Service Management |
FAQsFrequently Asked Questions – Suppliers
Q1 - What is Account NI?Account NI is the Financial Shared Service Centre, based in Goodwood House Belfast, responsible for processing financial transactions, such as Purchase Order & Invoice processing and Travel and Subsistence claims, for Departments within the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Through this delivery of a central transaction processing service, Departments are able to focus more on decision support and financial management. Q2 - When will I be affected?Account NI will be rolled out on a Wave basis. The dates below will assist you in determining when you will be affected:
Q3 - I have an inquiry about a payment. What should I do?For all payments made directly into your account you will receive a separate Remittance Slip advising you what the payment is for. If you are paid by Payable Order, this remittance slip is attached to the order. If you still have questions, please feel free to call the Account NI Service Desk on 08456 713 133 or email to servicedesk@accountni.gov.uk. Q4 - Where should I send my invoices?The full billing address will be quoted on each Purchase Order when goods are ordered. Whilst all Invoices are sent to Account NI, each Department has a different PO Box Number which must be quoted as part of the address. Failure to include this PO Box Number on the address could increase the time taken to process your payment. Q5 - I've been advised that I need a Purchase Order (PO) Number. What is this and why is it required?A Purchase Order (PO) Number is a reference for the order raised by the requisitioner. To allow us to process the transaction in an efficient and timely manner it is required that all communications with us quote this number, including your invoice. You should ask for a PO Number for all orders placed with you. Q6 - I have not been provided with a Purchase Order (PO) Number. Will I still get paid?No, if you do not quote a PO Number you will not get paid. You should contact the person that made the order with you to get a PO Number. You should ask for a PO for all orders placed with you. Q7 - I've quoted a Purchase Order Number on my invoice and sent this to the correct billing address. When will I get paid?If all of documentation is in order and the invoice is sent to the correct billing address then you will be paid within your agreed terms of business. Q8 - Will I still have the same point of contact?You will of course be free to contact the person who placed an order with you but we would encourage you to contact the Service Desk on 0845 67 13 133 or email servicedesk@accountni.gov.uk with any queries. Q9 - What should I do if I have a problem, e.g. a payment hasn’t arrived or a payment is wrong?Contact the Service Desk on 0845 67 13 133 or email servicedesk@accountni.gov.uk. Always have your PO number and Supplier reference available to enable your query to be addressed as efficiently as possible Q10 - How will I get paid?You will be paid by electronic funds transfer directly into your company bank account. Please ensure we have your correct bank details Q11 - Will I lose out on business compared with now?You should not see any difference in the level of business currently experienced Q12 - How do I get to become a supplier to the NICS?This is not the responsibility of Account NI. Preferred suppliers will be appointed by individual Departments after a formal procurement exercise. This has not changed. Q13 - Do I need to set up a separate account on my ledgers for each Department?This is largely dependent on your systems, however, we would suggest that one customer account is sufficient with a site address set up for each Department |