A Finance Administrator in General Practice helps to maintain financial records, including invoices, receipts, & payments. They could also be involved with processing payroll & monitoring practice income from incentive schemes such as QOF and enhanced services. Communication with external bodies such as NHS, HMRC & Accountants.
Scope of Practice
- Processing Invoices and Payments:
- Managing incoming invoices, ensuring they are accurate, and arranging for timely payments.
- Recording all financial transactions for accurate bookkeeping.
- Payroll Management:
- Calculating and processing staff salaries, including tax, National Insurance, pensions, and other deductions.
- Budget Management:
- Assisting with setting and monitoring the practice’s budget, ensuring expenses are in line with allocated funds.
- Producing regular financial reports for the practice manager and GP partners.
- Bank Reconciliation:
- Ensuring that all financial records, bank statements, and ledgers are up to date and balanced.
- Handling Petty Cash:
- Monitoring and reconciling petty cash used for minor expenses.
- Liaising with External Bodies:
- Communicating with NHS bodies, suppliers, accountants, and HMRC regarding financial matters such as reimbursements, VAT, and tax compliance.
- Financial Reporting:
- Preparing financial reports, including profit and loss statements and cash flow analyses, for practice meetings and decision-making.
- Claims Management:
- Managing claims and payments related to NHS contracts, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), Enhanced Services, and other income streams.
Training
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Courses:
- AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification offers comprehensive training in bookkeeping, payroll, and financial administration. This can also be offered as an apprenticeship programme. www.aat.org.uk
- Online or local accounting courses that provide basic to advanced knowledge in financial management.
- NHS-Specific Finance Training:
- Understanding NHS finance policies and frameworks, especially in relation to GP funding and reimbursements.
- Courses provided by NHS or other healthcare training organizations that focus on finance in healthcare settings.
- Payroll Management Training:
- Specific payroll courses to help administer PAYE, pensions, and employee benefits, including NHS pensions.
- Software Training:
- Familiarity with financial software such as Sage, Xero, or QuickBooks.
Supervision Requirements
Although this role is fairly autonomous supervision would be provided by a Finance Manager, Practice Manager or GP Partner.
Learning and Development
Finance Administrators can progress to be Operational, Practice or Finance Managers
