Senior Finance Analyst

Specialist Finance Analyst

• To start 7th October 2024 for 6 month duration
• Based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27
• Hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
• Hybrid working to be discussed at interview stage
• Pay rate up to £21.80 per hour DOE

Job Purpose

To provide accurate divisional financial information and advice to a range of budget-holders, enabling robust financial control and optimal decision making.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Production of timely, accurate and reliable financial information in line with financial procedures and timetables

Establish effective working relationships with budget holders, ensuring understanding of financial issues pertinent to their services and assisting them with often complex finance queries

Supporting the Senior Financial Analyst (SFA) in budget-setting and maintenance of a defined, large portfolio of services, relating to one or more Divisions

Support Cost and Income Improvement Programme (CIIP) reporting for a defined portfolio of services

Financial Management

Liaise with other staff in the Finance Team to ensure production of timely, accurate and reliable financial information on a monthly basis

Comply with all delegated responsibilities in respect of the monthly closedown timetable including:

Production of draft reports for review

Prompt investigation of variances and correction of errors

Support the production of reliable forecasts in agreement with appropriate budget holders, and the SFA

Provision of accurate and comprehensive monthly financial performance information (e.g. Finance Dashboards) for services within own area of responsibility

Provide financial information and advice to budget holders, referring appropriate issues to the Senior Financial Analyst

Undertake detailed financial analyses to support understanding of variances from plan, including use of non-financial information such as activity performance against targets

Provide a monthly summary of progress against CIIP schemes within own areas of responsibility

Support production of final accounts by adhering to Head of Statutory Accounts (HoSA) instruction’s relating to year end and the agreement of balances exercise.

Cost and Contract Accounting

1. To support the Cost and Income Accountant to complete business cases, Service Line Reporting and cost reviews, by providing cost information as appropriate for areas of own responsibility.

1. Understand the financial implications of customer contracts and liaise with the Contracts team and external stakeholders to assess compliance and the impact of contract variations

Financial Planning

1. Support service managers and Assistant Director of Finance in the production of the business plan for the services by providing financial input as required.

1. Ensure the annual income and expenditure budgets for services within own area of responsibility are completed on time and in agreement with appropriate managers.

1. Ensure a full audit trail for all budget changes for services within own area of responsibility is maintained.

1. Assist in the development of CIIP proposals, establishment of feasibility and timescales of delivery.

1. Provide complex financial analysis, interpretation and advice to services, to assist in decision making, for example, cost implications of changes in working practices.

Financial Control

1. To ensure adherence to robust financial controls by budget holders within own area of responsibility.

1. To maintain the integrity of the ledger at all times.

To support the Head of Finance in the implementation of Internal and External Audit recommendations

To support the Director of Finance and Local Counter Fraud Specialist in promoting an anti-fraud culture, identifying potential cases of fraud and ensuring internal controls are adhered to, in order to minimise the opportunities for fraud.