Welcome from our Chief Executive - Samantha Allen

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Samantha Allen

Chief Executive

Job overview

The Finance Assistant has a key role in supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of the Oracle financial ledger to aid the timely and accurate systems and reporting service.
The role will support the Finance Analyst and the team with predominantly Accounts Payables tasks for our Agency invoices.
The role will require you to work closely with colleagues across the Finance function, Procurement team and Shared Business Services. This will involve providing advice and resolving queries. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

Main duties of the job

MAIN DUTIES:
• Provide support to the Systems & Governance Team with the day to day operational duties and assisting them with all operational systems and governance issues.
• To check each invoice received against our Bank Health Roster to ensure the correct rates have been invoiced
• To check each invoice received against our Bank Health Roster to ensure the correct hours have been invoiced
• To ensure the correct coding has been entered for each invoice received from our Agencies and sent to the correct budget holder for approval
• Ensuring the timely payment of our Agency invoices
• Communicating with our Agencies and NHS staff to resolve any queries
• Design and maintain simple reports and spreadsheets as required by the Finance Analyst and Manager
• Liaise with staff in NHS Shared Business Services to resolve queries with the operation of the Oracle Financial ledger or data held on the ledger.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post as directed by the Finance Analyst and Manager

Working for our organisation

Key Relationships

• Financial Systems and Governance team
• Other staff within the Finance and Performance Directorate
• Other Trust staff and managers
• NHS Shared Business Services
• Suppliers and customers in dealing with queries and clearing payments

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
All staff are required to:

• Abide by the standards of behaviour expected by their professional body and the standards of behaviour expected of all staff in the Trust disciplinary policy and procedure.
• Adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and are responsible for making themselves aware of these policies and procedures.
• Treat information relating to patient, employees and businesses of the Trust in the strictest confidence. Under no circumstances should such information be discussed with any unauthorised person(s) or organisations. At all times employees are required to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
• Maintain their own awareness of, and comply with, policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety (whether statutory or Trust), and assist in ensuring the compliance of other staff.

• Support the Trust's visions and values and in particular the promotion of a positive approach to diversity, equality, rights, and treating others with dignity and respect; to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply by adhering to the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Demonstrate the core principles of safeguarding and protection Human Rights; treating people with dignity, fairness, equality, respect and autonomy.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with all colleagues, taking account of their age, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or maternity status and any disability. Ensure that they are approachable and that their conduct towards colleagues is open and honest, dealing with differences in opinion, in ways which avoid offence.
• Take responsibility for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously, as does The Trust. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to recognise abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Person specification

Qualifications
Desirable criteria

• Part qualified AAT or equivalent experience
• ECDL Advanced Level or equivalent experience

Knowledge/Experience
Desirable criteria

• Minimum of 2 years financial experience including the use of computerised ledger systems
• Knowledge of finance and accountancy procedures and financial aspects of NHS legislation and NHS finance policies e.g. control account reconciliation, working capital management
• Experience of NHS finance

Skills and abilities
Essential criteria

• Have the ability to analyse data and situations as required
• IT skills - understanding of how to use technology
• Ability to communicate with suppliers and customers

Approach/Values
Essential criteria

• Can demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Directorate and for those of the Trust including: Customer service, Excellence of service
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively on a range of matters with finance and non-finance staff
• Able to work flexibly as part of a team in order to achieve objectives

Desirable criteria

• Mobility to travel across sites

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.