Head of Financial Services

The role is critical to overseeing and managing the Trust's cash position. The Trust has high volumes of transactions and managing these requires an exceptional candidate. The successful candidate will lead the transaction processing teams, identifying and implementing improvements, ensuring robust procedures and providing reports on areas within their remit., To manage the Treasury, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable Sections, working to maximise efficiency and timeliness of processing transactions. Reporting and managing the Trust's cash balances, presenting clear information to senior colleagues in a timely manner to allow key decisions to be made. Present cases considering a range of possibilities for areas for improvement either to save money, or to enhance services, or become more efficient. This will include analysing options and evaluating complex scenarios to be able to advise decision makers. End-to-end project management of any cases gaining approval, seeing through to conclusion and successful implementation. Working with colleagues in Finance and other departments to develop systems and procedures, increasing efficiency and quality and timeliness of information. To ensure appropriate training and development of Finance staff. Be a key member of the team involved in the preparation of the Trust's statutory accounts including planning and managing the exercise to agree NHS balances. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Team Management

• Manage Treasury, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Sections, developing and agreeing work plans for the teams
• Responsible for recruitment to teams and setting objectives for team managers and teams as a whole
• Setting and monitoring targets for teams
• Responsible for development of teams and any system improvements
• Review of monthly performance figures working with team managers to investigate and explain significant trends and to develop action plans
2. Accounts Payable Section and Procurement
• Develop links with suppliers to address issues in supply chain processes, including procurement and payment of invoices. As part of this process, work to develop and automate systems and procedures involving Procurement Department where appropriate
• Administration of Purchasing Cards for the Trust, dealing with card applications, ensuring payment and posting of monthly balances and transactions
• Dealing with queries and requests for information on suppliers, either for suppliers themselves or for management and other departments in the Trust
• Dealing with VAT queries raised by finance colleagues and other Trust departments
3. Income and Debtors
• Working with colleagues in Finance and Commissioning, develop process for the efficient invoicing of NHS organisations and subsequent follow up/debt escalation arrangements.
• Develop efficient processes for all other invoicing within the Trust
• Working with the Accounts Receivable Manager and debtors team to develop efficient and effective arrangements for debtor follow up and internal monitoring arrangements
• Review recommended write-offs of bad debts and provision for doubtful debts and decide on the write-offs and provision adjustments to be made in the Trust accounts each month
• Review recommended list of debtors to pass to collection agency and decide on items to refer, consulting with Income team where appropriate
• Work with Accounts Receivable Manager to monitor debt collection agency performance, and where appropriate to change debt collection arrangements
• Dealing with queries and requests for information on income and debtors, e.g. for Trust management or other departments in the Trust
• Receiving, interpreting and planning local implementation of national and regional guidance and policies
• Where appropriate contacting issuers of guidance for clarification or to raise issues
• Administration of Purchasing Cards for the Trust, dealing with card applications, ensuring payment and posting of monthly balances and transactions
4. Systems and procedures - general
• Develop systems and procedures for income/debtor, treasury and accounts payable teams, both internal procedures and procedures which affect other departments and other organisations
• Responsible for contributing on development of major finance system changes across the Finance Department, including involvement in
- deciding on systems to be brought in - planning implementation - planning and carrying out system testing - training of staff This includes the main finance ledger, and also database systems maintained in the Finance Department, and systems in other departments which have an impact on Finance
• Responsible for ensuring month-end processes are complete and reports are produced accurately and in a timely manner
• liaising with Trusts VAT consultants ensuring they are consulted on key matters with potential VAT implications such as major contracts and capital projects and attending VAT Review Meetings
• liaising with Internal and External auditors, dealing with queries and responding to and implementing recommendations
• be a key member of the team preparing the Trust's statutory accounts including planning and managing the exercise to agree NHS balances
• Board Reporting - complete appropriate reports related to cash management, accounts receivable and accounts payable, present to senior finance colleagues and be able to explain sensitive and potentially contentious information
• Receiving, interpreting and planning local implementation of national and regional guidance and policies impacting on Financial Services/Accounting issues. Where appropriate contacting issuers of guidance for clarification or to raise issues
• Assisting in developing, implementing and maintaining financial processes and procedures
• Developing reports to assist in the provision of information to Trust Management, Finance colleagues and other key contacts
5. Staff Training and Development
• Responsible for planning and organising Financial Services staff training and development including any trainees/apprentices or placement students
• Contributing to the development and delivery of Finance training to other departments in the Trust
6. Cash Management
• Develop cash reporting and monitoring processes that meet the needs of the Trust including internal and external requirements
• Identify areas for improving the Trust's cash balances
  
  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu
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