Private Patient Finance Officer

Job overview

This Band 4 role supports Private Patient Services by ensuring private and non-NHS patient activity is billed accurately and promptly, helping the Trust recover income that can be reinvested into NHS services. The post focuses on reviewing records, applying tariffs and contractual rules, resolving billing queries, and supporting cash collection, rather than accounting or financial reporting.

Main duties of the job

The role involves producing accurate invoices for private and non-NHS patient activity, aligning the clinical records with the tariffs and contractual rules before invoicing. You will also be involved in investigating discrepancies and helping to resolve billing and payment queries with patients, insurers and internal teams. It also includes maintaining accurate records, supporting credit control and debt recovery where required, and acting as a key contact for billing-related queries while contributing to team knowledge and process support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cash collection:

Other

• Review clinical records and supporting documentation to identify chargeable private patient activity accurately and comprehensively.
• Apply insurer contracts, self-pay tariffs and agreed pricing schedules to prepare complete and accurate invoices.
• Ensure that all documentation required to support billing is obtained and verified, including authorisations, undertakings to pay, deposits and accurate patient information.
• Undertake invoicing activity within agreed timescales to support prompt income recovery and minimise delays in billing.
• Use Compucare, spreadsheets and other relevant systems to validate information and support accurate invoice generation.
• Communicate professionally with patients, insurers and internal stakeholders to issue invoices, respond to queries and support timely receipt of payment.
• Support cash collection activity through the timely follow-up of outstanding invoices and investigation of non-payment.
• Use clear and effective written and verbal communication to support resolution of payment issues and maintain constructive working relationships.
• Contribute to credit control processes, including liaison with debt collection agencies where appropriate and in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Provide clear explanations of invoice requirements, payment processes and relevant financial procedures to non-finance contacts.
• Provide support with associated finance and administrative duties, including professional fees and other tasks allocated by the Team Leader.
• Assist with relevant month-end activity and other routine reporting processes relating to private patient billing and cash collection.
• Manage and prioritise workload effectively, including identifying urgent cases for invoicing and supporting delivery of team objectives.