Job title:                             Accounts Payable Manager

Department:                      Finance

Salary:                                 A competitive salary is available plus great company benefits 

Location:                                Flexible hybrid working, Farringdon and home

Hours:                                      Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Reports to:                          Financial Controller

Direct reports:                    Accounts Payable Assistant

The Role:

Reporting to the Financial Controller, the Accounts Payable Manager will be a strong leader of the accounts payable function. They will be accountable for all aspects of the Accounts Payable function, including improving existing and implementing new processes, managing and developing the outsourced team performing the transactional processing, and being the key point of contact for business stakeholders. The role requires strong people leadership skills to motivate, coach and mentor.

Collaboration with the wider business and vendors will be key to ensure processes are followed efficiently, vendor payments are made on time whilst maintaining robust financial controls. The Accounts Payable Manager will be responsible for leading and implementing continuous process improvement initiatives, effective change management, building strong stakeholder relationships, and creating a high level of service for their internal and external customer base.

Key Responsibilities:

• Overall accountability for leading the AP function, including:

  • Providing strong leadership, to the outsourced AP team - Setting clear goals and performance expectations, Identifying training and development needs and supporting team members' growth

  • Timely and accurate recording and payment of supplier invoices and employee expenses, including supporting the team on transactional processes where required.

  • Managing the weekly payment run process

  • Regular and accurate supplier account reconciliations for review by Financial Controller

  • Ensuring accurate and up-to-date supplier master-data within SAGE

  • Managing supplier query investigations and resolution in a timely manner

  • Liaising with budget holders to review open POs to ensure accurate and timely reporting of business liabilities

  • Providing regular reporting, including KPIs on performance of the AP function and reporting to budget holders and other stakeholders

  • Provide strong leadership and support to the Accounts Payable function including direct management of the outsourced Accounts Payable teamand dotted-line management support to the Accounts Assistant based at head office.

  • Lead by example and inspire the team to achieve high standards - Foster a positive team culture based on continuous improvement - Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback

• Drive process and system improvements within the AP function, seeking ways to automate processes and maximise efficiency wherever possible and taking responsibility for managing improvement projects from start to finish. Includes:

  • Ensuring maximum efficiency of SAGE, Sicon and Concur systems

  • Investigating possible system integrations between core systems to reduce manual work

  • Exploring potential benefits of out-sourced transactional support, and implementing this change if approved by the Financial Controller and CFO

  • Lead and implement continuous process improvement initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and actively seeking opportunities to enhance service levels and cost-effectiveness.

  • Effectively manage change within the AP function, ensuring smooth transitions while implementing improvements or system changes.

• Be a visible and communicative partner to the business, acting as the first point of call on AP queries and supporting training of, and adherence to, company policies around AP. This includes:

  • Build strong stakeholder relationships with budget holders, vendors, and business partners, fostering collaboration, communication, and understanding needs.

  • Create a high level of service for internal and external customers, ensuring timely and accurate processing, prompt resolution of queries, and proactive communication.

  • Overseeing the purchase order to payment system, with a heavy emphasis on cross-functional working and business partnering budget holders to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.

  • Provide training for all new starters on the purchase order to payment process and PO requisition software (SICON).

• Contribute to the business' Sustainability strategy by delivering your Brighter Future Sustainability objectives, and supporting your direct reports to deliver theirs.

 Essential Requirements:

• Strong experience as an AP lead working with PO systems and leading a team.

• A sound technical experience of UK GAAP.

• Exceptional communicator and collaborator, capable of providing a first-class customer service to business users and vendors alike.

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop and inspire a high-performing team

• Proven experience of training key users of a purchase order system and maintaining outstanding relationships with those users in the wider business.

• Clear ability to drive change and transition processes to adapt to a fast-paced environment.

• Self-motivated, flexible and adaptable to the demands of a fast-changing high growth business with ability to effectively manage stakeholder expectations and priorities.

• Strong analytical and advanced Excel modelling skills

• Proactive Business partner, result oriented and hands on.

• Strong people management and interpersonal and communication skills for all levels with the ability to simplify the complexity of finance to help influence key individuals in the organisation.

• Ability to manage a team with direct and indirect reports.

• Knowledge of SAGE 200, Standard Costing and FMCG / manufacturing experience.

Some of the benefits of working here include: 

Little Moons is a fast-growing and dynamic business, the nature of which means roles and responsibilities can change and grow quickly and at scale. We never stand still for long, and for the right person this represents an opportunity to grow and evolve your role and responsibilities with us and to develop your career at pace.

We will provide you with as much support, guidance, and training as you need, and offer the below benefits to boot:

• Medicash, Private Health Scheme & Life Insurance

• Enhanced New Baby Leave available.

• We understand that mental health matters. We partner with Health Assured to provide remote emotional support to team members.

• Discretionary annual bonus based on personal & company performance.

• Paid sick leave

• Respect, trust, and honesty. Personal and professional maturity is important to us, and we keep each other honest

• Your holidays – We believe in finding your work-life alignment and encourage all staff to use their 25 days, plus public holidays

• Additional days off with long service

• Personal CPD budgets & team volunteer days

To be engaged, you must feel included and valued, so we have built, and nurtured, a culture where inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being.

Our approach to diversity is simple —it’s about embracing everyone, and everyone is welcome at Little Moons.   We are committed to welcoming everyone, regardless of gender identity, orientation or expression.   We are diverse in age, race, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective. Our diversity fuels our innovation, bring diversity of thought, and connects us closer to our customers and the communities we serve.

All applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.