Assistant Accountant

Job summary

You will be part of the Technical Accounting Team within a financial shared services agency providing a professional and quality based financial accounting service to client organisations

The role of Assistant Accountant involves having responsibility for the monthly reconciliation of balance sheet (control) accounts, including VAT control accounts with supervision, daily cash allocation and bank reconciliations, maintaining written financial procedure notes and provision of client reports in-line with contractual requirements.

You will have excellent keyboard skills where speed and accuracy are essential and have to undertake significant data input duties. A high proportion of the day is spent using computer applications, extracting, analysing, manipulating and interpreting information, creating and developing spreadsheets for use within the department.

You will be expected to manage, plan and organise his / her own workload, performance will be reviewed by line managers at agreed intervals, not on a daily basis. You will be expected to use his / her initiative to resolve any complex problems arising and communicate solutions effectively, escalating issues to his / her line manager as appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Complete the reconciliation of nominated balance sheet accounts by identifying, interpreting, investigating and resolving complex financial queries, thereby ensuring accurate financial records and reporting is maintained in accordance with Service Level Agreements timetables and agreed procedures

Completion of daily cash allocation and bank reconciliation for nominated clients ensuring that all payments received are analysed and correctly allocated to the customer invoices or general ledger codes, bank reconciliations are balanced and any queries cleared in a timely manner

Input of financial ledger corrections and transactions (journals) to the computerised General Ledger systems in accordance with SLA timetables and procedures

Responsible for receiving, reviewing, interpreting and responding professionally to queries received from Finance and Non-Finance staff, utilising expertise and knowledge of interpreting financial accounting routines, Statutory Regulations, procedures, policies and working practice

Reconcile VAT control accounts and input VAT returns under supervision by the Senior Assistant Accountant. Review consultants reports and assist with VAT queries from clients. Provide VAT Club reports for Band 3 staff and review their findings, correcting where necessary and advising

Assist with the completion of client organisations Annual Statutory Accounts in line with the Department of Health requirements and liaise with Auditors providing additional info when requested

About us

ELFS Business Services was established on the 1st April 2002 and is now in its 22nd year of operation providing business shared services to NHS client organisations. We have a highly motivated workforce dedicated to providing high standard shared services excellence. We also have a reputation for developing excellent client relationships based on service satisfaction and high quality delivery.

You will be a part of Technical Accounts team which currently has 18 members and is responsible for providing financial accounting services (balance sheet reconciliations, VAT, capital, charitable funds) to the client organisations. The team provides a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience for future qualified accountants and you will receive support if you study towards a professional accountancy qualification. You will be working at a fast pace and to strict deadlines and therefore good organisational and multitasking skills as well as strong work ethics are essential. Our friendly team colleagues will make you feel welcomed and provide plenty of on the job training to ensure you are confident in the assigned tasks.

We offer a hybrid working model - a mixture of office and home working with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office subject to annual review. The initial training period (minimum 3 months) is office based.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Complete the reconciliation and clearance of nominated balance sheet (control) accounts by identifying, interpreting, investigating and resolving complex financial queries, thereby ensuring accurate financial records and reporting is maintained in accordance with Service Level Agreements (SLA) timetables and agreed procedures. Liaise with client organisations staff providing necessary information to ensure the resolution of any discrepancies.

Completion of daily cash allocation and bank reconciliation for a nominated client(s) ensuring that all payments received are analysed and correctly allocated to the customer invoices or general ledger codes. Ensuring that bank reconciliations are balanced and any queries cleared in a timely manner

Management of recharge accounts, ensure prompt, accurate reconciliation and timely clearance via invoice requests to Credit Controller in order to maximise client income. Liaise with client organisations to resolve reconciliation queries

Reconcile VAT control accounts and input VAT returns under supervision by the Senior Assistant Accountant with responsibility for VAT. Review consultants reports and assist with VAT queries from clients. Provide VAT Club reports for Band 3 staff and review their findings, correcting where necessary and advising

Assist with the completion of client organisations Annual Statutory Accounts in line with the Department of Health requirements and liaise with External Auditors providing additional information when requested.

Input of financial ledger corrections and transactions (journals) to the computerised General Ledger systems in accordance with SLA timetables and procedures.

Input information relating to income received into the financial ledgers, including charitable funds, ensuring income relating to debtors is correctly allocated to customer accounts, dealing with subsequent enquiries from other NHS bodies and members of the public.

Ensure all income in respect of client organisations is receipted and banked promptly. Specifically, this requires and involves: liaising, organizing, communicating and planning (with client finance departments, security companies, and GBS and commercial banks) issues surrounding the banking of all clients income

Responsible for receiving, reviewing, interpreting and responding professionally to queries received from Finance and Non- Finance staff, utilising expertise and knowledge of interpreting financial accounting routines, Statutory Regulations, procedures, policies and working practice.

Completion of Month End Creditors for client organisations.

Completion of Agreement of Balances exercises in respect of income and expenditure for nominated client organisations.

Assist with the provision of complex financial information to the Internal Auditors to assist with periodic reviews required by client organisations.

Responsible for the control, administration, management and disbursement of nominated Charitable Funds on a daily basis ensuring funds operate within their specified budgets. Providing advice and support and information to non-Finance Managers in relation to these Funds, including the issue of budget reports on a monthly basis.

Assist with the maintenance of nominated client organisations Fixed Asset Systems (databases) maintaining standing data and recording additions, transfers and disposals.

Produce depreciation figures from the Fixed Asset System ensuring their accuracy for monthly input to the financial ledgers

Contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team and the whole of ELFS.

Assist in the deployment of technologies/systems/services to ELFS employees and Client organisations

Prepare, review and update relevant procedure notes and make recommendations to improve working practice, policies, procedures and service. Making comparisons across client organisations, in respect of current working practice, in order to ensure best practice is adopted at all times

Customer Relations and Communications.

Respond to issues either written or verbal in a professional, courteous and timely manner and ensuring a high standard of customer service is provided.

Recognise where problems/issues need to be escalated.

Maintain an effective working relationship with other members of the department, other employees within the Trust and external organisations to deliver a professional service focused on achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.

To be responsible for own personal and professional development

Operate under the direction of the Team Leader to ensure procedures and timescales are observed taking on additional tasks as required.

Maintain an effective working relationship with other individuals of the team, other officers of the organisation and Client Organisations in order to ensure the delivery of a professional service focused on achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.

Adhere to the Host organisations Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Host Trusts policies and procedures.

Participate in any associated training in order to enhance knowledge and skills.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

Educated to Level 4 ( AAT level 4, NVQ 4) or equivalent work experience

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of computerised financial systems Knowledge of Microsoft Excel Analytical skills with the ability to apply expertise and utilise technology Able to communicate with client organisations, outside agencies and the general public in a courteous and dignified manner Able to use own initiative and to work to tight deadlines

Desirable

Experience of control account reconciliations Awareness of NHS finance policies and procedures Knowledge of Microsoft office applications Experience of NHS Finance, and of cash and banking work

---