Team Leader – Accounts PayableNHS

Job summary

The role of the post holder is to lead and manage the Accounts Payable function, ensuring that all supplier payments (PO and Non-PO) are processed accurately, efficiently and in compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and internal control requirements.

The post holder is responsible for maintaining a robust control environment, meeting prompt payment targets, supporting month-end, year-end financial reporting including the Agreement of Balances (AoB) exercises at Month 09 and Month 12, and leading the continuous improvement of the in-house Accounts Payable service

Main duties of the job

Lead and manage the Accounts Payable function, ensuring supplier invoices and payments are processed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with Trust policies, financial procedures and NHS regulations. Oversee the end-to-end invoice-to-payment process, including PO and Non-PO transactions, while maintaining strong financial controls and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, delegated authority limits and VAT legislation.

Monitor aged creditors, disputed invoices and payment performance, authorise invoices within delegated limits and ensure timely resolution of reconciliation issues. Lead supplier statement reconciliations using the NXG tool and coordinate the Agreement of Balances process in line with NHS reporting requirements.

Manage Accounts Payable system interfaces, resolve processing exceptions and support financial system improvements, automation and continuous service development. Act as the senior point of contact for supplier payment escalations and provide expert advice to finance colleagues, procurement teams and budget holders.

Provide leadership and line management for three Accounts Payable Assistants, including recruitment, performance management, training and development. Monitor operational performance, coordinate audit responses and contribute to financial governance, policy development and the safeguarding of Trust expenditure through effective financial management and risk control.

Job description

• Manage all matters relating to creditors, ensuring the accurate recording, processing, and payment of accounts payable transactions.
• Oversee the endtoend invoice processing cycle, ensuring invoices are correctly authorised, coded, and processed in line with agreed procedures and timescales.
• Monitor outstanding invoices and creditor balances, ensuring timely payment to suppliers in accordance with the NHS Better Payment Practice Code.
• Maintain accurate and uptodate records of all creditor transactions, ensuring strong audit trails are in place.
• Manage invoice interfaces, ensuring invoices are accurately imported into the financial system, monitored for errors or failures, and resolved promptly in line with agreed procedures.
• Force approval of Accounts Payable invoices where appropriate, in accordance with delegated authority, Standing Financial Instructions, and internal controls, ensuring a clear audit trail is maintained.
• Manage pharmacy and agency invoice interfaces, ensuring invoices are accurately and timely imported into the financial system.
• Act as the primary point of contact for suppliers, resolving payment queries and issues efficiently and professionally.
• Lead and coordinate the Agreement of Balance (AoB) exercises for creditors at Month 09 and Month 12, ensuring all balances are reviewed, validated, and agreed in line with NHS timetables and audit requirements.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies identified during the AoB process, ensuring appropriate corrections are made and fully documented.
• Process payment runs, including faster payments and foreign payments, ensuring appropriate documentation and approvals are in place.
• Maintain and regularly review the register of disputed invoices, providing leadership in resolving disputes with budget holders and suppliers.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of effective controls within the accounts payable function to safeguard the organisations financial integrity.
• Ensure compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders, VAT regulations, and relevant NHS financial guidance.
• Assist with internal and external audit queries relating to creditors and accounts payable, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
• Provide daytoday supervision and support to accounts payable staff, ensuring workloads are effectively managed and service standards are maintained.
• Support staff development through training, guidance, and performance management in line with organisational policies.

About us

Please refer to the Applicant Guide via the link below for key information:- Applying to LGT Guide - Key Information for Applicants

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream