Accounts Payable Lead

The Manufacturing Technology Centre; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) invites applications for an Accounts Payable Supervisor to lead and develop the AP function, ensuring accurate and timely supplier payments while strengthening controls. You will drive process improvements, partner with stakeholders across the business, and shape how technology and automation improve efficiency.

Lead a small AP team, manage day-to-day supplier payments, and champion governance and service excellence in a dynamic research and

Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising Accounts Payable in a busy environment.
• Strong grasp of end-to-end purchase-to-pay processes and controls.
• Proven ability to manage supplier payments, reconciliations, and month-end activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Accounts Payable professionals to manage end-to-end supplier payments.
• Oversee invoice approvals, reconciliations, and payment runs to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Drive process improvements and automation across P2P processes.
• Collaborate with Procurement, project teams, and budget holders to resolve issues.
• Develop and coach a 2-3 person AP team to sustain service levels.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Excel

ERP systems

VAT knowledge

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

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

As Accounts Payable Supervisor, you'll lead a team of Accounts Payable professionals and take ownership of the end-to-end supplier payment process.

You will:

• 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.