Band 8a - Head of Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable

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Our trust has around 10,000 staff serving 1.6 million patients. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Click here to view our video Welcome to the Royal Free
Click on the logo below to see the video of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust values

Job overview
• Responsible for frequent reporting on AP and AR to senior management, stakeholders, wider finance, and the AP team.
• Ability to write reports using Business Intelligence, to become a super user on Xelix software and any other software as required by the business.

Responsible to lead on AoB for debtors and creditors and to support income and expenditure.
• Responsible to manage and reconcile the intercompany balances between the Trust and group entities.
• To operationally manage the AP and AR teams to deliver a first-class service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have the discretion to use their initiative and act independently, to interpret overall Health Service policy and standards for use by others within the Finance Department and the Trust as a whole.

The post holder is responsible for the development of the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable transaction processing reporting to the board and relevant sub-committee(s) based on the data contained within the general ledger. This will take into account the requirements of NHS policy issued by DoH and other national guidance as applicable.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the monthly finance report contains all the information required to brief the Board on the Payables and Receivables position of the Trust. They will need to continuously review and improve the content of the report.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

For more information please follow linkhttps://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the coordination, review, integrity, and timeliness of the reporting to senior management, stakeholders, wider finance and the AP team.

The post holder will be responsible for the Business Intelligence reporting, Xelix and other business software input into the transaction reporting process working closely with the AP and AR teams.

The post holder will be responsible for the overall trust management of accounts receivable and accounts payable. This will include co-ordinating the work of the accounts receivable team to maximise recovery and minimise outstanding balances. They will lead complex negotiations with customers in respect of disputes and/or queries and will be required to hold excellent persuasive powers. The post holder will be the service manager for credit control agencies used in the support of debt collection. The post holder will apply their judgement and knowledge to recommend approval of write-offs as and when applicable.

Person specification

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Professional qualification (CCAB) in accountancy (CIMA, ACA, CIPFA, ACCA)
• Evidence of having kept technically up to date since qualification
• Educated to Masters Degree or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Attendance at an Accounting for Foundation Trusts course

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post qualification experience
• Experience of leading a nationwide accounts receivable and accounts payable function with extensive numerous complex customers
• Significant involvement with AP and AR transaction processing
• Experience of co - ordinating monthly transaction processing reporting.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of managing and developing AP and AR Processing teams.
• Experience of financial system development.

Skills and aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to present and explain complex financial information in a manner that can easily be understood by non - finance managers
• Ability to analyse areas of work to identify areas which would benefit from continuous improvement.
• Confident in taking decisions when needed yet knowing when to ask advice / guidance or to gain approval before embarking on a specific course of action.
• Record of managing numerous work streams / projects simultaneously and delivering to tight deadlines.
• Record of improving processes and reporting in previous organisations

Desirable criteria

• Strong influencing skills.

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing
• Flexible team player, willing to 'roll up sleeves' where necessary.
• Able to inspire and motivate others.

Desirable criteria

• Positive 'can do' attitude
• Embraces change.

• Covid-19 Vaccination

  Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
  We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.

• AT* - Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
• By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
• If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a "selfie" using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• The Trust will request a DBS (CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
• By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams - unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.

Please note:

• Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
• Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
• Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.

Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Head of AR & AP Job Description (PDF, 384.4KB)
• Head of AR & AP Person Spec (PDF, 320.6KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 144.6KB)
• Corporate, Admin & Clerical, Other - benefits, about RFL, values and governing objectives (PDF, 935.8KB)