Finance Assistant (Acute & Community)NHS

Job summary

The Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull (BBCS) ICB Cluster is seeking a Finance Assistant (Acute & Community) to join our Finance Directorate. Reporting to the Finance Manager you will assist in the financial management process within the Acute and Community services team whilst contributing to wider strategic objectives anchored in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, including:

• Commissioning for Value and Outcomes
• Accelerating Neighbourhood Health
• Making Best Use of Digital Solution in Care Pathways
• Improving Financial Discipline and Service Productivity
• Advancing Heath Equity
• Integrated Partnership Working.

We are looking for an individual educated to NVQ Level 3 in a relevant subject (or equivalent qualification ) with demonstrable experience of working in an administrative environment, where use of computerised systems was a regular requirement.

You should be a clear communicator with working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, and also have a demonstrable understanding of equality and diversity. In return, you will join a supportive, forward-thinking team offering flexible hybrid working, professional development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference to the health of our communities.

Main duties of the job

This role supports the financial management of Acute and Community services within the ICB. Key responsibilities include producing month-end reports, supporting annual accounts, and providing financial advice to budget managers and stakeholders using Microsoft Office and Oracle.

Maintain accurate financial records by processing journals, invoices, budget adjustments, and transactions. They undertake routine variance analysis to explain differences between actual and planned expenditure, ensuring compliance with required accounting standards.

Working with the Senior Finance Manager, the role supports monitoring and reporting of Acute and Community budgets. Duties include attending meetings with budget holders, assisting with budget reviews, carrying out analysis, and contributing to the annual planning process.

The role also provides management accounting support to commissioning and contracting teams. This involves resolving financial issues, correcting budget and payment errors, modelling service changes, and ensuring compliance with financial policies, governance and statutory regulations.

The postholder contributes to finance team objectives by maintaining audit-ready working papers, supporting governance processes, and completing administrative finance tasks. Success in the role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective communication, problem-solving ability, knowledge of NHS financial procedures, and the ability to work independently.

Job description

The complete job description can be found in the attached document.

The postholder will be accountable for:

• Assisting in the financial management process within the Acute & Community team with key duties including, month end Reporting for Team responsible areas; annual financial management duties to support the production of Annual Accounts; reporting of financial information as required to budget managers; responding to routine queries from stakeholders; application of Microsoft Office suite and other applications such as Oracle ledger
• Inputting and processing financial information, completing routine variance analysis, journal entries etc
• Providing support to the Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community in regard to the reporting of positions and attendance at Acute and Community meetings with Budget Holders
• Completing ad hoc analysis of the budgets within the teams portfolio with assistance from the Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community
• Ensuring financial records are accurate, complete and conform to necessary standards
• Assisting in the delivery of information to support the annual planning cycle
• Providing financial advice with the support from the Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community, including ensuring compliance with accounting policies and other regulatory guidance in respect of finance
• Supporting the Senior Finance Manager Acute & Community in the delivery of specific projects particularly but not exclusively relating to Acute & Community Budgets
• Supporting the wider objectives of the finance team as appropriate
• Processing transactions such as journals, invoices, IPFs and budget adjustments as necessary
• Maintaining accurate working papers and recording of ledger transactions for audit purposes
• Assisting the team to ensure that the ICB adheres to its governance framework and complies with the relevant statutory regulation
• Providing Management Accounting support to the contracting team in relation to Acute and Community contracts.
• Liaising with Acute and Community commissioning leads as required to assist in financial issues including budget or payment errors, modelling simple service changes etc
• Actioning processes such as Waivers, Requisitions and Workforce Management requests for the Finance team and support the commissioning teams in the process.
• Disseminating month financial management budget reports to all budgets holders in the ICBs
• Actively participating in departmental training as well as HFMA and One NHS Finance programmes.

About us

Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) brings together the NHS, local councils and voluntary sector partners to support 2.7 million people. Our vision is to make the area the healthiest place to live and work by improving life chances and reducing inequalities.

As an employee, you will demonstrate our system values, champion inclusion and help address health inequalities so everyone can thrive. In return, the ICB offers a supportive, ambitious and inclusive workplace, with opportunities to develop and work with partners to deliver meaningful change.

The ICB is committed to a workforce that reflects the population of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone who meets the role criteria, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

The ICB is a registered Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and will shortlist suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Employees formally notified that they are at risk of redundancy within the organisation will receive priority consideration for this vacancy if they meet the roles essential requirements. This supports redeployment and helps minimise compulsory redundancies.