Accounts Payable Officer

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit an 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, memos 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 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 processed in accordance with 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 and the service area to develop the interface specification, then working in conjunction with the 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 required 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.

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.

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