Job overview

Are you looking to start your Finance career within the NHS? Are you enthusiastic and keen to study whilst learning new skills? Can you demonstrate our Trust Values Kind, Connected Bold?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Finance Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team here at University Hospitals Birmingham.

Working as part of the Finance Team, we are offering a role that will link valuable NHS experience and knowledge, with working towards the Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Standard, alongside a nationally recognised qualification (AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting). This Trust supported programme will run over an 18-month contracted period. The working hours are 37.5 hours per week.

There will also be the opportunity to apply for appropriate positions within the organisation on completion of the Apprenticeship.

Full training will be given on Finance systems and you will be supported by a dedicated Finance Manager throughout your Apprenticeship.

We offer a package which includes a salary allowance of 10,000 per annum, for the first 12 months of the Apprenticeship programme. Payment thereafter is 10,000 per annum or in accordance with age as determined by the National Minimum Wage Regulations. New apprentices will be employed on statutory terms and conditions.

You will be over 16 and have been resident in the UK/EU for the last 3 years.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

We are inviting applications from candidates with 5 GCSEs grade 5-9 (or equivalent) including Maths & English. You will have excellent keyboard and computer skills, good written, verbal and interpersonal skills with experience gained in a busy office, customer based environment or volunteer role.

The types of finance activities you will be supported to learn and get involved in:-

Learning how to produce monthly management information making use of the Trust financial systems.

Post accounting journals to correctly reflect the financial position of differing

parts of the Trust organisation and support the delivery of a completed set of draft accounts for review each month.

You will also be supported to plan, organise and manage your time effectively, on a day to day basis, whilst working as part of a team.

You will actively engage with all aspects of the study programme and submit assignments, to the required standard within the agreed deadlines. There will be lots of opportunity to join in learning events and activities, in the workplace that will also support your professional and personal development.

Please do not apply if you have already achieved an AAT level 3 or higher Finance qualification as you will not be eligible for this Apprenticeship scheme

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

Job description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 5 GCSE's including Maths and English minimum grade 5 (E)

Desirable

• GCSE I.T (D)

Experience

Essential

• Able to work accurately under pressure (E)
• Able to work well in a Team (E)

Desirable

• Experience of working in a busy Finance Office, Customer Service role, Volunteer role (D)
• Experience of working within NHS Environment (D)

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Good communication skills both verbal and written (E)
• Time management skills, ability to work on own initiative (E)
• Commercial awareness (E)
• Computer Literate (E)
• Reliable, Punctual, pro active approach. (E)
• Team player and ability to use own initiative ( E)
• Flexible approach to working hours to meet month end deadlines. (E )

Desirable

• Able to design own spreadsheets/database models to provide analysis and solutions to problems (D)