Financial Accountant (Apprentice) inSouthampton inSouthampton PUBLISHED TUE 22 OCT 2024

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for a detailed job description of the role.

Are you looking for an exciting finance apprenticeship role? We have an exciting opportunity in our high-performing Finance Team supporting a £1bn+ NHS Foundation Trust. We are committed to your continued career development and offer a supportive, flexible and collaborative working environment, where your health and well-being are equally valued. The team is looking to recruit a committed individual to join as a Financial Accountant Apprentice, who is enthusiastic, has great attention to detail and is motivated to complete the CIMA Level 7 qualification.

The 100-strong finance team provides a range of accounting services; the post holders will rotate within the three roles gaining invaluable experience working in a very large, professional, committed, successful Finance Department alongside sponsored study support to qualified accountant status.

About us

WHAT YOULL DO

The apprentices will work in one of the four roles before rotating to another in the second year and then the final role in the third. The roles have been carefully selected to provide apprentices with a breadth of knowledge across finance disciplines providing great work experience whilst studying for full accounting body membership

Alongside the practical experience, you will undertake a Level 7 finance apprenticeship and study to become a full member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Study time and off-the-job training will be fully supported and considered of equal importance to the work experience.

WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for applicants who are committed to developing their knowledge and becoming a chartered accountant. They will ideally have an interest in developing their skills in public sector finances and working for the NHS.

As this apprenticeship is at an advanced level applicants must have one of the following qualifications: Finance apprenticeship Level 4, AAT Level 4 member, CIMA Certificate of Business Accounting, ACCA Foundations in Accounting or first class degree with finance modules i.e. finance and accounting, business studies. You will also have to qualify for the Government apprenticeship scheme and therefore these roles do not attract visa sponsorship.

Due to the rotational nature of this role you will be a team player with strong communication skills who is willing to work hard and be adaptable to the different demands of the department. You will have strong attention to detail will be honest with all the work that you do. You will demonstrate independence and initiative when carrying out tasks. Work experience in finance or customer services is desirable as is a good working knowledge of excel.

This role provides full support to complete a level 7 apprenticeship to become a chartered accountant as well as gaining experience through the rotation across the following roles:

R&D Management AccountantManaging a portfolio of commercial and Non-commercial studies. Reconciling income and expenditure on each study. Producing Analysis report, managing queries and ensuring the accurate and timely distribution of income to recipient business units.

Financial Accountant (Period end team) Operational FinanceSupport the Finance Manager in production of the final accounts for the Trust including key working papers for external audit and proactively responding to external audit queries.

Accountant (Tax & Treasury) Operational FinanceAssisting the Cash & Control Manager in VAT compliance for the organisation and subsidiaries ensuring accurate VAT is submitted in a timely basis.

Subsidiary Accountant Strategic FinanceSupport the Subsidiary Finance Manager with the financial management of the subsidiary finances including budget partnering, month-end reporting and preparation of annual accounts

Undertake a 3-year programme of training working towards CIMA or ACCA Level 7 Apprenticeship.

This will consist of a full-time work placement plus attendance on study sessions/days in line with your apprenticeship training programme.

Once you have completed your training you will fulfil the following job description in full.

If you are already an NHS employee and are applying for an Apprentice - Annex 21 vacancy you may be entitled to pay protection.

Pay protection applies where the role you are applying for is at the same AFC band or higher, and you would receive less in pay compared with your current salary due to annex 21.

Please see the NHS Employers Apprenticeship Pay Guidance and FAQs for further information and eligible criteria:

Apprenticeship pay guidance and FAQs | NHS Employers