FPS Dental Team Leader

Main Purpose

The postholder will support and assist the FPS Service Manager, who is responsible for the overall management of one of the FPS Payments functions. The post holder will manage a Payments Team, on a daily basis, with responsibility for ensuring all documentation is processed accurately and promptly in accordance with the BSO’s Standing Financial Instructions and department procedures.

Location: Belfast (valid driving license and access to a vehicle)

Job Type: Temporary 

Duration of booking: Expected to last 2 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: £17.50 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm 

Sector: Healthcare 

Based: Office / Hospital

Key Responsibilities

Payments Department

• Manage the day-to-day workload, resources and priorities of the Payments Department, ensuring deadlines, procedures and Standing Financial Instructions are met.
• Monitor payment processing, workloads, backlogs and expenditure using appropriate IT systems and reporting tools, ensuring contractors are paid accurately and promptly.
• Develop and maintain efficient, consistent and compliant payment processes across teams.
• Maintain robust controls to prevent fraudulent, unauthorised or incorrect payments and ensure appropriate monitoring and reconciliation.
• Monitor contractor payment entitlement, activity and performance, using payment data and benchmarking to identify trends, variation and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce and analyse management information and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on payment regulations, contractual matters and payment-related queries.

Operational Delivery

• Monitor and continuously improve departmental processes and service performance against operational and financial targets.
• Work with HSC Board budget holders and other stakeholders to ensure effective payment reporting, reconciliations and month/year-end processes.
• Provide guidance to staff, contractors and managers on payment processes, systems, policies and query resolution.
• Build effective relationships with contractors and stakeholders, ensuring work is delivered within agreed timescales and resources.
• Escalate significant issues and risks and recommend appropriate corrective action.

Quality, Development and Innovation

• Identify and resolve operational and payment issues, addressing underlying causes and implementing corrective action.
• Lead and support process improvement initiatives and ensure agreed procedures and changes are implemented consistently.
• Maintain positive working relationships with contractors, resolving payment disputes and negotiating appropriate solutions.
• Support the implementation of Internal and External Audit recommendations and maintain effective control and management information systems.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications / Registration Experience

•  Relevant University degree/professional qualification and have worked for at least two years in a managerial capacity within a Finance / Payments role

 OR

•  Have worked for four years in a managerial capacity with experience of working in a Finance / Payments department

Essential Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

• Have excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing and the ability to develop and maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff at all levels.
• Have excellent organizational skills and experience of working to tight deadlines.
•  Relevant knowledge & experience of using financial software packages, including payment systems.
•  Relevant knowledge & experience of interpreting legislation/statutory guidelines.
•  Working knowledge and competency in use of information technology.
•  Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Access & Excel.
• Have the ability to collate and analyse data and produce reports, including recommendations for action
•  Working knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles.

Experience

•  A minimum of 12 months experience in one of the following areas:
•  Applying the statutory rules governing one of the FPS payment functions (GP/dental/pharmacy/ophthalmic);
•  Experience in processing payments within a Health and Social Care setting;
• Experience in using FPS finance systems.
• Experience of working in a major complex organisation (defined as an organisation with an annual budget/turnover of at least £50m or one with at least 100 employees.)