Accounts Payable Officer

Connect2Luton; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the UK is seeking an Accounts Payable Officer to manage effective payment processes, ensuring timely invoice handling and compliance with financial regulations. The successful candidate will provide support to the creditors system and service managers, while maintaining accurate records and resolving inquiries efficiently. This role requires strong communication, organizational skills, and a solid background in Accounts Payable. The council is committed to equal opportunities in employment.

Qualifications

• Ability to extract and analyse data to resolve queries.
• Use of financial software and IT databases.
• Strong understanding of mathematical processes.
• Effective communication with various stakeholders.
• Organized and systematic workload management.
• Flexibility to support team members.
• Experience in Accounts Payable and Payment Processing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely processing of invoices and payments.
• Support the creditors financial system and document procedures.
• Advise managers on accounts payable procedures.
• Monitor and reconcile payments into the creditors system.
• Extract and maintain financial reports as required.

Skills

Ability to run reports and analyse data

Proficiency with IT databases

Strong numerical skills

Effective verbal and written communication

Workload planning and organization

Flexibility in team support

Background in Accounts Payable and Payment Processing

Job description

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit Accounts Payable Officer on behalf of Luton Borough Council.

Main purpose of position:

Responsible for the delivery of an efficient and effective payment process, providing accounts payable support to the whole of Luton Council.

To ensure the timely and accurate processing of all invoices, interfaces, manual payments, memo's and credit notes generated throughout the Authority.

Support the Creditors financial system with the responsibility for documenting procedures, testing enhancements, updates and new releases, supporting devolved users with guidance and training on the accounts payable system and processes.

Advising and supporting and service managers and cost centre managers on accounts payable procedures and legislation compliance.

You will be responsible to:

Assess and determine the suitability of invoices/petty cash and claims in relation to financial regulations.

Identifying payment priority to ensure creditors payment terms are met as defined in the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act, including checking of VAT when required.

Identifying invoices that sit under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), ensuring that all suppliers that fall within the scheme, are verified and are processed in accordance within the business tax regulations as prescribed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regulations.

Ensure timely and accurate replies to written and telephone enquiries from companies and individuals relating to invoices and outstanding payments.

Ensuring that all invoices, credit notes and Memos are processed via intelligent scanning.

Understand and apply the appropriate controls, to minimise risk and loss to the council by challenging service managers and cost centre managers in order to avoid duplicate payments.

Responsible for monitoring payments interfaced into the creditors system from other service area's bespoke finance systems, checking, correcting where necessary and authorising the payments appropriately.

Testing and identifying areas suitable to be developed into interfaces. Working with the accounts payable team leader, the service area to develop the interface specification, then working in conjunction with accountancy system developer to implement the new interface.

Responsible for the processing, handling and reconciliation of the Authorities Petty Cash scheme. Ensure council policy is adhered to and all relevant processes have been completed.

Extracting data and maintaining reports to reconcile monthly and annual figures require by Inland Revenue Legislation. Completing the statutory CIS return to HMRC in accordance with the HMRC guidelines and timetables. Liaising with the VAT accountant to ensure timely payment to HMRC of tax due.

Skills and Experience:

• Ability to run reports, extract, interpret and analyse data to resolve complex queries
• Able to use IT databases such as Financial or equivalent software
• Highly numerate, a sound understanding of mathematical processes
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a wide range of companies, individuals and internal colleagues at all levels providing effective advice or help. Ensuring advice is in line with financial regulations and council policy
• Able to plan and organise own workload adhering to immovable deadlines, working in a detailed and systematic manner
• Ability to work in a flexible manner to recognise and react actively to assist other team members to meet team deadlines and objectives
• Strong background in Accounts Payable, Payment Processing, GRN Purchase Order Matching as well as general accounts payable knowledge

About Us

Luton Borough Council have partnered with Kent County Council to create Connect2Luton, a recruitment managed service for all contingent temporary agency, contract, and interim roles at the Council.

Our heritage and being local government owned which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the public sector, with many of our employees having previously worked for the Council or have supplied previously into the Council, for several years.

We are an equal opportunities employment agency and business that positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Connect2Luton

is a trading style of Luton & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Luton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Luton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.