Credit Control Officer - Band 4

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are currently seeking a person to undertake a permanent role for Credit Control and Sales ledger duties on a job share basis. This includes the pursuing of outstanding debts, maintaining appropriate debt recovery records, undertaking additional cash management functions and supporting the Senior Financial Accounting Officer.
We are looking for a good team player but also someone who can work under their own initiative, with plenty of credit control experience so they can hit the ground running.
You must also have good communication skills with an ability to stay focused on clearly defined areas of work to enable effective support to the Senior Accounting officer. Sound IT skills are an absolute essential.
This is a permanent contract based at Victoria Warehouse in the centre of Gloucester working between 14 to 16hrs / week.
The role will involve credit control on behalf of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHSFT and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS subsidiary company. Raising of sales invoices and credit notes. Undertaking additional cash management functions and providing support to the Senior Financial officer when required.
This post will ensure that all outstanding debts are pursued and collected in accordance with Trust procedures, taking ownership and accountability for credit control activities.
To contact debtors and finding solutions to credit control issues on a case by case basis. Investigate debtor queries efficiently logging problems raised and work to ensure they are successfully resolved in the most efficient and time-effective manner.
To maintain an accurate and up to date records of reasons for non-payment of debts and actions taken to pursue the outstanding debt on a daily basis, providing reports on outstanding debt as and when required.
The Financial Accounts team is based t Victoria Warehouse within the docks area of Gloucester City. The team is well established and a stable group, easy to get on with and friendly. So if you would like to be part of a team that works well together ensuring the hospitals administration function is well supported, then the Gloucestershire Shared Services Department would love to hear from you.
The docks area within Gloucester City is a great place to work from and is easily accessible by public transport with some onsite parking.
Some of the benefits of working with the Trust on a bank contract are:
Gain experience of supporting/providing services within a large Trust.
Have the flexibility to work hours that suit you.
Be part of a local team that supports your career aspirations and provides full training and development free of charge.
Be treated as an internal applicant if you want to apply for permanent jobs with us.
Have access to a number of benefits, including NHS Pension Scheme.
Access to staff support services and staff discount benefits.

KEY ASPECTS OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION : -

• Credit control – pro-active follow up of payment of invoices that remain outstanding beyond payment terms, including issuing of statements, standard reminder correspondence and other appropriate actions to enable debt recovery.
• To work and communicate with external debt recovery agencies on challenging debtor accounts.
• Raising invoices and credit notes when required on both systems
• The processing of various financial transactions and maintenance of high quality records, providing a clear and robust audit trail
• Month-end process for the sales ledger
• Provide support to the Financial Accounts Team Leader and Head of Financial Accounts with monthly reporting (i.e. performance against KPI’s)
• Provide training on sales ledger systems to colleagues and customers
• Provide support to the Financial Accounts Team Leader and Head of Financial Accounts to gather evidence for customers’ internal and external auditors.
• Contribute towards the development of new or amended sales ledgers policies and procedures
• Ensure work is complete, accurate and in line with financial deadlines and compliant with customers’ financial standing instructions/standing orders
• Adhoc duties to support senior staff when required
• To undertake/support regular cashiering duties including BACS recalls, Stop cheques, returned BACS and unpaid cheques
• To liaise with Payroll Section regarding net pay balances to ensure that monies owed to the Trust are collected over a period of time via the Payroll System.
• To provide cover to the team during annual leave/sickness.
  The person will work closely with colleagues within Shared Services Dept and client organisations.

Key Skills & Attributes required

• NVQ Level 4 AAT or equivalent experience
• Previous experience of working in a Sales Ledger role
• Previous experience of working in a Credit Control role
• Knowledge of Financial Computer Systems - previous experience of using Integra is highly desirable
• Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Excel with strong spreadsheet skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills sufficient to explain procedures and processes clearly and effectively
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and other standard software
• Practical knowledge and understanding of general accounting principles
• Ability to develop good working relationships with others at all levels within an organisation
• Excellent analytical and numerical skills with the ability to manipulate large amounts of data
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing workload, prioritising appropriately whilst maintaining accuracy and achieving deadlines
• Ability to use own initiative within defined parameters
• Customer focussed with good, diplomatic telephone manner
• Must be self-motivated and a pro-active team player.
• Must be flexible and adaptable

Please refer the Job description for details