Senior Accounts Payable Clerk

VerseOne Group; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Accounts Payable Clerk to manage the AP ledger, process invoices, match orders, and resolve supplier queries. The role involves supervising AP Clerks and ensuring payments adhere to policies and deadlines.

The successful candidate will have AAT/NVQ level 3 or equivalent, strong Excel skills, and knowledge of NHS financial systems. Salary £28,392 per annum, pro-rata for part-time. On-site role in Southend-on-Sea.

Qualifications

• Experience with accounting procedures and VAT knowledge.
• AAT Foundation/NVQ3 or equivalent
• Sound understanding of financial legislation

Responsibilities

• Match invoices to purchase orders where auto-matching failed.
• Scan and register invoices; process invoices, credit notes and payments.
• Review invoices for coding, authorization and VAT treatment before payment.
• Provide day-to-day supervision to Accounts Payable Clerks and assist Financial Services Manager.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Computer skills

Prioritisation

Education

A level Math/English GCSE C

AAT Foundation Certificate 2 / NVQ3

Tools

Excel

Financial accounting packages

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Site Southend Town Southend-on-Sea Salary £28,392 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute 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

Here is an exciting opportunity for you to join us as an Senior Accounts Payable Clerk. The role is part of the Accounts Payable Team and involves carrying out various tasks relating to the maintenance of the Accounts Payable ledger, ensuring adherence to approved policies and procedures.

The role has the responsibility for the day to day management of the team, processing invoices, matching orders to invoices and resolving queries relating to invoices.

You will involve dealing with suppliers and service line managers and other internal members of staff, therefore well-developed interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

The role requires an approachable personality, good attention to detail, good computer skills and must be able to work without the need for direct supervision, being able to prioritise and allocate work to team members to meet weekly and monthly deadlines.

Main duties of the job

This role requires an experienced Accounts Payable professional with knowledge of accounting procedures, reconciliations, VAT, and accounts payable systems. The successful candidate will hold AAT Technician Level/NVQ Level 4 qualifications, or have equivalent experience, alongside a sound understanding of relevant financial legislation.

Key responsibilities include matching invoices to purchase orders where automatic matching has failed, scanning and registering invoices, and processing invoices, credit notes and payment requests in line with approved policies and procedures. The post holder will review invoices to ensure accurate coding, authorisation, VAT treatment and arithmetic accuracy prior to payment.

The successful candidate will investigate supplier statements, credit notes, discounts and payment discrepancies, taking appropriate action to resolve issues. They will respond to queries from managers, budget holders and suppliers, ensuring invoices are approved and paid within agreed timescales.

The role requires regular liaison with managers and budget holders to ensure correct authorisation and coding of purchase order and non-purchase order invoices. The post holder will also provide day-to-day support and supervision to Accounts Payable Clerks, maintain high standards of accuracy and efficiency, and undertake additional duties as required by the Financial Services Manager to support the effective operation of the Accounts Payable function.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being 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 details on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Qualifications

• Educated to A level standard or equivalent with a minimum grade C/4 in both Mathematics and English GCSE
• AAT Foundation Certificate level 2 or NVQ level 3, or actively studying AAT level 2

Knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of financial system and processes
• Knowledge of the NHS financial systems processes necessary for delivering excellence in healthcare

Communication

• Good communication skills using a range of methods e.g. written and verbal.
• Ability to use Excel and Financial accounting packages

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, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are 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 your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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