Finance Officer Cash and Control

Job Summary This role supports the financial services team in delivering accurate and timely financial processes, in line with organisational policies and statutory requirements. It involves ensuring financial information is processed correctly, investigating and resolving queries, and providing guidance to colleagues and stakeholders. The position also contributes to maintaining compliance with financial controls and deadlines, while promoting best practices across the team. The role is 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, no on‑call duties. This vacancy may close early if enough suitable applications are received. Responsibilities Support the financial services team in delivering accurate and timely financial processes. Investigate and resolve financial queries and provide guidance to colleagues and stakeholders. Maintain compliance with financial controls and deadlines, and promote best practices. Ensure control accounts are reconciled monthly, and clear suspense and recharge codes within the prescribed timetable. Assist in the maintenance of the Trust's banking facilities, bank mandates, receipting of income, and completion of VAT accounting processes. Complete year‑end working papers to support the production of statutory accounts. Allocate day‑to‑day tasks, rotate duties, and cover for colleagues when required. Communicate finance policies and procedures to finance and organisational colleagues, ensuring alignment with Trust SFIs. Review balance sheet transactions and provide advice where entries are incorrect, preventing future errors. Assist with the NHS agreement of balances exercise for income and expenditure transactions. Receipting of Trust income directly into the bank account and resolve unallocated cash by raising queries with relevant colleagues. Complete monthly bank account reconciliations. Coordinate petty cash balances at year end to support reporting. Liaise with internal and external auditors, providing required information. Identify improvement areas within Financial Services and propose procedures. Analyse, investigate and resolve financial queries, identifying suitable solutions. Person Specification Essential Qualifications NVQ Level 4 / Associate AAT or equivalent demonstrable experience (F/C). 5 GCSEs including Maths and English or equivalent (F/C). Desirable Qualifications Further academic achievement (F/C). Evidence of ongoing professional training and development (F/C). Essential Experience Experience within a corporate finance (financial accounting) environment (F/R). Desirable Experience Experience of NHS finance, including Agreement of Balances (F/R/I). Knowledge of financial control. Essential Skills Attention to detail, methodical and thorough approach (F). Ability to concentrate for sustained periods on complex calculations, producing accurate results. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (F/I). IT literacy with strong spreadsheet skills (I). Accurate and speedy data entry. Ability to meet targets and deadlines through planning, multitasking, prioritising competing demands, and switching objectives/tasks (I). Desirable Skills Ability to deal sensitively with confidential information (I). Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, Access) (I). Essential Knowledge Knowledge of financial control, best practice and financial procedures. Knowledge of financial systems. Knowledge of finance concepts and principles, applied to double‑entry bookkeeping, financial ledgers, feeder systems, reconciliation and financial reporting. Desirable Knowledge Knowledge of NHS finance (sector‑specific), including VAT. Awareness of International Financial Reporting Standards. Knowledge of account production (I). Additional Flexible and adaptable approach. Motivated and professional manner. Ability to work as part of a team and contribute to overall team effectiveness. Ability to work under own initiative. Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post requires a DBS submission. Employer Details Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Buckingham RowBrick Kiln LaneWiganWN1 1XX Website: http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ #J-18808-Ljbffr