Finance Officer - Treasury Accounts Receivable

The post holder will be responsible for the credit control function of the organisation. The post holder will be required to maintain the day to day management of the Accounts Receivable ledger, ensuring that all debt outstanding is promptly chased, referred to the debt collection agency and correspondence accurately recorded on the Accounts Receivable ledger. The post holder will also be required to monitor and report on the Trust's credit control performance., 1. Dealing with Accounts Receivable (AR) queries 2. Monitor installments & ensuring payments are received in accordance with agreed payment plans. 3. Review and refer aged debt to the Debt Collection Agency developing and maintaining a good working relationship with the agency. 4. Prepare and refer reports to escalate non payment of debt as appropriate. 5. Prepare schedules of bad debts recommended to be written off. 6. Prepare cross cover for the Accounts Payable (AP) Finance Officer. 7. Support Innovation and Continuous Improvement agenda in the day to day working within the Finance team.,

• Correspond with debtors on all outstanding accounts ensuring that customers are actively chased via regular statements, reminder letters, emails and telephone calls. Update the diary log with all correspondence.
• Negotiate and arrange mutually agreeable payment terms in line with the Trust policy.
• Ensure that any sensitive or controversial discussions and negotiations are conducted professionally, courteously and confidentially.
• Input and maintain financial information into computer databases and spreadsheets to a high level of efficiency.
• Use of various computer systems / software packages for retrieving, analysing and reporting on financial information.
Monitor installments and ensuring payments are received in accordance with agreed payment plans
• Prepare a monthly spreadsheet of payments in installments and ensure all agreements are being adhered to and contact all debtors that have failed to pay.
• Monitor salary over payments and contact the debtor to chase payment of the debt or arrange a payment plan.
Review and refer aged debt to the Debt Collection Agency developing and maintaining a good working relationship
• Each month prepare a schedule of debt for escalation to the debt collection agency.
• Ensure all relevant information is included on the schedule and receive authorisation from the Assistant Financial Accountant to submit it to the debt collection agency .
• Review the reports that are received from the debt collection agency and action/escalate where appropriate any queries from them.
Prepare regular reports to escalate non-payment as appropriate
• Following the bi-monthly internal debt meeting prepare a report for debts to be escalated.
• Follow up and chase progress on the escalation.
Prepare schedules of bad debts recommended to the Deputy Director for write off.
• On a quarterly basis prepare the schedule of bad debts to be considered for write off. Include debts that the debt collection agency cannot trace and have recommended for write off.
• Following review by the Assistant Financial Accountant, send to the Deputy Finance Director for authorisation.
• Obtain any further information required by the Deputy Finance Director and once authorised action the write off.
The post holder may be asked to complete other ad hoc duties commensurate with the grade and to provide assistance as required in the day to day working of the Treasury/Technical Accounts teams. All of the above contact may concern issues that can be confidential and contentious in nature., The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.


• Previous NHS finance experience
Desirable criteria
• Knowledge of E-financials
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system. One LSC stands for 'One Lancashire and South Cumbria' and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership. The Trusts that make up One LSC are: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust · Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust · Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts. The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve., Here at ELHT, we know what we do well, but always continue our aim to be amazing; we strive to provide the very best training and development packages and opportunities for our Finance Team, our ELHT colleagues and our local youth population and have been recognised nationally for this. We don't just look at you for who you are now; we look at you for who you could be in the future. We take training seriously, and encourage you to do the same. We are a University Teaching Trust and want staff to develop their capabilities to the full with a range of learning opportunities and a set development plan. We provide a supportive environment in which to learn, with the opportunity to further your skills and career within an exciting and evolving environment., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust. It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit. We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable you to apply for this post.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38., Please note: a young person must be in part-time education or training until they're 18. If you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role. Disclosure and Barring Service checks If the role you've applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.