Fixed Asset Assistant - Fixed Asset Department

About the role

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

We are looking for someone who is committed to working in a demanding but enjoyable role in the NHS. A small department within a large finance team, we are responsible for maintaining and reporting on a fixed asset register that contains in excess of 8,000 land, building, equipment and IT assets on 8 Acute sites in addition to numerous community, health and resource centres. New asset additions average around 1,300 per annum and assets disposals of over 700 per year.

Capable of working with senior NHS managers, department heads, and colleagues at all levels of NHSGGC. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and able to use your own initiative with suitable communication, organisational, IT and finance skills.

Reporting to the Fixed Assets Manager, you will assist in the co-ordination of all data for the fixed asset system, to ensure that the asset base is correctly reflected in the financial ledger and that the fixed asset register complies with statutory requirements. The Fixed Assets Assistant will assist the Fixed Assets Manager in providing advice, support and direction where required. This involves talking to heads of departments to ensure that the fixed assets department are aware of all new equipment in use, all equipment that has been disposed of and undertaking asset verification exercises with these departments.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Fixed Asset Manager in the management of the Fixed Asset on a day-to-day basis.
• Assist in the maintenance of the fixed asset register.
• Assist the Fixed Asset Manager in the co-ordination of all data for the asset system, to ensure that the asset base is correctly reflected in the financial ledger. This involves talking to heads of departments to ensure that the Fixed Assets section is aware of all new equipment now in clinical use and all equipment that has been disposed of.
• Participate in the reconciliation of the fixed assets register to the general ledger and ensure that all entries made to the Asset Register comply with statutory requirements.
• Assist in the design of working methods and practices that allow the Fixed Assets function to adhere to departmental policies and procedures, SFI's and Internal and External audit scrutiny.
• Assist the Fixed Asset Manager in running the monthly and annual accounting cycle for Fixed Assets.
• Plan and undertake the asset verification exercise. This involves ensuring, on a rolling basis, that all assets on the Fixed Asset register have been physically verified and all details that are held are still accurate. This is a very intensive exercise and requires excellent negotiating and planning skills.
• Meet senior personnel around the Health Board area and discuss at length the history of the asset inventory for that department. Thereafter follow up on findings, taking remedial action as appropriate.
• Provide detailed information for the calculation and forecast of accurate capital charges to senior staff as required.
• Answer queries on Fixed Assets from other departments, mainly finance, IT, estates and clinical physics.

Requirements

• HND/Degree in Accounting and/or experience in a Fixed Assets environment.
• Sound knowledge of policies and procedures in Fixed Assets and Capital Accounting and the technical aspects of NHS accounting.
• IT skills, principally spreadsheets and word processing.
• Knowledge to be able to provide advice and guidance to staff within the Fixed Assets function, as well as to other members of the finance function, managers and non finance staff.
• Suitable communication and interpersonal skills are required to conduct negotiations during the asset verification process.
• Problem solving and analytical skills to solve unforeseen issues are required.

Qualifications

• Professional finance qualification and/or experience working in a fixed assets environment.
• Knowledge of the eFinancials accounting system & RAM fixed assets system is desirable, but not essential.

Pay

Salary is Pro Rata for part time hours.

Schedule

Part-time position (18 hours per week). Shift pattern: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (AM Hours).

Benefits

• Minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities