Finance Manager - Group Payables

Overview

The Finance Manager (Group Payables) is a high-impact ownership role. The incumbent takes full accountability for the Group's accounts payable function, driving best-in-class governance, payment controls, supplier relationships and working capital outcomes across a multi-currency, multi-entity environment.

This is a role for a technically strong, commercially curious finance professional who wants real ownership from day one. The successful candidate will lead the end-to-end supplier payment process, govern supplier master data across the Group, act as the primary control point within the AP cycle and be instrumental in shaping the future of the Group's procure-to-pay function through automation and process innovation.

• Own the end-to-end Group accounts payable process and all related internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with Group policies, delegated authorities and financial control frameworks.
• Maintain effective segregation of duties throughout the supplier onboarding, invoice processing and payment lifecycle.
• Identify control weaknesses or process gaps and drive corrective action to resolution.
• Act as the primary escalation point for AP-related risks, control breaches and supplier payment issues.
• Develop and maintain AP policies, process documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Champion a culture of control consciousness and accountability within the AP function.

• Act as owner and custodian of the Group supplier master file.
• Review and approve supplier onboarding documentation to ensure completeness and compliance.
• Govern supplier master data maintenance across all Group entities.
• Review and approve all supplier master data changes, maintaining a full audit trail.
• Independently verify new supplier banking details and banking changes through documented callback procedures or other approved verification methods, to mitigate payment fraud risk.
• Monitor and report on supplier master file integrity and potential fraud indicators.
• Perform periodic reviews of supplier master data and dormant vendor records.

• Review and validate payment packs, supporting documentation and payment journals.
• Perform first-level release and approval of supplier payments in accordance with the Group approval matrix.
• Oversee payment execution across multiple banking platforms and currencies.
• Own and manage the Group payment calendar, communicating payment deadlines and cut-off times across the business.
• Monitor creditor obligations and ensure payments are made within agreed terms.
• Consolidate regional cash flow forecasts and assess short-term cash requirements for supplier and payroll obligations.
• Coordinate inter-account and inter-currency funding requirements to ensure sufficient liquidity per currency.
• Prepare and analyse creditor ageing reports and proactively raise potential payment risks.
• Investigate rejected, returned or failed payments and ensure timely resolution, escalating fraud-related findings immediately.
• Communicate payment delays or exceptions to suppliers and internal stakeholders in a professional and timely manner.

• Review and approve supplier reconciliations prior to payment release, ensuring all reconciling items are investigated and resolved.
• Administer payment beneficiary lists and payment templates across the Group's banking platforms, maintaining strict segregation of duties.
• Review employee expense claims for compliance with the Group Travel & Expense Policy.
• Analyse key operational spend categories and identify trends, risks and savings opportunities.
• Support monthly, quarterly and year-end close processes as required.

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