Finance Assistant

Job Summary This role supports the Financial Services team in delivering accurate and timely financial processes, ensuring compliance with procedures and deadlines. It contributes to maintaining effective financial controls, resolving queries, and providing guidance to colleagues. 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Main duties of the job As a member of the Financial Services team, the post holder will contribute to the efficient and accurate delivery of financial operations. This includes supporting the monthly reconciliation of control accounts, ensuring suspense accounts and recharge codes are cleared in line with internal timetables. The post holder will assist in the maintenance of the Trust's banking facilities, bank mandates, receipting of income and assist with the completion of VAT processes in accordance with statutory deadlines and will assist the completion of several year‑end working papers to support the production of year‑end accounts. Team members will be assigned specific day‑to‑day responsibilities but are expected to rotate duties periodically and provide cover for colleagues as required. About Us Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values. People at the Heart Listen and Involve Kind and Respectful ONE Team WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs. At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society. COVID‑19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information available by contacting where you can also ask about how to access vaccinations. Details Date posted: 26 November 2025 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 3 Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working Reference number: 302-25-7630487CPR Job locations:Buckingham Row, Brick Kiln Lane, Wigan, WN11XX Job Responsibilities Assist in the reconciliation of control accounts and associated queries. To understand accounting procedures including reconciliations, VAT payments and deductions and general ledger coding structures. Support the allocation of private patient income and deposits and identifying any under/overpayments and ensuring corrective action is taken. Assist in the allocation of all trust income. Deputise and provide support for the Accounts Receivable Officer to undertake debt collection activities where appropriate and resolve complex payment issues, including those of a sensitive nature. Print and dispatch invoices and credit notes following invoice/credit generation within the sales ledger, either via email or post or other distribution method identified in the procedures. Produce and send dunning letters to the debtor in accordance with agreed debt collection procedures. Record all debtor contact in accordance with agreed debt collection procedures. This should be done via the invoice notes appearing on comments report. Assist with monitoring the trust's credit card expenditure and investigate any anomalies. Communicate to finance/non‑finance colleagues finance policies and procedures in line with Trust SFIs (Standing Financial Instructions). Assist in the preparation of several working papers to substantiate figures reported in the Trust Annual Accounts. Assist in the completion of the NHS agreement of balances exercise for both debtor/creditor balances and income and expenditure transactions identifying discrepancies and taking corrective action where appropriate. Assist in clearing unallocated cash in the general ledger. Assist in the completion of the monthly bank reconciliation. Liaise with internal and external auditors providing information as required. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within Financial Services and recommend procedural enhancements, while maintaining awareness of the impact on other areas of the Finance department. Analyse, investigate and resolve financial queries, identifying solutions from a range of options. Any other duties as required for the role. Person Specification Essential Qualifications 5 GCSEs including maths and English Desirable Qualifications Associate AAT or equivalent studying or experience. (F/C) Further academic achievement. (F/C) Evidence of on‑going professional training & development. (F/C) Essential Experience Experience of working in a Finance role. (F/R) Desirable Experience Experience within a corporate Finance environment (F/R/I) NHS Experience Essential Skills Attention to detail, with a methodical and thorough approach. (F) Ability to concentrate frequently for sustained periods on complex calculations, with accurate results. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. (F/I) IT literacy with strong spreadsheet skills. (I) Accurate and speedy inputting skills. Ability to meet targets and deadlines through planning; multitasking; prioritising competing demands; and switching objectives/tasks. Desirable Skills Ability to deal sensitively with confidential information. (I) Proficient in use of Microsoft Office (specifically Outlook, Excel, Word and Access). (I) Essential Knowledge Knowledge pertaining to financial control, best practice and financial procedures. (I) Knowledge of financial systems. (I) Desirable Knowledge Knowledge of Finance concepts and principles, as applied to double entry bookkeeping; in financial ledgers and 'feeder' systems; reconciliation; and in financial reporting. (I) Knowledge of accounts production. (I) Essential Additional Flexible/adaptable approach. (I) Motivated and professional manner. (I) Ability to work as part of a team and contribute to overall team effectiveness. (I) Ability to work under own initiative. (I) Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer Details Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Buckingham RowBrick Kiln LaneWiganWN11XX Website: http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ #J-18808-Ljbffr