Accounts Payable Lead

MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry is hiring an Accounts Payable Supervisor to lead and develop a 2-3 person AP team. You will ensure invoices are processed accurately, payments run on time, and financial controls are robust.

You will drive process improvements, collaborate with procurement and project teams, and champion the use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance to automate workflows.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an Accounts Payable team.
• End-to-end purchase-to-pay knowledge and controls.
• Experience managing supplier payments and month-end activities.
• Practical understanding of UK VAT relating to purchases.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in Excel and ERP systems.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee supplier invoices, credit notes, and purchasing transactions.
• Manage invoice approvals, reconciliations, and payments.
• Lead payment runs and ensure on-time supplier payments.
• Ensure month-end and year-end activities are completed on schedule.
• Drive continuous improvement across AP processes.
• Develop and mentor a 2-3 person AP team.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Team Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Process Improvement

UK VAT knowledge

Excel

ERP systems

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

ERP systems

Job description

The Vacancy

We have a fantastic opportunity to join our Finance Team as Accounts Payable Supervisor!

Lead a High-Performing Accounts Payable Team in an Innovative Organisation

We're looking for an Accounts Payable Supervisor to lead and develop our Accounts Payable function, ensuring suppliers are paid accurately and on time while delivering excellent service, strong financial controls, and continuous improvement across the purchase-to-pay process.

This is more than a transactional finance role. You'll play a key part in driving process excellence, partnering with stakeholders across the business, and helping to shape how we use technology and automation to improve efficiency and performance.

If you're passionate about leadership, process improvement, stakeholder management, and creating a high-performing finance operation, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Ensure supplier invoices, credit notes, and purchasing transactions are processed accurately and efficiently.
• Oversee invoice approvals, exception management, reconciliations, and supplier payments.
• Manage payment runs to ensure suppliers are paid accurately and on time.
• Ensure month-end and year-end activities are completed effectively and to agreed deadlines.
• Monitor performance, identify issues, and drive improvements across the AP process.

Build Strong Relationships Across the Business

• Partner with Procurement, project teams, budget holders, and suppliers to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Act as the key Finance contact for Accounts Payable matters.
• Support compliance with purchasing policies and financial controls.
• Deliver excellent supplier service while maintaining robust governance.

Drive Continuous Improvement

• Champion efficient use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and associated systems.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise, and automate processes.
• Improve reporting, controls, and workflow effectiveness.
• Help create a culture focused on accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Develop and Inspire Your Team

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 2-3 Accounts Payable colleagues.
• Create a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Support professional development through regular feedback, coaching, and development planning.
• Ensure workloads are effectively managed to maintain service levels during peak periods.

Who We're Looking For

You’ll be an experienced Accounts Payable leader with strong technical knowledge, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a passion for delivering high-quality service.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience managing or supervising an Accounts Payable function within a busy, complex, or project-based environment.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end purchase-to-pay processes.
• Experience managing supplier payments, reconciliations, controls, and month-end activities.
• Practical understanding of UK VAT relating to purchases and input tax recovery.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing a small finance team.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence, challenge constructively, and build positive working relationships.
• High levels of accuracy, organisation, and attention to detail.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems.

Desirable

• Experience using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
• Experience working within a multi-entity or group environment.
• Exposure to process automation, workflow improvement, data analytics, or robotic process automation (RPA).

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC’s engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world-class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.