Welcome from our Chief Executive - Samantha Allen

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Samantha Allen

Chief Executive

Job overview

This post is part of the Finance team supporting the delivery of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trusts strategic objectives. It is an apprenticeship role where the post holder will work and study to complete their Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) level 3 qualification.

The post holder will experience all aspects of the Finance function, with the majority of time being spent in Financial Management. There will also be exposure to Financial Governance, Accounting, Procurement, Contracts and Payroll.

At the end of the apprenticeship the post holder will have the opportunity (subject to vacancies) to apply for a Finance Assistant Analyst role (band 4) and continue their studies with either CIMA or ACCA.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will gain experience and be responsible for the following:

• Design and maintain routine reports and spreadsheets as required by the team and to assist in the maintenance and development of routine information spreadsheets including those around staffing pay calculations, which will be utilised to identify the impact of cost changes between financial years.
• Liaison between Financial Management team and Invoice Query Managers, including the financial coding of agency staff.
• Financial gatekeeping of the Trust HR and recruitment systems ensuring all key details are provided by recruiting managers and that Financial Management respond to compliant requests in a timely manner.
• Analyse and interpret financial payments, receipts and assist in the calculation and processing of regular accrual and adjustment journals in line with the reporting cycle timetable.
• Regular input and data manipulation into Trust databases.
• The production of invoices with supporting documentation to numerous Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG's).

Working for our organisation

The finance team at Sussex Partnership is responsible for managing the Trusts finances and assist in strategic and operational decision making. Before lockdown the team was primarily based at our Swandean Head Office site but now staff use a hybrid model of working from home and at different sites across the Trust.

The department is headed up by a Finance Director and then split into teams under three Deputy Directors. It is made up of qualified and training accountants, finance officers, analysts and payroll managers.

There are a number of apprenticeship roles within the department, with apprentices studying for their AAT qualification. On qualifying, our trainees can move into permanent positions to continue studying for either CIMA or ACCA accountancy qualifications. This can either be self-managed or through another apprenticeship, both routes fully supported by the Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will gain experience and be responsible for the following:

• Entry level management and financial accounting, learning the key aspects of work involved in closing month ends and supporting the wider team in reporting key financial information to budget holders and their teams.
• Able to communicate through written and verbal methods and respond to routine queries from stakeholders.
• Analyse and interpret financial payments, receipts and assist in the calculation and processing of regular accrual and adjustment journals in line with the reporting cycle timetable.
• Regular input and data manipulation into Trust databases.
• Gain knowledge of, and apply, Trust and accounting policies and other relevant guidance appropriate to the area of work.
• The role will support the data collection and invoicing of the Trust's non-contracted and overseas patient activity on a monthly basis. This will involve the creation and manipulation of Excel spreadsheet reports to identify and communicate chargeable episodes and be involved in the production of invoices with supporting documentation to numerous Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG's).
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post as directed by the Senior Finance Business Partner.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria

• A-Level or equivalent experience
• English and Mathematics at a level 2 / GCSE grade A* - C / 2017 Grade 4 - 9

EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria

• Computer Literate
• Effective team working
• Strong communication skills
• Able to organise and prioritise own workload and that of team in a constantly changing environment
• Able to plan to meet objectives

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.