Purchase Ledger Clerk

Trusted Talent; Bromsgrove; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimised Care is seeking an experienced Purchase Ledger Clerk to take ownership of the purchase ledger and support the sales ledger within the finance function. You will ensure invoices are processed accurately, reconciled and paid on time, while maintaining strong supplier relationships.

In addition to day-to-day ledger responsibilities, you will help improve processes, maintain audit trails and contribute to payroll-related tasks where required.

Qualifications

• Experience as Purchase Ledger Clerk or in a similar finance role.
• Proven ability to investigate invoice queries and payment disputes.
• Experience reconciling supplier statements and preparing payment schedules.
• Familiarity with online banking and Xero accounting software.
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Take day-to-day ownership of the purchase ledger, ensuring invoices, payments and supplier accounts are accurately maintained.
• Investigate and resolve invoice queries and payment disputes; prepare payment schedules for approval.
• Support sales ledger activities including raising invoices and credit control to ensure revenue is invoiced promptly.
• Assist with improving finance processes and maintaining audit trails.

Skills

Invoice queries handling

Supplier payment disputes

Credit control

Numerical accuracy

Independence

Communication skills

Tools

Xero

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Purchase Ledger Clerk

Optimised Care is a growing private healthcare provider delivering specialist-led, patient-focused care from The Bromsgrove Hospital.

We provide access to experienced consultants and specialist services across a range of clinical areas, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality care and an excellent patient experience.

As Optimised Care continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced Purchase Ledger Clerk to take ownership of the purchase ledger while also supporting the sales ledger and wider finance function.

This is a hands-on role for a Purchase Ledger Clerk who doesn't simply process transactions, but takes responsibility for making sure the ledger is accurate, reconciled, up to date and operating effectively.

The Role

As a Purchase Ledger Clerk, you will take day-to-day ownership of the purchase ledger, ensuring invoices, payments, reconciliation's and supplier accounts are accurately maintained.

The successful Purchase Ledger Clerk will be responsible for investigating and resolving invoice queries and payment disputes, preparing payment schedules for approval and processing authorised payments through online banking and Xero.

The role will also involve supporting the sales ledger, including raising invoices, monitoring outstanding balances and carrying out credit control to ensure all revenue is invoiced accurately and on time.

We are looking for a Purchase Ledger Clerk who is confident working independently, can manage competing priorities and is prepared to ask, "Is there a better way of doing this?"

Where a process doesn't exist, you will be expected to help develop one.

Key Responsibilities

As the Purchase Ledger Clerk, you will be responsible for:

• Taking full ownership of the purchase ledger and ensuring it remains accurate, complete and up to date
• Processing purchase invoices accurately and in a timely manner
• Matching invoices against relevant documentation and investigating discrepancies
• Reconciling supplier statements and resolving outstanding items
• Dealing confidently with supplier invoice queries, payment queries and disputes
• Investigating discrepancies and working with suppliers and internal teams to reach resolution
• Maintaining accurate supplier records
• Ensuring invoices are correctly coded and processed in accordance with accounting procedures
• Preparing regular payment schedules for review and sign-off
• Processing approved payments through online banking and Xero
• Ensuring payments are allocated and recorded correctly
• Monitoring outstanding invoices and identifying issues requiring action
• Maintaining appropriate audit trails and supporting documentation.

Sales Ledger & Credit Control

The Purchase Ledger Clerk will also support the sales ledger and credit control function, including:

• Raising sales invoices accurately and within required timescales
• Ensuring all revenue is invoiced correctly and promptly
• Reviewing the sales ledger for outstanding and overdue balances
• Carrying out credit control and following up outstanding payments
• Dealing with customer invoice queries and payment disputes
• Investigating discrepancies and ensuring corrections are made promptly
• Reconciling customer accounts where required
• Working closely with internal teams to ensure all chargeable services and revenue are captured and invoiced

Finance & Process Improvement

The Purchase Ledger Clerk will also play an important role in improving the wider finance function.

Responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring correct accounting procedures and internal controls are consistently followed
• Maintaining accurate and organised financial records
• Identifying gaps or weaknesses in existing processes
• Thinking proactively about how processes can be improved
• Where no process exists, helping establish a clear and effective process
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and financial controls
• Supporting the wider finance function with reconciliation's, reporting and ad-hoc accounting duties
• Assisting with payroll-related processes where required
• Maintaining confidentiality when dealing with financial and employee information

About You

The successful Purchase Ledger Clerk will ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Purchase Ledger Clerk, Accounts Payable Clerk or in a similar finance role
• Strong experience dealing with invoice queries, supplier queries and payment disputes
• Experience reconciling supplier statements and investigating discrepancies
• Experience preparing payment schedules
• Experience processing payments through online banking
• Experience working with a sales ledger and carrying out credit control
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of numerical accuracy
• The ability to take ownership of a ledger and manage it independently
• A good understanding of accounting processes and controls
• Excellent IT skills, including Outlook and Excel
• Confidence working across multiple screens and systems
• The ability to learn new systems quickly
• Xero experience is highly desirable
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• A proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues
• The ability to work independently and manage competing priorities
• Payroll experience would be an advantage but is not essential.Most importantly, we are looking for a Purchase Ledger Clerk who is prepared to think for themselves.

Why Join Optimised Care?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Purchase Ledger Clerk to join a growing private healthcare organisation and take genuine ownership of an important part of its finance function.

At Optimised Care, you will have the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of the purchase ledger
• Work across both purchase and sales ledgers
• Develop and improve financial processes
• Work closely with the wider finance and operational teams
• Make a tangible contribution to the accuracy and efficiency of the finance function
• Develop your accounting knowledge and experience
• Work within a growing healthcare organisation

Our Culture

At Optimised Care, our patients are at the heart of everything we do. Behind the scenes, our finance function plays an essential role in ensuring the organisation operates efficiently and responsibly.

We value people who take pride in their work, take responsibility for their decisions and are willing to challenge existing processes when there is a better way of doing things.

We are looking for someone who is reliable, proactive, commercially aware and solutions-focused, with the confidence to take ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do.