Accounts Payable Lead

B&D Reside is partnering exclusively with Robertson Bell in their search for a permanent Accounts Payable Lead.

B&D Reside is a dynamic housing provider working in partnership with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. With a portfolio of over 4,000 homes that will grow rapidly to nearly 4,500 homes by 2027, B&D Reside is at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. The organisation operates across six legal entities, governed by two independent Boards of Non-Executive Directors, and manages a diverse portfolio of affordable, intermediate and market-rent homes.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Accounts Payable professional to lead and develop a small team while playing a key role in strengthening B&D Reside’s purchase-to-pay processes, financial controls and service delivery. Reporting to the Head of Financial Accounting, the Accounts Payable Lead will ensure the organisation’s supplier payments are accurate, timely and well controlled, while working closely with operational teams to improve processes and ways of working.

The Accounts Payable Lead will:

• Lead and develop the Accounts Payable team, creating a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the timely and accurate payment of authorised supplier invoices, ensuring appropriate financial controls are consistently maintained.
• Manage the organisation’s ad hoc payments process, ensuring robust controls are in place and duplicate payments are avoided.
• Prepare quarterly VAT returns for five entities within a VAT group, including the requirements of the Partial Exemption regime.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with the Construction Industry Scheme.
• Prepare monthly purchase ledger cashflow forecasts and provide accurate information to support wider financial planning.
• Maintain robust controls around new supplier set-up, purchase order authorisation, goods receipting and invoice payment.
• Work closely with operational teams to monitor aged purchase orders and overdue or unapproved supplier invoices, ensuring issues are identified and resolved promptly.
• Partner with operational colleagues to ensure purchase-to-pay processes are efficient and proportionate, reducing unnecessary administrative burden while maintaining appropriate financial control and accurate transaction coding.
• Ensure Accounts Payable processes are fully documented, regularly reviewed and continuously improved.

We are seeking an experienced Accounts Payable professional and people leader with:

• Proven experience of successfully leading and managing an Accounts Payable team through a period of organisational growth or change.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Accounts Payable and purchase-to-pay processes.
• Experience of maintaining robust financial controls across supplier set-up, purchase orders, receipting and invoice payments.
• Knowledge of VAT accounting, ideally including the Partial Exemption regime.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy and getting things right first time.
• The ability to identify problems, take ownership and develop practical, solutions-focused improvements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with operational teams and wider Finance colleagues.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to develop, motivate and empower team members.
• Resilience and adaptability, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Experience within housing, construction or property maintenance would be advantageous, as would experience of supporting or leading a purchase-to-pay software implementation, or developing staff through an apprenticeship scheme, would also be desirable.

This role is based in Barking and Dagenham with hybrid working. The role requires once weekly attendance at B&D Reside’s head office in Barking, with additional attendance occasionally required for specific meetings and organisational requirements.

Closing date for applications: 8th November.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged. Please submit your CV to Robertson Bell, B&D Reside’s exclusive recruitment partner.