Senior Income & Planning Accountant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    Income & Contracting

a.    Ensure that there are processes in place to capture and invoice all income due to the Trust under its contracts and other agreements for patient care activity.

b.    Be responsible for the production of accurate, timely and high calibre reports of the Trust’s activity performance for internal management and Commissioners.

c.     Identify and report any income risks and opportunities.

d.    Work with divisional finance and operational management teams to develop a common understanding of the activity and income position, and to improve income reporting and forecasting.

e.    Liaise with the Informatics Team and other departments to make sure that all policies and data processes meet the requirements of all Commissioners.

f.      Help to prepare prompt and accurate responses to commissioner queries, seeking support and advice where required.

g.    Keep up to date with updates to national policies, in particular the NHS Payment Scheme

h.    Undertake income modelling to support the preparation of forecasts, the annual plan, and changes arising from service redesign, commissioner proposals and internally generated business developments.

i.      Use activity and income models to coordinate the response to FOI requests and ad hoc queries prior to review by a senior member of the team.

j.      To liaise with NHS and non-NHS organisations in the supply of financial and non-financial information to assist in ensuring the timely receipt of income, adhering to Information Governance requirements at all times.

k.     Be responsible for month end processes, journals and PBAs, ensuring that the monthly accounts are closed down accurately and all income is properly accounted for.

l.      Liaise with the Accounts Receivable team to accurately and promptly invoice non-contract items and recover all debts due to the Trust.

2.    Leadership & Management

a.    To enable members of the team to be effectively deployed, motivated and developed, instilling a “can-do” culture throughout the team.

b.    To represent the Trust at external meetings as and when required.

c.     To actively promote and participate in the training of financial and non-financial managers within the Trust.

d.    To support divisional finance teams in the development of service developments, business cases, business planning, and to actively support decision-making within the Trust.

e.    Manage own time in accordance with month end reporting and national timetables, ensuring all deadlines are met.

f.      To deliver informal training to work colleagues and non-finance staff on a range of subjects related to own area. 

g.    Coordinate the production & maintenance of internal procedure notes for the department, taking into account national and local guidance and ensure these are kept up to date.

h.    Ensure that all processes are in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and relevant Corporate Governance and Information Governance policies.

i.      To deputise for the Senior Finance Manager – Income & Planning as required, including attending meetings.

j.      To ensure both you and the team comply with all Trust policies, including being up to date with mandatory training at all times.

k.     Lead on finance improvements and the implementation of developments across the department.

l.      Any other duties commensurate with the post.

3.    Contracting

a.    Ensure that income plans in the Trust’s income reporting system (SLAM) agree to the Trust’s contracts and service level agreements.

b.    Provide activity and income information to assist in the negotiation and agreement of contracts with the Trust’s Commissioners.

c.     Work with divisional finance and operational teams, as well as the Contracts Team, to ensure that any service agreements that can be managed through the main clinical contract are so.

4.    Planning

a.    Support the production of detailed specialty-level activity plans, advising and supporting operational colleagues and providing relevant data to allow them to make informed planning decisions.

b.    Provide support to triangulate the activity plans with workforce and financial plans to ensure alignment.

c.     Develop, maintain and update the working papers to support the completion of annual and longer-term plans.

d.    Assist in the completion and submission of planning returns to NHSE/I as required.

e.    Assist in the translation of planning assumptions into operational budgets and oversee the forecasting process for the Trust.

f.      Prepare a clinical income forecast on a monthly basis.

5.    Other Duties

a.    Undertake or assist in other projects as required.

b.    Assist in promoting Trust-wide awareness of the Trust’s contracts. 

c.     Attendance at meetings off-site on behalf of the Trust when required.

d.    Be an active member of the wider IPCC team, engaging with colleagues and actively participating in team development sessions.

 e.    Always seek to make improvements to the service provided by the team, in conjunction with the Senior Finance Manager – Income & Planning.

f.      Act as a role model across the wider Income, Planning, Costing & Contracting Team, providing support to junior members of the team as required.