Head of Financial Accounting

Location: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Contract: Temporary (6 month initial)

Rate: £35 Per Hour Umbrella (PAYE Inc. £31.33, PAYE Exc. £27.96)

Start date: ASAP

Contact: (url removed)

Job Description

Service Care Solutions is recruiting for a highly skilled Head of Financial Accountant on behalf of an NHS Trust. This pivotal role involves overseeing financial operations, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, and supporting strategic financial planning. Key responsibilities include resolving payroll issues, collaborating with auditors on charity reviews, managing outsourced financial services, and providing technical guidance on VAT, capital expenditure, and lease accounting. The successful candidate will possess a CCAB qualification, extensive post-qualification experience within a complex organisation (preferably NHS), and the ability to communicate complex financial data to diverse audiences. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to make a significant impact on the Trust's financial operations and planning.

Main responsibilities

Address payroll discrepancies, including the collection of salary overpayment debts.
Collaborate with Trust auditors to complete the ongoing charity review.
Manage outsourced financial services (NHS SBS) and ensure compliance with statutory returns, including month/year-end accounts, VAT returns, and charity accounting.
Support Trust-wide financial planning, including balance sheet, cash flow, and financial reconciliations, while ensuring the integrity of financial reporting systems.
Provide budget holder training and advise on technical finance matters such as VAT, capital expenditure, and lease accounting.

Candidate Requirements

CCAB qualification, honours degree or equivalent, with evidence of compliance with institute CPD requirements.
Significant senior post-qualification experience, including preparing statutory annual accounts, managing cash and capital plans, and producing regulatory returns, ideally within the NHS or a similarly complex organisation.
Extensive knowledge of multiple financial services functions, coupled with experience in staff management and finance staff development.
Ability to communicate complex financial data to non-finance professionals, manage contentious discussions effectively, and demonstrate strong leadership qualities.
Confident use of financial systems, databases, and Microsoft Office, with the ability to deliver accurate and concise outputs.If you are interested in the role, or know of anyone who may be, please contact Miraj at Service Care Solutions on (phone number removed) or email

Service Care Solutions also offers a £250 referral bonus! So, if you know of anyone who would be perfect for this position and they are placed into work, you will receive £250 for the referral once their probationary period has been completed