Purchase Ledger Assistant

Hours: 37 Hours per week (Working hours will be 8.30 to 17:00 from Monday to Thursday and 08:30 to 16:30 on a Friday)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 31ST JULY 2026

Do you like to connect with people, make a difference and do the right thing? Somerset Care is an award-winning not-for-profit care provider across the South West. When people think about care, they think of the Somerset Care Group.

We are proud to state that we are a disability confident employer. Everything we do at Somerset Care is underpinned by our four core values:

• Connecting with people
• Making a difference
• Doing the right thing

Join our friendly team as a Purchase Ledger Assistant.

What you’ll be doing:

• Purchase Ledger Processing: Process purchase invoices and petty cash claims accurately onto the finance system, ensuring VAT compliance. Prepare and process monthly supplier payment runs, including BACS and cheque payments, and fortnightly petty cash reimbursements. Ensure company authorisation procedures are followed at all times. Set up new supplier accounts and maintain existing supplier account details.
• Reconciliations, Queries and Controls: Manage and resolve internal and external purchase ledger queries promptly and professionally. Complete monthly reconciliations of supplier statements and petty cash bank accounts. Ensure purchasing and accounting timetables are met and support effective cash flow processes.
• Stakeholder Support and Continuous Improvement: Maintain key external relationships with suppliers, banks and external auditors. Provide purchase ledger, petty cash and system training to administrators, managers and central office staff as required. Respond to ad hoc queries from senior managers and support improvements and efficiencies within the payables process. Provide cover and support to the Purchase Ledger Supervisor during periods of absence and undertake other purchasing-related tasks as required.

About You: You are a methodical, accurate and approachable finance professional with experience in purchase ledger and a strong understanding of the importance of supplier relationships, authorisation controls and timely payment processes. You work well in a fast-paced environment, can prioritise a busy workload, and communicate clearly with colleagues, managers, suppliers and other stakeholders across a large organisation. You bring excellent attention to detail, good IT skills and a proactive approach to improving ways of working. You understand the confidential nature of finance work and take pride in supporting robust, compliant and customer-focused payables processes across Somerset Care.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience of working in a purchase ledger environment.
• Financial experience, including purchase ledger processing.
• Understanding of invoice processing, petty cash claims, supplier payments, authorisation procedures, VAT compliance and supplier statement reconciliations.
• Experience managing or resolving purchase ledger queries in a busy finance environment.
• Experience using computerised accounting packages.
• Experience supporting services across a multi-site or group environment.
• Experience providing system or process training to administrators, managers or colleagues.
• Experience supporting improvements to payables processes.

Our benefits include:

• 25 days plus bank holidays, additional days accrued on length of service after 5 years
• 5% Employer pension contribution
• Life Cover
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Ongoing learning and career development opportunities