Practice Finance Manager inLancaster inLancaster PUBLISHED 2 DEC 2023

Depending on experience From £35869 pro rata (WTE)  PERMANENT 
Manage financial aspects of employment for all staff and locum staff.


Main duties of the job


Please see attached document for full job description

The Finance Manager is accountable to the Practice Director for managing accounts transactions of the practice on a day-to-day basis, ensuring services are maintained for patients at all practice sites through estate management, effective business systems, accurate reporting, business and financial information and supplier contract management.

The Finance Manager will deliver against contracts and agreements for care and ensure all services rendered are claimed for.

At a time of considerable change and challenge for Primary Care the Finance Manager will have a particular responsibility in ensuring the continued development of the Practice through a thorough understanding of the funding regime for Primary Care, fully accessing income streams and identifying new opportunities for the organisation.


Job responsibilities

Partnership Finance:

Manage practice accounts and seek to maximise income (QuickBooks)

Prepare accounts for accountants and ensure end of quarter and end of year returns are completed for pensions, tax and all financial systems

Ensure effective budgeting and reporting to ensure up to date accounts available to support financial health of partnership

Ensure payroll is run effectively (Iris Payroll)

Maintain pensions records of all employed staff including GP Partners

Manage financial aspects of employment for all staff and locum staff

Through negotiation with the commissioning authority (ICB) and NHS England ensure the practice receives an appropriate and equitable allocation of resources

Understand and report on the financial implications of contract and legislation changes

Prepare invoices and collect money promptly

Make payments promptly and record correctly

Ensure that expenses are reasonable and best value for money

Manage practice accounts; submit year-end and monthly figures promptly and liaise with the Practice Director

Monitor cash-flow

Oversee the management and reconciliation of bank accounts; negotiate and liaise with the practice bankers

Ensure accurate budgeting and accountancy systems are maintained

Run payments systems for creditors and debtor management

Ensure all financial processes are transparent and open for inspection

Monitor and reconcile income and expenditure statements and purchase/sales ledger transactions

Manage appropriate systems for handling and recording of cash and cheques and petty cash.

Report to the partners on financial and operational performance KPIs

Liaise with practice accountants/PCN business leads on financial affairs of the PCN.


Partnership Business performance:

In conjunction with the Practice Director, act as lead for all estates management (four sites) including negotiating with property services and ensuring best value for money. In addition, the practice owns other properties with private interests, which supports our core business.

Carry out regular reviews and benchmarking of business aspects of the practice to identify areas of innovation, improvement, and development

Ensure the practice is delivering services in accordance with national and local regulation of primary care so that the practice can demonstrate achievement of relevant standards of care

Business governance - ensure the business is run in accordance with all guidelines and legislation e.g. health and safety, tax, finance etc.

Manage financial risk by carrying out risk assessments where necessary and maintaining risk registers with Practice Director

Support Business Continuity Planning

Attend local and regional meetings as agreed with Practice Director to ensure effective understanding of existing and new opportunities and challenges

Work in conjunction with IT Lead and IT suppliers to ensure effective use of all IT and telephony systems through configuration, reporting on usage.

Identify and report to partners regularly on key performance indicators.

Where appropriate use local and national systems to benchmark the business aspects of the practice.

Ensure the business is appropriately insured for all relevant aspects, seeking quotes and comparisons as necessary.

Manage contracts for key services to ensure best service and value for money and maintain productive relationships with key service providers

Working with Practice Director, attend, contribute to and feedback to partners on relevant locality and area meetings to support Primary Care Network and identify opportunities and threats.


Partnership income streams and IT:

Ensure that service-related income is maximised, including via clinical system (EMIS) searches and analysis of data. This includes income through the PCN, from QOF targets, flu targets, IIF, DES and LES and any other services

Analyse and present data to assist nursing and other teams in the efficient direction of resources to maximise patient wellbeing

Maintain registration policies and monitor patient turnover and capitation to ensure that financial goals are met

Routinely monitor and assess practice performance against patient access and demand management targets

In conjunction with the IT Lead, evaluate and plan practice IT implementation and modernisation with the latest development in primary care IT and ensure that the practice has the necessary IT equipment and efficient telephone systems and ensure that the practice has effective IT data security, back-up, maintenance and disaster recovery plans in place

Liaise with the ICB regarding systems procurement, IT funding and national IT development programmes.


Leadership and Change management:

Demonstrate leadership and change management and support the capacity for both within teams. Support the Practice Director in developing and implementing processes to support staff morale, to achieve good levels of staff development and retention

Work with practice Director and partners to develop new models of care and staffing structures to improve service and financial efficiencies

Present ideas and support others to develop areas for opportunity and effective functioning of the business

Support Practice Director to set agendas and make proposals to meetings; record appropriately for professional and business governance and follow up actions.

Keep abreast of current affairs and identify potential opportunities and threats.

Contribute to practice strategy; formulate objectives and research and develop ideas for future practice development

Develop and maintain effective communication both within the practice and with relevant outside agencies


Personal development:

To be aware of national, local and practice quality standards for all aspects of general practice

Having an excellent working knowledge of and closely monitoring performance and quality targets including but not limited to QOF, PMS, key performance indicators and other locally agreed schemes and incentives

To take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance

To participate in the practice appraisal scheme

To attend educational and other meetings as required

To undertake training as required including mandatory and statutory training, core skills training and ongoing developmental training

To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of the whole primary health care team

To strive to maintain quality within the practice and to alert other team members and line manager to issues of quality and risk.

To assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

To effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.


This list is not exhaustive and post holder is expected to be flexible according to the partnership needs agreed by the GP partners.

Finance manager required for busy GP practice in Lancaster.

Queen Square Medical practice offer the highest standard of healthcare to our patients in Lancaster, Caton and surrounding area.

We are a proudly independent, innovative, friendly, research active practice, with a practice population of 16000 patients . We are a dynamic team of doctors, practitioners and nurses constantly developing our service.


Job summary


24 hours over 3 or 4 days, Flexible

(Shortlisted candidates are encouraged to arrange an informal meeting with the existing Financial Manager and Practice Director)

This role will particularly suit an experienced practice finance manager or practice manager with proven specialist interest in practice finances. This will also be suitable for finance professionals from other NHS and non-NHS background with considerable financial and business experience in complex organisations and transferable skills.

The Practice Finance Manager is responsible for ensuring the practice is a sustainable and thriving business, by overseeing all business transactions, accessing all relevant claims and funds, and seeking additional earning and funding opportunities. The finance manager will work in conjunction with the Practice Director to develop the practice through effective business and financial management, continued development of income streams, the implementation of effective services contracts and responding to opportunities with business cases and proposals.

Working with the Practice Director, the Finance Manager will ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the practice and will act as a role model to demonstrate partnership values and professional behaviour.


Main duties of the job


Please see attached document for full job description

The Finance Manager is accountable to the Practice Director for managing accounts transactions of the practice on a day-to-day basis, ensuring services are maintained for patients at all practice sites through estate management, effective business systems, accurate reporting, business and financial information and supplier contract management.

The Finance Manager will deliver against contracts and agreements for care and ensure all services rendered are claimed for.

At a time of considerable change and challenge for Primary Care the Finance Manager will have a particular responsibility in ensuring the continued development of the Practice through a thorough understanding of the funding regime for Primary Care, fully accessing income streams and identifying new opportunities for the organisation.


Job responsibilities

Partnership Finance:

Manage practice accounts and seek to maximise income (QuickBooks)

Prepare accounts for accountants and ensure end of quarter and end of year returns are completed for pensions, tax and all financial systems

Ensure effective budgeting and reporting to ensure up to date accounts available to support financial health of partnership

Ensure payroll is run effectively (Iris Payroll)

Maintain pensions records of all employed staff including GP Partners

Manage financial aspects of employment for all staff and locum staff

Through negotiation with the commissioning authority (ICB) and NHS England ensure the practice receives an appropriate and equitable allocation of resources

Understand and report on the financial implications of contract and legislation changes

Prepare invoices and collect money promptly

Make payments promptly and record correctly

Ensure that expenses are reasonable and best value for money

Manage practice accounts; submit year-end and monthly figures promptly and liaise with the Practice Director

Monitor cash-flow

Oversee the management and reconciliation of bank accounts; negotiate and liaise with the practice bankers

Ensure accurate budgeting and accountancy systems are maintained

Run payments systems for creditors and debtor management

Ensure all financial processes are transparent and open for inspection

Monitor and reconcile income and expenditure statements and purchase/sales ledger transactions

Manage appropriate systems for handling and recording of cash and cheques and petty cash.

Report to the partners on financial and operational performance KPIs

Liaise with practice accountants/PCN business leads on financial affairs of the PCN.


Partnership Business performance:

In conjunction with the Practice Director, act as lead for all estates management (four sites) including negotiating with property services and ensuring best value for money. In addition, the practice owns other properties with private interests, which supports our core business.

Carry out regular reviews and benchmarking of business aspects of the practice to identify areas of innovation, improvement, and development

Ensure the practice is delivering services in accordance with national and local regulation of primary care so that the practice can demonstrate achievement of relevant standards of care

Business governance - ensure the business is run in accordance with all guidelines and legislation e.g. health and safety, tax, finance etc.

Manage financial risk by carrying out risk assessments where necessary and maintaining risk registers with Practice Director

Support Business Continuity Planning

Attend local and regional meetings as agreed with Practice Director to ensure effective understanding of existing and new opportunities and challenges

Work in conjunction with IT Lead and IT suppliers to ensure effective use of all IT and telephony systems through configuration, reporting on usage.

Identify and report to partners regularly on key performance indicators.

Where appropriate use local and national systems to benchmark the business aspects of the practice.

Ensure the business is appropriately insured for all relevant aspects, seeking quotes and comparisons as necessary.

Manage contracts for key services to ensure best service and value for money and maintain productive relationships with key service providers

Working with Practice Director, attend, contribute to and feedback to partners on relevant locality and area meetings to support Primary Care Network and identify opportunities and threats.


Partnership income streams and IT:

Ensure that service-related income is maximised, including via clinical system (EMIS) searches and analysis of data. This includes income through the PCN, from QOF targets, flu targets, IIF, DES and LES and any other services

Analyse and present data to assist nursing and other teams in the efficient direction of resources to maximise patient wellbeing

Maintain registration policies and monitor patient turnover and capitation to ensure that financial goals are met

Routinely monitor and assess practice performance against patient access and demand management targets

In conjunction with the IT Lead, evaluate and plan practice IT implementation and modernisation with the latest development in primary care IT and ensure that the practice has the necessary IT equipment and efficient telephone systems and ensure that the practice has effective IT data security, back-up, maintenance and disaster recovery plans in place

Liaise with the ICB regarding systems procurement, IT funding and national IT development programmes.


Leadership and Change management:

Demonstrate leadership and change management and support the capacity for both within teams. Support the Practice Director in developing and implementing processes to support staff morale, to achieve good levels of staff development and retention

Work with practice Director and partners to develop new models of care and staffing structures to improve service and financial efficiencies

Present ideas and support others to develop areas for opportunity and effective functioning of the business

Support Practice Director to set agendas and make proposals to meetings; record appropriately for professional and business governance and follow up actions.

Keep abreast of current affairs and identify potential opportunities and threats.

Contribute to practice strategy; formulate objectives and research and develop ideas for future practice development

Develop and maintain effective communication both within the practice and with relevant outside agencies


Personal development:

To be aware of national, local and practice quality standards for all aspects of general practice

Having an excellent working knowledge of and closely monitoring performance and quality targets including but not limited to QOF, PMS, key performance indicators and other locally agreed schemes and incentives

To take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance

To participate in the practice appraisal scheme

To attend educational and other meetings as required

To undertake training as required including mandatory and statutory training, core skills training and ongoing developmental training

To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of the whole primary health care team

To strive to maintain quality within the practice and to alert other team members and line manager to issues of quality and risk.

To assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

To effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.


This list is not exhaustive and post holder is expected to be flexible according to the partnership needs agreed by the GP partners.

Finance manager required for busy GP practice in Lancaster.

Queen Square Medical practice offer the highest standard of healthcare to our patients in Lancaster, Caton and surrounding area.

We are a proudly independent, innovative, friendly, research active practice, with a practice population of 16000 patients . We are a dynamic team of doctors, practitioners and nurses constantly developing our service.


Job summary


24 hours over 3 or 4 days, Flexible

(Shortlisted candidates are encouraged to arrange an informal meeting with the existing Financial Manager and Practice Director)

This role will particularly suit an experienced practice finance manager or practice manager with proven specialist interest in practice finances. This will also be suitable for finance professionals from other NHS and non-NHS background with considerable financial and business experience in complex organisations and transferable skills.

The Practice Finance Manager is responsible for ensuring the practice is a sustainable and thriving business, by overseeing all business transactions, accessing all relevant claims and funds, and seeking additional earning and funding opportunities. The finance manager will work in conjunction with the Practice Director to develop the practice through effective business and financial management, continued development of income streams, the implementation of effective services contracts and responding to opportunities with business cases and proposals.

Working with the Practice Director, the Finance Manager will ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the practice and will act as a role model to demonstrate partnership values and professional behaviour.



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