Job vacancy: Finance Apprentice, Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust, Worthing

Job summary

Main area: Finance
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract: Fixed term: 3 years (FTC - In relation to AAT course completion)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 354-CO-21632

Employer: Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Portland House
Town: Worthing
Salary: £24,169 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 21/04/2025 23:59

Finance Apprentice

NHS AfC: Band 2

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

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.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will gain experience and be responsible for the following:

Entry level management and financial accounting, learning the key aspects of work involved in closing month ends and supporting the wider team in reporting key financial information to budget holders and their teams.
Design and maintain routine reports and spreadsheets as required by the team and to assist in the maintenance and development of routine information spreadsheets including those around staffing pay calculations, which will be utilised to identify the impact of cost changes between financial years.
Liaison between the Finance team and Invoice Query Managers, including the financial coding of agency staff.
Financial gatekeeping of the Trust HR and recruitment systems ensuring all key details are provided by recruiting managers and that Financial Management respond to compliant requests in a timely manner.
Able to communicate through written and verbal methods and respond to routine queries from stakeholders.
Analyse and interpret financial payments, receipts and assist in the calculation and processing of regular accrual and adjustment journals in line with the reporting cycle timetable.
Regular input and data manipulation into Trust databases.

Gain knowledge of, and apply, Trust and accounting policies and other relevant guidance appropriate to the area of work.

The role will support the data collection and invoicing of the Trust’s non-contracted and overseas patient activity on a monthly basis. This will involve the creation and manipulation of Excel spreadsheet reports to identify and communicate chargeable episodes and be involved in the production of invoices with supporting documentation to numerous Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s).

Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post as directed by the Finance Hub Manager.

The apprentice will be expected to meet the requirements of this job description by the end of the apprenticeship. This will be achieved by gaining relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours throughout the structured learning that are set by the training provider and line manager.

Other responsibilities

Communicate with staff, budget holders, customers and suppliers as required, responding to routine queries.

Develop own skills, knowledge, behaviours and provide information to others to help their development.

Undertake regular supervision and appraisals to discuss ongoing learning and future aspirations.

Contribute to the improvement of services

Maintain quality in own work and encourage others to do so

Gather, analyse and report a limited range of data and information

Contribute to developing, testing and reviewing new concepts, models, methods, practices, products and equipment.

Coordinate and monitor the use of financial resources

Organise and plan own workload of straightforward activities with attention to specific aspects of services and/or projects.

Able to follow Trust policies and procedures, whilst suggesting improvements to current practices within the department.

Raise stationery orders as and when required

Undertake research and development activities to support service improvement

Participation in staff survey requirements

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

A-Level or equivalent experience
English and Mathematics at a level 2 / GCSE grade A* – C / 2017 Grade 4 – 9

Experience

Essential criteria

Computer Literate
Effective team working
Strong communication skills
Able to organise and prioritise own workload and that of team in a constantly changing environment
Able to plan to meet objectives

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships.
A self-starter able to manage own workload and prioritise tasks effectively.
Tact and the ability to communicate highly sensitive information to service users, external organisations and all levels of staff within the organisation.

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.