Accounts Payable Clerk

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Southend-on-Sea is seeking a detail-oriented Accounts Payable team member. The role involves processing invoices, handling complex payment queries, and ensuring compliance with financial policies. Candidates should possess strong communication and computer skills, along with experience in a finance environment. This position offers an excellent opportunity for professional growth within the NHS framework.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a finance department environment.
• Knowledge of NHS financial systems is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Process invoices and match purchase orders.
• Resolve complex queries related to payments.
• Ensure accuracy in invoice processing and compliance.

Skills

Detail orientation

Communication skills

Strong computer skills

Education

Minimum grade C in English and Maths at GCSE

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the Trust

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top‑tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job Overview

Join Our Accounts Payable Team!

We're looking for a detail‑oriented and proactive individual to support the smooth operation of our Accounts Payable ledger. In this role, you'll process invoices, match purchase orders, and resolve queries efficiently, ensuring compliance with our approved policies and procedures.

You will work closely with suppliers, service line managers, and internal teams, so strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Managing deadlines under pressure while maintaining accuracy is key to success.

We're seeking someone with:

• An approachable and professional attitude
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong computer skills
• The confidence to work independently without direct supervision

If you thrive in a fast‑paced environment and enjoy building positive working relationships, we'd love to hear from you!

Main Duties of the Job

• Discuss complex queries with suppliers, managers, budget holders and procurement staff regarding non‑payment, incorrect or late payments or other sensitive issues.
• Ensure correct authorisation, coding and timely passing of invoices (both purchase‑order and non‑purchase‑order).
• Support the review of scanned documents, ensuring accuracy of the scanned image and register all invoices onto the accounts payable system.
• Investigate statements, credit notes, discounts, etc., identifying and implementing the correct actions to take.
• Match invoices with orders on the electronic ordering system in accordance with procedures and working practices; where auto‑match has failed, investigate the cause.
• Register and input invoices, credit notes and payment requests into the accounts payable system in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Review invoices for payment, ensuring the VAT has been properly identified and reclaimed, the invoice has been correctly coded and authorised, and is arithmetically correct.
• Receive and process manual payment request forms in line with relevant policies and procedures.
• Ensure payments are allocated to the correct supplier account.

Working for Our Organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

For more information on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Minimum grade C in English and Maths at GCSE

Desirable criteria

• AAT Foundation Certificate level 2 or NVQ level 3, or actively studying AAT level 2

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience of working within a finance department environment.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of the NHS financial systems processes necessary for delivering excellence in healthcare
• Computer literate and ability to use Microsoft Excel

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

• Communication skills using a range of methods e.g. written and verbal.

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full‑time or pro‑rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values. The use of AI in applications is monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a high number of applications be received.

Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role.

Applicant Requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• JD Band 3 AP Clerk (PDF, 288.6KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
• Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
• Trust marketing brochure (PDF, 2.1MB)
• General Statements - AFC - V5.1 (PDF, 424.6KB)