Band 8d Associate Director of Finance - Bath

Band 8d Associate Director of Finance - Bath Are you an experienced finance leader looking for a new challenge and the opportunity to make a difference in their next role? If so, then Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership has a rare opportunity to join its senior finance team as Associate Director of Finance: Financial Accounting.

You will operate at a senior level within the Trust, leading on Financial Accounting and all technical financial matters, as well as overseeing the financial aspects of the Trust capital programme. This role is also key to ensuring that appropriate financial controls and governance are in place and that all external financial reporting is completed to the highest possible standards. Responsibility for, and maximising the benefit from the Trust finance system also sits with this role, leaving a varied portfolio for you to lead on with support from your team.

You will work closely with the Chief and Deputy Chief Financial Officer as well as other key leads across the finance team, as well as with Planning and Service Development leads, Estates Project Leads and senior clinicians across the wider organisation. You will be adept at communicating complex financial issues in a clear and understandable way to a range of different stakeholders as well as being able to adapt to often rapidly changing priorities and demands.

This is an exciting time to join the Trust as it embarks on a significant transformation programme that will help to reshape mental health services across the Trust footprint.

Main duties of the job This role is a key leadership position within the Finance Directorate and we are seeking an exceptional candidate to join our friendly and inclusive team to take forward the financial agenda. This post holds responsibility for:

Leading on all elements of the Trust's statutory financial reporting processes and mechanisms, including reporting through to NHS England.

Leading on preparation of the Annual Accounts, including managing year end closedown and external audit of the accounts.

Producing financial plans and forecasts to manage the balance Sheet, capital investment and working capital positions.

Leading the financial element of the Trust Capital Programme.

Acting as Trust expert on technical accounting and regulatory matters, keeping the organisation updated on any changes in financial legislation, accounting standards and NHS finance regulations.

Acting as finance lead to the Trust PFI programme, supporting the Chief Financial Officer in managing often complex relationships with the PFI provider.

Leading on financial governance, audit and counter fraud issues including the maintenance and monitoring of SFIs and other financial policies.

To succeed in this role, you will:

Be a CCAB qualified accountant with significant post qualification experience.

Bring strong expertise in technical financial reporting and governance.

Have the ability to communicate complex financial issues clearly to a wide range of stakeholders.

Bring strong leadership and team-management experience.

About us We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Job responsibilities Finance Team Leadership and Communication

To provide leadership and direction to the Financial Accounting, Capital Accounting, Treasury Management and Finance System functions, having responsibility for all staffing issues including recruitment, appraisals, training and development, professional development and discipline. Advising, supporting and developing staff to ensure that they are proficient in undertaking their duties.

To plan, direct, organise and review the workload priorities of the Financial Accounting, Capital Accounting, Treasury Management and Finance System functions, ensuring that timetables are set, all necessary procedure notes are produced and circulated and required training given.

To provide leadership and direction to the One NHS Finance Accreditation Programme promoting and championing their use across the functions and wider directorate.

To work with the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Financial Officer and other seniormanagers to ensure that the desired culture and ways of working are fostered throughout the department, in particular a culture of openness and involvement of staff.

To deal with complaints, FOI requests or other issues as required, ensuring a thorough investigation of events, a full and fair response, corrective action where appropriate and compliance with statutory or policy timescales.

Provides and receives highly complex, sensitive and contentious information where agreement or co-operation is required from senior internal and external stakeholders. Presents complex, sensitive or contentious information to large groups.

The post holder will be required to communicate highly complex and multifaceted information to teams with varying degrees of understanding so should be able to adapt their communication style to match their audience. There may also be times when the information and way forward are internally and externally sensitive and/or contentious so the post holder should demonstrate tact, diplomacy and the ability to defend their argument succinctly and confidently.

Annual Accounts and Annual Report

To lead, plan and manage the production of the Trusts annual accounts and year end closedown, including devising and agreeing timetables to meet local, national and audit deadlines.

Lead responsibility for production and presentation of the Annual Financial Accounts for the Trust, complying with all statutory and NHS England guidance. Responsible for ensuring that the statements and accounts provide a true and fair view of the Trusts financial position.

Trust liaison lead with external auditors, managing the day to day process and responsible for the resolution of any technical issues as they arise. Completion of the accounts and related reports within statutory deadlines and to a high standard.

To be responsible for leading the production of the Trusts Annual Accounts and the SummarisationSchedules (TACs), supporting schedules and working papers, ensuring that they are of high quality and provide a clear audit trail to ensure that the Trust receives an unqualified audit opinion on its accounts.

Monitoring the actions resultant from the process and recommending/advising on corrective actions to be taken and future improvements to the process where necessary

Producing technical updates and holding workshops for staff and leading and advising staff throughout the finance function and external to finance of their roles and responsibilities in the closedown process.

To work with and advise the Board secretariat and Communications Department on the requirements for the Trusts Annual Report and its content in line with latest Department of Health & Social Care guidance and other statutory requirements.

To be responsible for the financial content of the Trusts Annual Report and provide quality review of the draft annual report in conjunction with the Communications Department and Board Secretariat.

Financial Reporting and Accounting

To act as lead on Financial Reporting for the Trust, both internally and externally, managing, advising and developing financial reporting to meet the requirements of key stakeholders and remaining compliant with ever- changing national, international and local requirements and regulations

Ensure the provision of an effective, accurate, timely and responsive financial accounting service across the Trust, throughout the year. Design, develop and communicate appropriate standards and timetables for finance staff to follow through the year so that full and accurate accounts can be produced each month.

Lead responsibility for managing the team in the processing and production of the month-end ledger, processing of all ledger feeder systems, operation of ledger closedown procedures, and monitoring the completion of all accruals and prepayments.

Lead a team of staff providing financial and system control. Set objectives and targets, monitor performance and take appropriate action. Identify and provide, or arrange for, appropriate training and professional development. Challenge poor performance and address issues in a timely way.
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