts of operational income and expenditure.
6. To meet regularly with Directors, Senior Managers and budget holders to
assess financial performance and to provide financial management
information, analysis and advice.
7. To recognise and provide financial management support to Directors, Senior Managers and budget holders on identified key risks and critical success factors in achieving financial targets.
8. To ensure budget holders and managers have an awareness of financial
performance requirements, including the need for budgetary control and
adherence to SFI's, and to provide financial awareness training where
necessary.
9. To contribute to the annual budget setting/financial planning process as
follows:
a. To supervise the calculation of annual budgets of a range of cost
centres in accordance with agreed principles and timetables;
b. To work with budget holders and managers to identify cost
pressures, service developments and cost improvements;
c. To support the Finance Manager in the production of Directorate
Financial Plans.
10. To ensure budgetary information contained within the Trust's budget system is kept up-to-date and is a reliable source of information.
11. To develop an understanding of the impact of Service Line Reporting to be able to assess the impact on income and expenditure of any in-year changes in activity levels resulting from changes in referral patterns and/or capacity.
12. To assist in the preparation of business cases as required and to understand and be able to explain the relationship between surpluses, EBITDA, Cash and Monitor's risk ratings.
13. To liaise with Human Resources, Payroll and Procurement in the
maintenance of financial controls relating to workforce establishment and
procurement of goods and services.
14. To maintain accurate financial records of staff in post and to ensure that this is reflected in the Trust's budgeting software and that budget managers receive this information on a monthly basis.
15. To ensure that all expenditure items incorrectly coded for payment purposes are dealt with promptly. Thereafter to advise budget holders on the use of correct financial codes and to ensure their coding structures are appropriate for their needs.
16. To design, format and maintain Microsoft Excel spread sheets and databases for the calculation of actuals and prepayments and subsequent posting to the general ledger.
17. To raise invoice requests promptly for income due from external
organisations, in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions and internal procedures.
18. To maintain a record of regular recharges, particularly where staff are
seconded to and from the Trust to other organisations.
19. To keep accurate and orderly documentation to support financial transactions such as journals, budget adjustments and invoice requests. Documentation to be kept easily accessible for other members of staff.
20. To assist the Finance Manager in maintaining accurate budgets as a result of pay awards, service changes, virements and new developments.
21. To cost forecast budget statements for service developments and business cases using software packages such as Microsoft Excel and the Trust's in-house budgeting package.
22. To provide Trust Managers and budget holders staff costings as necessary for recruitment purposes. All costings to be calculated using the latest employer national insurance and superannuation information.
23. To keep the Finance Manager informed of all issues, including reasons for variances and deviations from forecast outturns.
24. To work with the Finance Manager and budget holders to ensure all
necessary year-end transactions are completed according to the timetable.
25. To continually review and monitor processes with a view to identifying
improvements and efficiencies, and to implement these improvements in
conjunction with the rest of the Financial Management team.
26. To comply with Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders and audit requirements, providing appropriate advice to the Trust's Directorates as necessary.
27. To maintain records, electronic or otherwise, as appropriate.
Communication
1. To ensure all budget holders have the opportunity to access financial support and that a visible presence is achieved by the arrangement of regular meetings.
2. To respond to requests for information and queries from budget holders in a timely and professional manner.
3. To represent the Finance Manager at meetings as required.
Management
1. To oversee the work of the Management Accountants and to deputise for the Finance Manager as necessary.
2. To supervise the performance of the Management Accountants.
3. To be involved in the recruitment of staff and the day to day management
including sickness, discipline and appraisal.
Other
1. Maintain an effective working relationship with members of the Finance
Department, staff within the organisation and external contacts in order to
deliver a professional service focused on achieving the production of
management accounts and provision of financial advice.
2. To provide assistance and absence cover for other members of the Finance team, as required.
3. To continually review, recommend and implement changes to financial
processes and procedures within the Trust.
4. To represent the Finance department on Trust-wide groups as required.
5. To keep technically up-to-date and maintain a continuing professional
development plan in accordance with professional requirements.
6. To carry out any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Finance Managers, the Head of Financial Management, the Deputy Director of Finance or the Chief Finance and Investment Officer.
7. To be fully aware of the Trust policies on the Code of Conduct of staff.