Accounts Payable Team Lead

• Take full ownership of the Accounts Payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and controlled processing across all activities
• Lead and develop the AP team (1 direct report), setting clear standards and driving performance
• Own the end-to-end AP cycle including invoices, expenses, supplier payments, and reconciliations
• Review and authorise payment runs, ensuring robust controls, approvals, and cashflow alignment
• Act as the key escalation point for complex supplier queries and invoice discrepancies
• Drive improvements in purchase order processes and invoice matching accuracy
• Lead the AP month-end close, including accruals, prepayments, and cost analysis, ensuring deadlines are consistently met
• Strengthen financial controls, ensuring compliance with VAT, audit requirements, and internal policies
• Take ownership of AP-related balance sheet accounts, ensuring reconciliations are accurate and issues are proactively resolved
• Partner with stakeholders across the business to improve financial visibility and support decision-making
• Play a key role in system optimisation (NetSuite or similar), identifying opportunities to automate and streamline processes
• Oversee master data governance to ensure integrity of supplier and financial data
• Provide insight into spend, trends, and risks, supporting budgeting and forecasting processes
• Lead or support finance improvement projects, particularly around automation, scalability, and efficiency

• Strong experience within Accounts Payable, including leading or mentoring others
• Track record of improving processes, controls, or systems within a finance function
• Solid understanding of financial controls, VAT, and audit requirements
• Experience working with ERP systems (NetSuite or similar preferred)
• Strong Excel and data analysis capability
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and challenging where needed
• Able to balance hands-on delivery with a more strategic, improvement-focused mindset

bonus