AP Manager (temp)

AP Manager

Location: Hertfordshire Contract: Temp to perm Salary: Up to £45,000

An international business is seeking an experienced Accounts Payable Team Lead to oversee the full purchase-to-pay process while providing day-to-day leadership and support to the Accounts Payable team. The successful candidate will ensure supplier invoices, payments and employee expenses are processed accurately and efficiently, maintaining strong financial controls and high service standards. The role will also contribute to cash-flow management, process improvements and the accuracy of financial records across the organisation's international operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the receipt, review and processing of supplier invoices and credit notes, ensuring accurate coding against the relevant cost centres, accounts and entities.
• Ensure invoices are matched against purchase orders before being approved for payment.
• Manage the full payment run process, from preparation and approval through to execution via BACS, CHAPS, international transfers and other appropriate payment methods.
• Process employee expenses and corporate credit card transactions in line with company policy, ensuring all required documentation and approvals are in place.
• Prepare and post direct debit payment journals where required.
• Review new supplier applications and maintain accurate supplier records, including bank details and contact information, in accordance with internal controls and fraud prevention procedures.
• Support month-end and year-end activities, including preparing accruals and reconciling the Accounts Payable ledger within agreed deadlines.
• Reconcile supplier statements, investigating discrepancies and resolving outstanding issues promptly.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to resolve invoice queries and payment disputes efficiently.
• Provide accurate Accounts Payable ageing information to support cash-flow forecasting.
• Ensure payable transactions comply with relevant local tax requirements, including VAT, GST and withholding tax, escalating complex queries to the tax team where necessary.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and guidance to the Accounts Payable team, ensuring workloads are effectively managed and service standards are maintained.
• Act as the first point of escalation for complex supplier, payment and employee expense queries, taking ownership of their resolution.
• Prepare and review Accounts Payable reports, including aged creditor analysis, processing metrics and team performance indicators.
• Allocate and prioritise workloads to meet payment deadlines, month-end commitments and wider business requirements.
• Conduct regular quality checks on invoice processing, payment runs, reconciliations and supplier record amendments to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal controls.
• Support internal and external audits by providing relevant documentation, reconciliations and supporting information.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve Accounts Payable processes, strengthen controls and increase automation.

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous experience in an Accounts Payable or Purchase Ledger role, ideally within a multi-entity or international environment.
• Experience leading, supervising or mentoring an Accounts Payable team.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate workloads and meet deadlines.
• Good understanding of Accounts Payable processes, including invoice processing, payment runs and supplier reconciliations.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements within an Accounts Payable function.
• Experience using NetSuite and Precoro.
• Understanding of VAT and GST principles as they apply to Accounts Payable transactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the wider Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience within a shared services or centralised finance function would be advantageous.
• Familiarity with automated Accounts Payable or invoice management systems would be beneficial.
• Part-qualified or studying towards an accountancy qualification, such as AAT, ACCA or CIMA, is desirable but not essential.