Directorate Accountant

Go back The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Directorate Accountant

The closing date is 09 November 2025

The Region's only Finance team dedicated to Clinical Research in the NHS is recruiting.

This is a rare opportunity for a highly motivated and flexible professional to join our team as a Directorate Accountant.

Newcastle Hospitals has a strong reputation worldwide for leading groundbreaking research in healthcare with a vast portfolio of studies. We manage circa £40 million of Clinical Research funding per annum across a complete spectrum of clinical specialties, including research into the use of AI and cell therapy.

We are unique in the country, having large infrastructure grants for the Biomedical Research Centre, Clinical Research Facility, Experimental Cancer Medicines Centre, hosting the Local Clinical Research Network, as well as a significant portfolio of NIHR funded research programmes.

The Directorate Accountant will lead in the day to day management of the Research Finance Team, monthly reporting, and ensuring contractual requirements for all research agreements are met. This is a pivotal role in the organisation to support research with the postholder working closely with colleagues, both in finance and those working in research across the region.

The role is based at Regent Point in Gosforth. We offer agile and flexible working to support work life balance and provide a supportive and inclusive team environment with opportunities to thrive and develop.

Main duties of the job

The successful postholder will support the Research Finance Manager in all aspects of Research Finance:

• Lead and manage a team of 7 finance staff
• Month end and year end reporting
• Preparation of forecasts, budgets, and annual returns
• Developing strong relationships with budget holders, providing advice and support on all finance aspects including identification of any risk
• Liaison with external bodies
• Local Clinical Research Network / Regional Research Delivery Network reporting
• Quarterly and annual reporting on infrastructure grants and research grants
• Process improvement
• Support to strategic work

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites: Freeman Hospital, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site), Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle Fertility Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Northern Genetics Service, Cramlington Manor Walks.

Job responsibilities

• To deputise for the Finance Manager R&D
• To ensure the provision of a high quality financial management service for all Trust Research and Development income and expenditure
• To work closely with principal investigators and the research management team, providing timely and accurate information and advice to facilitate the effective monitoring and management of Trust led grants and to support the decision making process
• To play a significant role in the formulation of the Trust's annual budget
• To ensure that financial controls are maintained within Corporate Governance guidelines

Person Specification Skill

• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to a range of audiences using a range of different communication methods
• Ability to analyse, interpret and make judgements involving complex facts and situations
• Staff management experience and the ability to plan and organise a range of complex activities and programmes
• Presentation skills/experience of public speaking
• Experience of report writing

Experience

• Substantial experience in the finance department of a complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience in management accounting, including ability to provide detailed guidance and advice to finance and non finance managers within own area
• Professional accountancy qualification or equivalent knowledge, experience and expertise
• Evidence of participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Previous NHS finance experience at a senior level
• Previous NHS R&D Finance experience
• An in depth understanding of NHS Research funding streams and the role of NIHR (National Institute for Health Research)
• ECDL or equivalent experience
• Able to work autonomously to agreed objectives
• Ability to make judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
• Flexible approach is required to fulfil the duties of the role

Knowledge

• Good level of education in a numerate subject
• In depth specialist and practical knowledge of the NHS Finance Regime and NHS Research and Development funding streams in particular

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust