Credit Control Manager

Job Title: AP Manager EMEA
Business Unit: European Division

Reports To:

Head of Shared Service
Job Type: Full-time, office-based
Direct Reports: N/A

Location:

Leicester, LE3 3AW

Salary: Competitive & based on experience

Phenna is seeking an experienced and commercially astute Accounts Payable Manager to lead and support their AP function within the division.

The Accounts Payable Manager oversees the company’s payment processes, ensuring that all vendor invoices are processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with company policies and relevant regulations. This role is critical to maintaining strong vendor relationships, optimising cash flow, and ensuring internal controls to mitigate risks.

The manager leads the AP team, drives process improvements, and ensures alignment with organisational financial goals while supporting audits and reporting requirements.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop an Accounts Payable team across Spanish (S.A./S.L.) and Italian (S.r.l./S.p.A.) entities, establishing clear performance metrics and training staff on local regulatory standards.
• Invoice Processing Oversight: Direct the processing of supplier invoices and credit notes, ensuring seamless integration with mandatory national e-invoicing platforms (FACe / Veri
  * Factu in Spain, SDI in Italy) and approving high-value payment batches.
• Financial Controls & Compliance: Enforce strict internal controls and segregation of duties in compliance with EU regulations, statutory accounting practices (PGC in Spain, OIC in Italy), and local tax authority rules (AEAT, Agenzia delle Entrate).
• Cash Flow Management: Partner with Treasury to optimise SEPA payment runs, balancing working capital needs while complying with statutory late payment legislation (e.g., Spanish Ley de Lucha contra la Morosidad).
• Reporting & Analysis: Oversee month-end AP closing, generating ageing summaries, accrual calculations, and cash outflow forecasts for European entities to identify cost‑saving and working capital opportunities.
• Process Optimisation: Drive AP automation and workflow efficiencies across Southern European operations, optimising ERP invoice‑matching engines and localised e‑invoicing integration.
• Vendor Relationship Management: Act as the primary escalation point for major supplier disputes across Spain and Italy, maintaining strategic vendor relationships while navigating regional commercial norms.
• Audit & Documentation: Maintain audit‑ready digital archives of invoices, approvals, and tax documentation, ensuring full compliance with local IVA (VAT) regulations, tax  (NIF/CIF, Partita IVA), and statutory retention periods.
• Strategic
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with Procurement, Legal, and Finance teams to align purchasing workflows with regional payables processes and provide executive insight into corporate liability schedules.

• Familiarity with integrated systems (AP, AR, GL and Payroll)
• Knowledge of office productivity tools (MS Office)
• Exposure to automation tools (RPA bots, etc.) beneficial

• Fluency in written and spoken English
  , alongside full professional proficiency in either Spanish or Italian, is required.
• Clear communication skills – ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
• Customer service orientation – ensuring positive interactions and maintaining a service‑first mentality.
• Team Collaboration – working cohesively within cross‑functional teams.
• Issue Resolution – proficient in identifying discrepancies, investigating root causes, and resolving errors.
• Process Improvement Mindset – suggesting and implementing changes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service relating to processes.
• Accuracy Under Pressure – maintaining attention to detail while managing high volumes.
• Time Management – prioritising tasks to ensure deadlines are met.
• Documentation Skills – ability to accurately keep records for audit and compliance purposes.

Phenna Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer