Finance Assistant (Creditors) - Home Based Working

Alternative Futures Group is the North West’s largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work locally in the community and through our Treatment and Recovery Centres to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives.  Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment.  These principles are really important to us.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family.  If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make.  We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! 

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

Job Purpose 

In line with Alternative Futures Group mission, vision and values the job holder will provide effective support to the Treasury Accountant. The primary responsibility will be for the smooth running of the purchase ledger ensuring all supplier invoices are processed and paid in a timely manner.

Principal Accountabilities

· Set up new suppliers on to SUN in accordance with the current procedure.

· Maintenance of the supplier database, reviewing every 6 months and inactivate those not used.

· Processing supplier invoices for payment checking that coding is correct and ensuring approval in line with the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation.

· Filing of supplier invoices.

· Performing the weekly payment run of BACS and cheques.

· Reconcile supplier statements and where necessary chase outstanding invoices, investigate credit balances and liaise with suppliers to resolve any discrepancies.

· Liaising with suppliers regarding invoice queries to ensure prompt payment.

· Preparation of an aged creditor report each month for the Treasury Accountant with an explanation of balances over the target set by the Finance & Performance Committee.

· Identify on a monthly basis any debtor balances held on the purchase ledger with an explanation and relevant action to clear.

· Prepare journals and process when required.

· Prepare consolidated supplier bills into spreadsheets for upload in to the SUN system.

· Analyse the mobile phone bill according to policy and record appropriately.

· Process adhoc payroll payment requests.

· To process any crisis loans to service users and ensure full recovery at the earliest opportunity.

· Create fixed asset records for all capital purchases on the fixed asset register.

· Upload monthly depreciation journal.

· Prepare fixed asset additions file for year end audit.

· Prepare capital addition summary for Treasury Accountant explaining variances against capital plan.

· To process the re-imbursement of house imprests and resident monies on a weekly basis, reconciling the bank balances back to the ledger on a monthly basis.

· Provide cover within the Treasury Team.

· Carry out one off projects as and when required.

· Any other duties commensurate with this role.

Qualifications and Experience

Essentials:

· Basic education, literacy and numeracy.

· Maths GCSE.

· Proven experience within a Purchase Ledger environment.

· Experience of working accurately under pressure within strict deadlines.

· Knowledge of Windows based applications.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Keenness to learn. Soaks up as much relevant knowledge and experience as possible. Adapts to change quickly and co-operatively.

· A valued member of the team who provides support to others and contributes to creating an open culture and productive working environment.

· Demonstrates a genuine desire to provide a good service. Is able to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues at all levels.

· Able to work confidently with both numerical and other data. Able to input and process data quickly and accurately.

· Ability to interpret and manipulate large amounts of financial data using excel spreadsheets.

· Keenness to make improvements, offering suggestions and taking action to implement changes.

This role is Band I, as per our structure. 
This role is home based, but will require occasional attendance at meetings within the north west, we therefore require applicants to be based in the north west of England.