Financial Accountant

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The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust Financial Accountant

The closing date is 21 September 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

To lead the Trust's Financial Services section ensuring the timely and accurate

processing of all receipts and payments, managed within available cash resources and in

accordance with the Trust's Corporate Governance framework.

Responsibilities include Treasury Management, Asset Management, Charitable Funds

and VAT ensuring accurate and relevant advice is provided to users of this service.

To lead on the preparation and completion of statutory NHS accounts and returns in line with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) within Department of Health timescales.

To develop and continuingly review Trust policies in relation to financial services ensuring the policies are adhered to across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

Completing statutory annual accounts and annual audit for the Trust and charity.

VAT Compliance

Ensure capital expenditure is utilised within envelope.

Treasury Management.

About us

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for the Investors in People. We invest in people and we invest in wellbeing standards and have been awarded Gold status for both. The Walton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology and neurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everything we do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services we are proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originally formed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.

With around 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and 18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incredibly dedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal and neurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site in Fazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves and muscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-term neurological conditions.

Details

Date posted

07 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

160-8238631

Job locations

Sid Watkins Building

Lower Lane

Fazakerley

L9 7LJ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To provide strategic financial advice and business planning input to stakeholders, including the Executive Directors, Senior Management and both clinical and support staff advising in particular on the capital and cash flow implications of options under consideration.

2. Responsible for preparing the Trusts statutory annual accounts and working papers including a summarised version for inclusion in the annual report. This task includes the timely submission of all related items to the NHSE, Department of Health, the external auditors and the Trust Board together with the provision of all financial information required for the Trusts Annual Report. The post holder will also play an active role in the team responsible for producing the Annual Report.

3. Ensuring valid and robust accounting systems are in place in line with the relevant accounting standards (IFRS and GAAP). This will involve interpreting complex standards and regulations operating autonomously to evaluate options before making judgement as to the most appropriate action for the Trust and liaising effectively with the Trusts auditors.

4. Managing the annual audit of the Trust financial accounts and Charitable Fund accounts liaising with auditors to ensure the Trust does not receive anything other than an unqualified audit opinion and only minor issues in relation to the external auditors report.

5. Responsible for interpreting complex financial data and guidance issued by NHSE and the Department of Health and educating both finance and non-finance staff of the implications to the Trust.

6. Responsible for ensuring compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders across the Trust providing interpretation and training to all staff groups.

7. Responsible for the recruitment, management, training and continuous development of 6.0wte staff, including direct line management responsibility for the Assistant Financial Accountant.

8. Responsible for producing policies and procedures relevant to financial services (e.g. Treasury Management and Investment) and ensuring such policies are implemented appropriately and reviewed regularly.

9. Responsible for ensuring that the tasks of the Assistant Financial Accountant and Finance Transactions Manager are covered.

Key duties and tasks

10. Deputise for the Head of Financial Services, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer as and when required at the Audit Committee, Charitable Funds Committee and ad-hoc meetings.

11. Produce and submit monthly financial performance reports to NHSE, Department of Health, Trust Board and other committees adhering to strict timetables and utilising complex electronic programmes prescribed by stakeholders.

12. Plan and manage the production of the annual financial accounts and charitable funds accounts ensuring that all contributing departments across the Trust understand and agree to the timetable whilst ensuring that working papers of the highest quality are prepared for each step of the process.

13. Ensure capital expenditure is recorded in accordance with the Annual Reporting Manual and Treasury FREM ensuring all assets are registered on the Trust Asset Register and appropriately depreciated and ensuring a five year capital investment plan is maintained.

14. Monitor cash flow on a daily basis planning inflows and outflows of cash on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and a five yearly basis incorporating both revenue and capital expenditure plans whilst ensuring the Trust never has to utilise its working capital facility.

15. Ensure the Trust meets the current Private Sector Payment Policy and any future targets set nationally.

16. Responsible for Trust VAT and Inland Revenue returns ensuring VAT is appropriately treated and recorded to ensure the Trust takes full advantage of the opportunities available. This will involve keeping up to date with and interpreting continually changing government legislation and training relevant staff on the implications of the said changes.

17. Maintain continuous positive relations with internal and external auditors to ensure the Trust administers changes to accounting practices and legislation correctly.

18. Assist the Head of Financial Services in co-ordinating and monitoring progress against the annual audit plan and ensuring recommendations and action plans agreed in response to audits are actioned. Provide written updates to the Audit committee demonstrating progress against this.

19. Interpret and advise departments on the implications of the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders including the upkeep of an approved list of authorised signatories.

20. Maintain the Trusts losses and Compensation register reporting activity to each Audit committee.

21. Represent the finance department at the Walton Neuroscience Fund meetings providing reports to the Charitable Funds committee on financial activity both income and expenditure including performance of investment funds held by third parties on behalf of the Trust.

22. Produce month end statements for Fund Advisors and other key reports for Charitable Funds held in Trust.

23. Advise the Charitable Funds & Investment Committee of the Board, Directorate Managers and other staff on all aspects of charity law and accounting treatments to ensure compliance with the Charity Commission and Charities Act 2006.

24. Any other duties considered relevant by the Head of Financial Services including ad-hoc project work.

25. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post and may be amended from time to time after consultation with the post holder.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To provide strategic financial advice and business planning input to stakeholders, including the Executive Directors, Senior Management and both clinical and support staff advising in particular on the capital and cash flow implications of options under consideration.

2. Responsible for preparing the Trusts statutory annual accounts and working papers including a summarised version for inclusion in the annual report. This task includes the timely submission of all related items to the NHSE, Department of Health, the external auditors and the Trust Board together with the provision of all financial information required for the Trusts Annual Report. The post holder will also play an active role in the team responsible for producing the Annual Report.

3. Ensuring valid and robust accounting systems are in place in line with the relevant accounting standards (IFRS and GAAP). This will involve interpreting complex standards and regulations operating autonomously to evaluate options before making judgement as to the most appropriate action for the Trust and liaising effectively with the Trusts auditors.

4. Managing the annual audit of the Trust financial accounts and Charitable Fund accounts liaising with auditors to ensure the Trust does not receive anything other than an unqualified audit opinion and only minor issues in relation to the external auditors report.

5. Responsible for interpreting complex financial data and guidance issued by NHSE and the Department of Health and educating both finance and non-finance staff of the implications to the Trust.

6. Responsible for ensuring compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders across the Trust providing interpretation and training to all staff groups.

7. Responsible for the recruitment, management, training and continuous development of 6.0wte staff, including direct line management responsibility for the Assistant Financial Accountant.

8. Responsible for producing policies and procedures relevant to financial services (e.g. Treasury Management and Investment) and ensuring such policies are implemented appropriately and reviewed regularly.

9. Responsible for ensuring that the tasks of the Assistant Financial Accountant and Finance Transactions Manager are covered.

Key duties and tasks

10. Deputise for the Head of Financial Services, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Chief Finance Officer as and when required at the Audit Committee, Charitable Funds Committee and ad-hoc meetings.

11. Produce and submit monthly financial performance reports to NHSE, Department of Health, Trust Board and other committees adhering to strict timetables and utilising complex electronic programmes prescribed by stakeholders.

12. Plan and manage the production of the annual financial accounts and charitable funds accounts ensuring that all contributing departments across the Trust understand and agree to the timetable whilst ensuring that working papers of the highest quality are prepared for each step of the process.

13. Ensure capital expenditure is recorded in accordance with the Annual Reporting Manual and Treasury FREM ensuring all assets are registered on the Trust Asset Register and appropriately depreciated and ensuring a five year capital investment plan is maintained.

14. Monitor cash flow on a daily basis planning inflows and outflows of cash on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and a five yearly basis incorporating both revenue and capital expenditure plans whilst ensuring the Trust never has to utilise its working capital facility.

15. Ensure the Trust meets the current Private Sector Payment Policy and any future targets set nationally.

16. Responsible for Trust VAT and Inland Revenue returns ensuring VAT is appropriately treated and recorded to ensure the Trust takes full advantage of the opportunities available. This will involve keeping up to date with and interpreting continually changing government legislation and training relevant staff on the implications of the said changes.

17. Maintain continuous positive relations with internal and external auditors to ensure the Trust administers changes to accounting practices and legislation correctly.

18. Assist the Head of Financial Services in co-ordinating and monitoring progress against the annual audit plan and ensuring recommendations and action plans agreed in response to audits are actioned. Provide written updates to the Audit committee demonstrating progress against this.

19. Interpret and advise departments on the implications of the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders including the upkeep of an approved list of authorised signatories.

20. Maintain the Trusts losses and Compensation register reporting activity to each Audit committee.

21. Represent the finance department at the Walton Neuroscience Fund meetings providing reports to the Charitable Funds committee on financial activity both income and expenditure including performance of investment funds held by third parties on behalf of the Trust.

22. Produce month end statements for Fund Advisors and other key reports for Charitable Funds held in Trust.

23. Advise the Charitable Funds & Investment Committee of the Board, Directorate Managers and other staff on all aspects of charity law and accounting treatments to ensure compliance with the Charity Commission and Charities Act 2006.

24. Any other duties considered relevant by the Head of Financial Services including ad-hoc project work.

25. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post and may be amended from time to time after consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant.
• Relevant post qualification experience at a senior level.

Desirable

• Educated to degree level.

Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of operating at a senior level within a financial accounting environment.
• Supervisory Experience.
• Detailed specialist knowledge of statutory accounting regulations applicable to NHS bodies and charitable organisations

Desirable

• Previous experience of NHS Finance

Skills

Essential

• Good level of proficiency in Computer Application packages, (Microsoft Offices, ECDL.
• Good planning skills to ensure that workload is prioritised and deadlines met (both l/t & s/t)
• Analytical and judgment skills with experience of dealing with highly complex financial issues
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of staff within the Trust both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage staff and their deadlines.
• Can use initiative to develop new ways of working in order to provide solutions to problem issues.
• Influencing and negotiating skills.

Desirable

• Understanding of Human Resources Issues.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant.
• Relevant post qualification experience at a senior level.

Desirable

• Educated to degree level.

Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of operating at a senior level within a financial accounting environment.
• Supervisory Experience.
• Detailed specialist knowledge of statutory accounting regulations applicable to NHS bodies and charitable organisations

Desirable

• Previous experience of NHS Finance

Skills

Essential

• Good level of proficiency in Computer Application packages, (Microsoft Offices, ECDL.
• Good planning skills to ensure that workload is prioritised and deadlines met (both l/t & s/t)
• Analytical and judgment skills with experience of dealing with highly complex financial issues
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of staff within the Trust both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage staff and their deadlines.
• Can use initiative to develop new ways of working in order to provide solutions to problem issues.
• Influencing and negotiating skills.

Desirable

• Understanding of Human Resources Issues.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sid Watkins Building

Lower Lane

Fazakerley

L9 7LJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sid Watkins Building

Lower Lane

Fazakerley

L9 7LJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Financial Services

Zoe Stevenson

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

07 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

160-8238631

Job locations

Sid Watkins Building

Lower Lane

Fazakerley

L9 7LJ

United Kingdom

Supporting documents

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