Assistant Financial Accountant - Purchase to Pay

Job overview

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Southeast Integrated Care Boards; and current at-risk employees within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts.

The Assistant Financial Accountant – Purchase to Pay plays a key role in the day to day operation and performance of the Financial Accounting team. The postholder provides specialist financial accounting support, including VAT compliance, treasury processes, payment authorisation, and oversight of key financial controls. They ensure the organisation meets the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC), support the Agreement of Balances process, and contribute to the accuracy and integrity of the financial ledger.

The role requires strong numerical skills, advanced Excel capability, experience with general ledger systems, and the ability to manage a high volume workload. The postholder also supports junior team members through training, direction and development.

Main duties of the job

• Apply NHS VAT rules accurately to invoices and credit notes, advising colleagues on VAT issues with support from SBS VAT Team.
• Ensure monies due from suppliers are promptly returned to the organisation.
• Manage KPIs and ensure compliance with the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC).
• Produce BPPC statistics for the monthly Performance and Investment Committee.
• Analyse and action results from the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).
• Plan workloads in line with the Finance Monthly Timetable to meet strict deadlines.
• Ensure all payment upload schedules for SLAs and PHBs are completed accurately and authorised appropriately.
• Assist in the Payables Agreement of Balances exercise.
• Support authorisation of weekly payment runs and approve payments within delegated limits.
• Work collaboratively with finance colleagues and non finance teams to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Support junior team members through training, guidance, appraisal and welfare checks.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with banding and competence.

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

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