Accounts Payable Team Leader

Salary: £34,514 per year

Job Title: Accounts Payable Team Leader

Sector: Education

Location: Newton Park, Bath and partly from home by agreement with manager.

Reporting To: Deputy Head of Financial Operations (Procurement)

Salary: £34,514

Contract: Fixed Term contract up to 31.01.23 (possibly extending further by anything up to 3 months)

Hours: 37 hours per week 1.0 x FTE (40% Newton Park, 60% WFH)

Start Date: 2 weeks.

Criteria: Candidate must have extensive Accounts Payable experience.

Grafton Recruitment are now recruiting for an Acting Accounts Payable Team Leader to work in our client’s friendly finance team. The role will support the Deputy Head of Finance Operations with processing invoices, expenses and payments for the organisation whilst managing staff in the Accounts Payable Team. With attention to detail, you will be an effective team leader helping to deliver the service to ensure service levels are agreed and achieved whilst working closely with stakeholders across the Organisation, Partners, Schools and Professional Service.

About you

will have a proactive approach towards customer service, demonstrate good negotiation, problem solving and have both verbal and written communication skills.

With good IT skills (Email, Word, Excel, databases) you will have an excellent understanding of accounts payable processes and can prioritise and schedule your own workload. You are pro-active and can take the initiative when required.

Previous experience of working within a finance environment (specifically AP), customer service and experience of using finance systems is really important and a knowledge of the Higher Education sector would be an added advantage.

Main purpose of the Accounts Payable Team Leader role

The post holder will support the Deputy Head of Financial Operations (Procurement) in the day to day supervision of the Accounts Payable Team in the delivery of all aspects relating to the processing and payment of all incoming supplier invoices, purchasing cards and expenses claims across the organisation in accordance with procedures, policy and regulations.

Under the direction of the Deputy Head of Financial Operations (Procurement) the post holder will manage efficient and effective processes and ensure strong financial controls over processing and payment of all incoming supplier invoices and expenses claims across the organisation.

Ordering and Invoice Processing

• To assist the Deputy Head of Financial Operations (Procurement) with the maintenance and the update of the web-based ordering system.
• To manage for the delivery of effective and efficient invoice processes, for all aspects of timely and accurate payments to suppliers.

Supplier Management

• To work with Procurement on ensuring value for money, due diligence on our client’s suppliers and monitoring spend for the organisation.
• To manage the external supplier accounts within all ledgers. Actively manage aged creditors, debit balances, unmatched items and duplicate payments
• To ensure all BACS payment runs, cheques, foreign payments and remittance advices are processed and completed accurately and on a timely basis.

Expenses Processing & Management

• To manage the delivery of effective and efficient expense claim processes, for all aspects of timely payments to staff, non-staff and students.
• Purchasing Cards Processing & Management
• To be manage the input of purchasing card analysis, chasing of outstanding analysis and deal with queries.

Financial Assurance, Month-end Close & Reporting

• To ensure month-end activities are completed in line with the agreed month-end close timetable. Manage all ledgers (purchase ledger/direct debit ledger). Ensure purchase ledger(s) and other balance sheet account reconciliations are completed on an accurate and timely basis, highlighting any risks to the Deputy Head of Financial Operations (Procurement) as appropriate.
• To complete the reporting pack covering all Accounts Payable activities, review operational performance, provide progress update on project activities and highlight successes, risks and opportunities. Ensure monthly pack is available for review in accordance with the agreed timetable.
• To manage the provision of information to support Internal Audit, External Audit activities and periodic recovery audits is completed on an accurate and timely basis.

Team Leadership

• To manage the day to day supervision of the Accounts Payable Team, including recruitment, allocation of roles and responsibilities, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties, cover and cross-training is in place within the team.
• Complete Performance Reviews including setting objectives and agreeing personal development plans in line with the organisations requirements.
• Ensure regular 1-2-1s and team meetings are held for all team members to facilitate coaching and development of team members on an on-going basis.

Qualifications & Experience of the Accounts Payable Team Leader:

Essential:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience of working within a financial operations environment, including accounts payable activities.
• Demonstrable experience of accounting and using bespoke finance systems.
• Demonstrable experience of leading, managing and motivating a team.
• Experience of working in a large, complex organisation or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Demonstrate strong IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel, and database and bespoke finance systems.
• Ability to prioritise and schedule own and teams’ workload in the face of conflicting demands.

Hiring Contact: Lauren McNeal

Agency: Grafton Recruitment