Senior Accounts Payable Assistant - Empty Homes

Senior Accounts Payable Assistant - Empty Homes

The Observatory, Liverpool City Centre Office

Torus Group

Full time

Permanent

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Accounts Payable Assistant (Empty Homes)to join Torus. This is an exciting opportunity to lead our Accounts Payable (Empty Homes) team, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of expenditure while delivering excellent service to both internal and external stakeholders. You'll play a key role in managing empty homes costs, identifying opportunities for savings and efficiencies, and supporting continuous improvement across our finance operations.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Accounts Payable Assistants.
• Manage performance, wellbeing, attendance and development through regular coaching and one-to-one meetings.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Support recruitment, induction and training activities across the team.
• Ensure the accurate, timely and compliant processing of invoices and payments relating to empty homes expenditure.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure compliance with policies, procedures and audit requirements.
• Oversee supplier reconciliations, resolving discrepancies and queries promptly.
• Manage Council Tax and utility expenditure associated with empty properties.
• Maximise Council Tax exemptions, discounts and reliefs, ensuring liabilities are accurate and challenged where appropriate.
• Investigate disputed charges and recover credits, rebates and over payments.
• Monitor expenditure and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve value for money.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Local Authorities, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Act as the key finance contact for Council Tax and utility-related matters.
• Work collaboratively with Housing, Assets, Repairs and Voids teams.
• Produce management information and performance reports to support decision-making and cost reduction initiatives.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and service quality.
• Support the introduction of new systems, technologies and ways of working.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety requirements and promote equality, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the role.

What We're Looking For:

• AAT qualification or working towards a recognised finance qualification. You will be required to provide proof of qualifications if invited to interview.
• Significant experience within an Accounts Payable or Purchase Ledger environment.
• Experience supervising or leading a transactional finance team.
• Experience working within a strong financial control and governance framework.
• Experience managing high-volume expenditure and supplier accounts.
• Experience of reconciliations, resolving queries and investigating financial discrepancies.
• Experience identifying efficiencies, reducing costs and delivering service improvements.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and deliver results against deadlines.
• Experience managing Council Tax and utility accounts.
• Experience recovering credits, rebates and over payments.
• A flexible approach and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence, motivate and support others.
• Experience with in social housing, local government, property management or another regulated environment.
• Knowledge of empty homes processes and associated financial controls.
• Knowledge of Council Tax exemptions and discounts relating to unoccupied properties.
• Experience working with housing management or property-based finance systems.

What We Offer:

Torus offers a great benefits package designed to support you on and off the job. You can view our full employee benefits pack on our website to see everything available across the Torus Group. Please see below an overview of our key employee benefits:

• Generous annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays, rising with service.
• Family support – enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Financial flexibility – Aviva pension and Wagestream for instant…