Accounts Payable Assistant

We have a fantastic opportunity for an accounts payable assistant to join our team working flexibly with the occasional travel to our office in Stockport. The salary on offer is £24,500 based on a permanent full time basis.

The role involves carrying out financial and administrative duties to support Accounts Payable, processing invoices and making payments to contractors and suppliers for goods and services, utilising relevant purchasing, invoice, and other IT systems.

Key Responsibilities include: 

• Carry out the full range of administrative and financial activity required to ensure effective processing of invoices and timely payments to contractors and suppliers, utilising relevant purchasing and invoice systems and effective payment scheduling, resolving issues and queries in line with agreed policies and procedures.
• Provide clear, supportive, and accurate advice to suppliers and colleagues on Accounts Payable policies and procedures and coaching on IT system navigation, to ensure an understanding of the service and process to follow for prompt payment of invoices.
• Provide analysis when requested using excel ensuring source data has been checked and is accurate before submitting to internal stakeholders.
• Ensuring GL Hearn (business rates) invoices are processed and paid within the agreed SLA.
• Using internal templates to prepare any journals for corrections.
• Liaising with vendor management team when information is missing/inaccurate to enable us to process for payment.
• Liaising with the contract holders (Edwin Bird) regarding PFI and if NHS PS are liable for invoices outside of the contract.
• Maintain and review system records to ensure accurate data is held and purchase order and invoice issues are investigated and resolved in line with agreed procedures and service level agreements, escalating as appropriate.
• Reconcile supplier statements with internal system records, identifying and resolving discrepancies where possible or escalating as appropriate. Complete and log reconciliations using established excel templates. Support accurate reporting on completed reconciliations.
• Develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate to ensure effective processing of invoices and timely payments are progressed, escalating for line management intervention as required.
• Ensure adherence to financial controls and internal business processes to effectively support Accounts Payable Services. Contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and procedures.
• Respond flexibly to any necessary changes in work priorities and undertake other duties when required to support the effective operation of the service.

What you bring to the role: 

• You will have experience of processing and payment of invoices.
• Experience of processing supplier invoices within an accounts payable department.
• Proficient in the use of MS Excel. Knowledge of intermediate including Vlook-up/ Xlook-up and pivot tables
• Basic knowledge of financial controls.
• Customer focused with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, showing the ability to meet the needs of a varied customer base.
• Results focused with the ability to take ownership of tasks.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements.
• A good knowledge & understanding of the end to end Accounts Payable Process with demonstratable extensive experience.
• An extensive knowledge of best practice processes including Procurement Cards, EDI and SoX Controls
• General Accounting Knowledge Lean and Process
• Improvement methodologies Supplier online Portal - Tradeshift
• ERP platform - Navision

We understand how important life is outside of work so, as well as a competitive salary and 27 days annual leave, we’ll support you, wherever possible, so that you don’t miss out on what truly matters to you.

If you do ever need a little bit of extra help we have a great employee assistance programme, financial well-being support and access to great discounts with leading high street names with the bluelight discount card.

Our range of network groups are also there to support you to truly be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future. We ‘hire for attitude and train for skills’ providing opportunities for our people to develop & progress their careers at all levels through our Professional Excellence Framework.

If you are a member of a professional body we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit you’ll be good to go in one of our great offices (or at home!)

Who are we? 

We are part of the NHS family with 6,000 professionals supporting over 3,000 healthcare properties across England. Our purpose is to enable excellent patient care by being the best property and facilities provider to the NHS. 

Our services include estate strategy and optimisation, property management, facilities management, property development and construction project management. We help support millions of patients and NHS colleagues in collaboration without 7,000 customers who range from Integrated Care Systems, health providers, charities and more.  

Our culture and values seek to place our NHS colleagues and their patients, at the heart of everything we do. 
 
We celebrate diversity, and we are working hard to create an inclusive environment where people love to work and can fulfil their potential. 
 
We would encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early should we receive a high number of applications. 
 
Best of luck with your application!