Accounts Payable Controller

Smart Group Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly performance bonus

Medicash health plan

On-site parking

Staff restaurant discounts

Cycle to work

Company events

Job summary

Smart Group Ltd is seeking an Accounts Payable Controller to join our growing Finance team. You will manage high-volume supplier invoices, maintain supplier accounts and run weekly payment cycles across the group, ensuring accuracy and timely payments.

The role requires hands-on experience with purchase-to-pay, supplier reconciliations and Sage. Strong Excel skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach are essential in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy, high-volume accounts payable role.
• Strong understanding of the full purchase-to-pay cycle and supplier reconciliations.
• Experience using accounting software; Sage is desirable.
• Good working knowledge of Excel and payment schedules.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the AP mailbox and respond to queries promptly.
• Submit invoices for approval and send weekly reminders to approvers.
• Code and post supplier invoices to the correct entity and cost centre.
• Identify discrepancies and liaise with suppliers for credit notes.
• Validate invoices against timesheets and agency documentation.
• Investigate missing timesheets and correct over/undercharged hours.
• Reconcile supplier statements weekly and ensure accuracy.
• Complete due diligence checks for new suppliers and set up accounts in Sage.
• Verify supplier bank details in line with fraud-prevention procedures.
• Negotiate credit limits and terms with suppliers; process payments.
• Prepare weekly payment schedules for Group Financial Controller approval.
• Create BACS payment files and provide payment summaries for processing.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities and ad hoc projects.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Purchase-to-Pay

Supplier communications

Excel

Tools

Sage

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join a rapidly growing, privately owned group of hospitality, catering and event management businesses and brands:

Caterers: Moving Venue and The Last Supper

Event Management: Story Events

Smart Events: Smart Summer & Christmas Parties

Venue: Evolution London

Quality, passion and integrity are at the heart of everything we do, underpinned by the drive, personality and pioneering creativity of an entrepreneurial organisation. We pride ourselves on delivering experiences our customers love and that our team is proud to be part of.

We are looking for a highly organised, proactive and dependable Accounts Payable Controller to join our growing Finance team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of supplier invoices, maintaining supplier accounts and preparing weekly payment runs across the Group.

Working closely with suppliers, internal approvers and the wider Finance team, you will help maintain strong financial controls and ensure that payments are accurate, properly authorised and made in line with agreed terms and cash-flow budgets. This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a busy accounts payable function within a fast-growing and ambitious business.

What the Role Requires

The role requires an experienced, high-volume Accounts Payable professional with strong knowledge of the purchase-to-pay cycle, supplier reconciliations and payment runs.

The ideal candidate will have accounting software and Excel experience, excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities independently in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor the Accounts Payable mailbox throughout the day, respond promptly to queries and answer incoming AP calls.
• Submit invoices for approval through Paperless - invoice processing and approval system and send weekly reminders to approvers.
• Code and post supplier invoices accurately to the correct entity, nominal code, department and cost centre.
• Identify invoice discrepancies and liaise with suppliers to obtain the appropriate credit notes.
• Validate agency invoices against supporting timesheets, ensuring that hours, rates and charges are correct and that all required documentation is attached.
• Investigate missing timesheets and over- or undercharged hours directly with agencies and obtain corrected documentation where required.
• Review and reconcile supplier statements weekly, ensuring that all invoices and credit notes have been received, approved and recorded accurately.
• Complete due diligence checks for new suppliers, including validation of company registration and VAT numbers, and set up supplier accounts in Sage once approved.
• Independently verify new or amended supplier bank details by telephone using a trusted contact number, in line with fraud-prevention procedures.
• Negotiate appropriate credit limits and payment terms with suppliers and complete supplier credit account applications.
• Prepare weekly proposed payment schedules for review by the Group Financial Controller and revise them in line with the approved payment budget.
• Create BACS payment files and provide the supporting payment summary to the Group Financial Controller for authorisation and processing; post and allocate approved payments accurately.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, audit requests and ad hoc Finance projects as required.

What You’ll Bring

• Previous experience in a busy, high-volume accounts payable role is essential, ideally within a multi-entity group.
• Strong understanding of the full purchase-to-pay cycle, supplier statement reconciliations and payment runs.
• Experience using accounting software; knowledge of Sage is highly desirable.
• Good working knowledge of Excel, with experience maintaining payment schedules and reconciliation files.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail, with a commitment to maintaining strong financial controls.
• Confident communicator who can build effective relationships with suppliers and colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise competing deadlines, work effectively under pressure and manage a high-volume workload independently.
• Proactive, dependable and solutions-focused approach, supported by a strong work ethic.

What’s in It for You

• Quarterly performance-related bonus
• Access to Medicash health plan, including dental, optical, 24/7 mental health support helpline, virtual wellbeing tools
• Complimentary shuttle bus to and from Canada Water station (morning and afternoon)
• Exclusive restaurants and bar discounts via the CODE app
• Fresh, healthy breakfast and lunch served daily by our in-house chef
• Starting holiday allowance of 22 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with length of service
• Free on-site parking at our Head Office
• Incentive trips for high performing employees- this year the team went to New York!
• Cycle to work scheme
• Recommend a friend scheme - earn up to £1,000 when recommending a friend to work with us
• Regular social events throughout the year
• Two complimentary event tickets per year and discounted tickets for friends and family
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave and Pay -subject to length of service