Accounts Payable Lead

Butler Rose; Barrow-in-Furness; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Butler Rose is recruiting an experienced Accounts Payable Lead to join a growing finance team in Barrow-in-Furness on a full-time, two-year fixed-term contract. You will lead the end-to-end AP function, drive efficiencies, and strengthen financial controls while developing a high-performing team.

The role focuses on managing supplier reconciliations, VAT processes, and AP automation improvements, with close collaboration to Treasury and Procurement to optimise purchase-to-pay controls and

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading Accounts Payable or Purchase Ledger teams.
• Proven experience developing and guiding finance teams.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, reconciliations, and purchase-to-pay processes.
• Experience driving process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Accounts Payable team to high performance.
• Oversee end-to-end purchase ledger processing—invoices, payments, reconciliations.
• Manage supplier reconciliations, GRIR reviews, and month-end reporting.
• Drive AP automation initiatives and standardise processes across the business.
• Monitor KPIs and develop reporting to support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Treasury to coordinate payments and maintain segregations of duties.

Skills

AP Leadership

Process Improvement

Financial Controls

Team Leadership

End-to-End AP

Stakeholder Management

Education

Qualified Accountant

Tools

Medius

SAP ERP

BW / BPC

Job description

Accounts Payable Lead

Location: Barrow-in-Furness

Contract: Full-Time

The Opportunity

Butler Rose is recruiting for an experienced Accounts Payable Lead to join a growing finance team on a full-time, two-year fixed-term contract in Barrow-in-Furness.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified finance professional with strong purchase ledger and team leadership experience who enjoys improving processes, driving financial controls, and leading high-performing teams. You'll play a pivotal role in overseeing the end-to-end Accounts Payable function, maximising the benefits of AP automation technology, and ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant financial operations.

The Role

Working closely with the Finance Director and wider finance team, you'll lead the Accounts Payable function while driving continuous improvements across purchase-to-pay processes, financial systems, and internal controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Accounts Payable team, ensuring high standards of performance and service delivery.
• Oversee the end-to-end purchase ledger process, ensuring invoices and payments are processed accurately and on time.
• Manage supplier reconciliations, GRIR reviews, and aged creditor reporting to support accurate month-end and year-end reporting.
• Drive improvements in AP automation systems, helping maximise efficiency and standardise processes across the business.
• Monitor key performance indicators and develop reporting that supports continuous improvement.
• Ensure supplier onboarding, VAT processes, and regulatory reporting are completed accurately and in line with compliance requirements.
• Work closely with Treasury to coordinate payment runs, clearing accounts, and segregation of duties.
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to strengthen purchase-to-pay controls and improve operational efficiency.
• Investigate and resolve financial discrepancies, implementing preventative improvements where appropriate.
• Act as a key contact for internal and external audits, supporting audit requests and ensuring strong financial governance.
• Produce payment practice reporting and provide analytical support across the wider finance function.

About You

You'll be a commercially minded finance professional with excellent leadership skills and a passion for improving financial processes.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant experience leading an Accounts Payable or Purchase Ledger function.
• Proven experience managing and developing finance teams.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, reconciliations, and purchase-to-pay processes.
• Experience driving process improvements and implementing operational efficiencies.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to work across multiple business functions.

Desirable Experience

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Experience using Medius or a similar Accounts Payable automation system.
• Knowledge of SAP ERP, BW, or BPC would be advantageous.
• Experience within engineering, manufacturing, energy, or other complex operational environments would be beneficial.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative finance team where you'll have genuine influence over process improvement, financial governance, and operational performance. You'll play a key role in shaping an efficient and modern Accounts Payable function while working alongside experienced finance professionals in a commercially focused environment.

Butler Rose is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer.
Butler Rose Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.