Purchase Ledger Clerk

Position: Purchase Ledger Clerk (Permanent)
The Opportunity:

Kenton Black Finance are currently recruiting for a full-time and permanent Purchase Ledger Clerk on behalf of a business that is based just south of Lancaster. This company has a turnover of circa 11 million pounds, and has been operating for over 35 years. There is some flexibility when it comes to the working hours and you will finish at 3pm on a Friday.

You'll have excellent communication skills, be a team player, and full training will be given. If you would like to be part of a well-established business and have a job with excellent career prospects, then please get in touch. Please note, this job is office based.

Salary and Benefits :

- A salary of £26,000 - £28,000
- Study support
- 30 days of annual leave (including bank holidays), rising with service
- Death in service
- 3% pension
- Flexible working hours (early finish on a Friday)

Your New Role as the Purchase Ledger Clerk:

Invoice Management:
- Check invoice accuracy: confirm supplier details, invoice date, invoice number, amounts, and VAT.
- Coding: allocate to correct nominal codes, departments, and cost centres.
- Match to purchase orders & delivery notes (3-way matching): confirm quantities and prices.
- Discrepancies: resolve price/quantity mismatches with procurement or the supplier before posting.
- Posting: enter approved invoices into the finance system promptly and accurately.
- Record keeping: file invoices systematically (digitally or paper, per company policy).

Payments:
- Payment runs: prepare weekly/monthly payment batches in line with agreed supplier terms.
- Approvals: ensure all payments are signed off per the authorisation matrix before release.
- Accuracy check: confirm payment details against supplier bank information to prevent errors/fraud.
- Audit trail: retain payment remittances and confirmations for reconciliation and audit.

Supplier Accounts:
- Maintain records: update supplier contact, VAT registration, and bank details.
- Reconcile statements: check supplier statements against ledger balances each month.
- Investigate issues: chase missing invoices, resolve credit balances, and query old items.
- Supplier queries: respond promptly and professionally, keeping written records of resolutions.
- Relationship management: maintain positive working relationships with key suppliers.

Expenses & Credit Notes:
- Staff expenses: check claims for receipts, correct mileage rates, and appropriate approvals.
- Credit notes: ensure supplier credits are processed and matched against relevant invoices.
- Authorisation: verify that all credits/expenses follow company sign-off rules.

Month-End & Reporting:
- Ledger reconciliation: reconcile supplier balances with the general ledger.
- Accruals: highlight unprocessed invoices to Finance for accruals.
- Aged creditors: prepare reports of outstanding balances, flagging overdue items.
- Cash flow support: provide payment forecasts based on upcoming liabilities.
- Audit prep: organise purchase ledger files for internal/external audit review.

Experience and Skills Required to Apply:

• Comfortable using Excel i.e. create spreadsheets and formulae (ESSENTIAL)

• Have a good rapport with both customers and other departments within the company (ESSENTIAL)

• Able to work on own initiative and make decisions within role (ESSENTIAL)

• Can work independently and understand importance of deadlines (ESSENTIAL)

• Knowledge of office procedures, practices and equipment (ESSENTIAL)

• Customer focused; puts the customer at the heart of everything they do (ESSENTIAL)

• Team player; works well as part of a team (ESSENTIAL)

• Committed to CI; continually improving the way we do things; keeping it simple (ESSENTIAL)

• Being resilient and able to deal with the demands of the business (ESSENTIAL)

• Flexible approach to work (ESSENTIAL)

• High standard of work and attention to detail (ESSENTIAL)

Summary:

This is a great opportunity to join a company that has been operating for over 35 years and is currently working across the UK. The organisation encourages and supports growth in people, and is based just south of Lancaster. You will be offered 30 days of annual leave, be office based, and be part of a forward-thinking company.

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