Senior Management Accountant

Posting date:	01 December 2025
Salary:	£53,751.00 to £60,651.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£53751.00 - £60651.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	15 December 2025
Location:	Croydon, CR0 1FE
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	C9334-25-1263

Summary

Job Purpose: The primary purpose of the Senior Management Accountant is to provide management and financial information and support to their assigned Directorates and ensure that their financial requirements are understood and delivered by themself and/or by other members of the financial management team. The Senior Management Accountant is responsible for the delivery of all aspects of operational financial management within a Directorate area, providing advice, information, analysis and interpretation to Directors and budget holders to underpin effective decision making and meaningful performance management . They will be accountable for delivery of finance reporting for the Directorate, maintaining financial controls to support governance and providing financial support to budget setting, cost improvement and productivity schemes. The main purposes of the role are Ensuring the effective provision of a comprehensive management accounting service. To prepare annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, including supporting scenarios and Commentary To coordinate and produce accurate and timely in month forecasting. To investigate and challenge variances against budget and forecast, providing analysis and commentary where appropriate. Undertake regular meetings with budget holders (without supervision) to review accounts and support their understanding of the financial position Key Responsibilities: 1) Finance & Business Planning Produce summary financial plans for services ensuring they reflect their strategic objectives. Identify financial risks and produce a downside financial plan and help to identify mitigations. To lead the annual and periodic detailed budget setting processes in conjunction with budget holders and the senior management team, endeavouring to ensure that resultant targets (both financial and non-financial) are realistic and are fully understood by budget holders. To ensure that budgets are congruent with Trust targets and activity plans. To provide financial input, where required into the preparation of Directorate or Trust wide business cases, working with both financial and operational managers. 2) Reporting Produce accurate and timely monthly finance reports to ensure the veracity of information and highlight and substantiate key issues meeting the monthly reporting deadlines. Monitor the performance of those budgets and analyse key variances timely, proposing remedial action as required. To produce accurate financial forecasts. The forecasts plans should highlight potential opportunities and risks. Assist/complete financial returns and questionnaires as required. 3) Productivity & Efficiency Assist the Directorate with planning and reporting of the Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) for the Directorate. To further develop cost awareness, identifying and quantifying key cost drivers and being able to model the implications of changes in activity on these. 4) Engagement Promote a modern and collaborative approach to engaging clinicians in financial management. To work positively and professionally with other members of the Finance Department to ensure that the financial requirements of the Directorates are understood and delivered. Work with the whole finance team to deliver standardisation of all areas of process and development. 5) Other To act at all times as a representative for the Finance Directorate ensuring that the professional reputation of the Directorate is upheld. Ad-hoc duties as required - there will be a number of non-routine tasks to be undertaken on an ad-hoc basis in order to assist the Finance Business Partners or Deputy Director of Finance. Personal Specification: Each requirement will either be identified through the candidates application form (A) or interview (I). Candidates should not be hired unless they have ALL essential requirements. Areas that can be developed through L&D can be deemed desirable. Essential Requirements A/I Desirable Requirements A/I CCAB finalist or equivalent experience A CCAB Qualified A Understanding of the key operational and financial challenges facing the NHS I Mental Health NHS Trusts in particular I Minimum of 3 years experience working in a large organisation providing management accounts support. I In an NHS setting. Able to analyse, compare and interpret highly complex financial and performance data using skills, knowledge and judgement I Proficient in Microsoft office packages including Excel and the ability to manipulate and interrogate large databases / datasets A Able to assess workload and manage resources to meet overlapping targets and objectives. I Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to express highly complex, sensitive or contentious issues clearly, including strong abilities in being able to influence, persuade and negotiate at senior management level. I Excellent presentation and negotiation skills I Experience of investigation and analysis into financial issues including evidence of detailed and precise report writing skills A Able to work autonomously with the skills to make complex decisions independently I