Assistant Financial Accountant - Purchase to Pay in Maidstone

Job summary

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Southeast Integrated Care Boards; and current at-risk employees within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts.

The Assistant Financial Accountant - Purchase to Pay plays a key role in the day to day operation and performance of the Financial Accounting team. The postholder provides specialist financial accounting support, including VAT compliance, treasury processes, payment authorisation, and oversight of key financial controls. They ensure the organisation meets the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC), support the Agreement of Balances process, and contribute to the accuracy and integrity of the financial ledger.

The role requires strong numerical skills, advanced Excel capability, experience with general ledger systems, and the ability to manage a high volume workload. The postholder also supports junior team members through training, direction and development.

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom.

Main duties of the job

• Apply NHS VAT rules accurately to invoices and credit notes, advising colleagues on VAT issues with support from SBS VAT Team.
• Ensure monies due from suppliers are promptly returned to the organisation.
• Manage KPIs and ensure compliance with the Better Payment Practice Code (BPPC).
• Produce BPPC statistics for the monthly Performance and Investment Committee.
• Analyse and action results from the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).
• Plan workloads in line with the Finance Monthly Timetable to meet strict deadlines.
• Ensure all payment upload schedules for SLAs and PHBs are completed accurately and authorised appropriately.
• Assist in the Payables Agreement of Balances exercise.
• Support authorisation of weekly payment runs and approve payments within delegated limits.
• Work collaboratively with finance colleagues and non finance teams to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Support junior team members through training, guidance, appraisal and welfare checks.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with banding and competence.

About us

We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.

Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions. That's why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.

We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation. We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.

We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. In order to reflect the diversity of our population, we positively encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• CCAB part qualified
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Further training or significant experience in project management, financial management or change management.
• Experience evaluating and measuring performance of health services
• Experience leading financial aspects of transformation projects or business cases

Desirable

• Experience in NHS financial accounting or treasury functions

Competencies

Essential

• Competent IT user, especially Excel.
• Evidence of effective project and programme management.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills
• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board

Address: Gail House, Maidstone, ME15 6NB, United Kingdom