Job Title Accounts Payable (AP) Associate

Function: Finance & Trading

Location: Alfreton/Hybrid

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £25,650 with potential to rise to £28,500 over 3 years

Closing Date: Monday 20th October 2025

NHS Supply Chain currently has an opportunity for an Accounts Payable Associate to join our team during an exciting period of transformation, working to make it easier for the NHS to put patients first.

Working as part of the Financial Control and Transactional Services team, the Accounts Payable (AP) Associate is responsible for ensuring invoices are processed accurately and by internal policies, accounting standards, and VAT regulations. In addition, they will help to ensure the smooth running of AP operations, including supplier maintenance producing supplier statement reconciliations, and producing payment runs where necessary. The AP Associate will support the AP management team, as well as peers to ensure that the team delivers in all areas. This role requires a continuous improvement mindset to streamline processes and bring new procedures to the table, as well as excellent communication skills and stakeholder management.

Every day you will …

Actively manage supplier debt in accordance with agreed terms, policies and procedures.
Promptly resolve queries as to maintain continuation of supply & maximise the benefits available from prompt settlement discount.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Process, reconcile & pay supplier invoices in accordance with agreed standards.
Ensure the integrity of supplier accounts.
Provide accurate & timely information on the status of supplier accounts to inform business decisions, identify & escalate issues & manage supplier expectations.
Provide cover to other members of the team as & when required.
Maintain process & controls to ensure transactions are recorded accurately, timely & in accordance with agreed accounting standards.
Develop functional understanding of systems processes and controls to effectively perform role.
Develop commercial awareness and capability to proactively manage supplier relationships in accordance with agreed guidelines.

What can we offer you?

We Want To Reward You For Your Passion, Enthusiasm, And Hard Work So We Offer Much More Than a Competitive Salary

Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.
We recognise our employees' hard work and contributions with annual bonus schemes, long service, and VIP colleagues awards.
27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
A focus on your well-being offering 1 day of paid well-being leave and free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
Generous pension scheme (with us contributing 12% when you contribute 6%)
Access to our Flexible Benefits Scheme, where you can choose from a variety of benefits such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, and additional pension contributions that suit you.
2 days of paid volunteering leave allowing you to give back to your community.
Access to many discounts from the Blue Light Card to NHS Discounts.

NHS Supply Chain, who are we?

Our role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health. We are a part of the NHS family, and our role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.

We serve every NHS Trust and operate a national network of distribution centres, managing relationships with more than a thousand suppliers and delivering more than 8,000,000 orders each year to more than 17,000 locations. Doing all of this on behalf of the NHS gives NHS staff more time to focus on their main priority of providing excellent patient care.

What skills will help you thrive in this role?

It is essential that you have previous experience of working in a busy Accounts Payable environment.
The ability to work in a high-volume Finance Department
Excellent Excel skills with the ability to create pivot tables and VLOOKUPs. As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to complete an Excel test.
GCSE at C grade or above in Maths and English.

Want to develop your career with the NHS Supply Chain? Then apply below or reach out for an informal discussion about the role in confidence by emailing us at Careers@supplychain.nhs.uk

Our Inclusive Commitment

At NHS Supply Chain, we are committed to building an inclusive environment where difference is not only valued, but celebrated, giving everyone the opportunity to thrive in their career. Developing our people is key to our success, so if this role sounds like the right next step in your career but your experience doesn’t match perfectly with the job advert, we encourage you to still apply.

Struggling to complete our application form, and require additional support? Reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at careers@supplychain.nhs.uk who will be happy to help you with alternative ways to apply.

We reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

SCCL is a company Registered in England and Wales, with company number 10881715, to act as the management function of the NHS Supply Chain.

Accounts Payable Associate

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