Accounts Payable Manager

William Grant & Sons; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company based in Glasgow is looking for a motivated Accounts Payable Shared Services Lead to enhance their team’s performance and ensure compliance with financial controls. This role offers an opportunity to drive operational excellence and foster a culture of improvement. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills, knowledge of ERP systems like IFS, and a collaborative mindset. Competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for personal development are included.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Private Healthcare

Defined contribution pension plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance cover

Product allocation

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning resources

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading Accounts Payable teams in a Shared Services environment.
• Knowledge of SOX compliance and financial controls.
• Skills in process improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Accounts Payable Shared Services team to drive performance.
• Manage supplier invoice processes and maintain supplier data.
• Oversee the operation of the Concur expenses platform.

Skills

Leadership of large Accounts Payable teams

Knowledge of financial controls

Process optimization

Change management

Analytical insight

Education

Recognised accounting qualification

Tools

ERP systems (e.g. IFS)

Expense platforms (e.g. Concur)

Job description

Job Introduction

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Accounts Payable Shared Services Lead to drive outstanding performance across our Group's Accounts Payable team. This role is central to delivering operational excellence, fostering an inclusive and change-positive culture, and supporting the Group's strategic vision in alignment with WGW principles. You will lead a high-performing team, design and implement best practices, and ensure robust financial controls and compliance across global operations.

Main Responsibility

You will lead the Group's Accounts Payable Shared Services team, driving performance, and embedding best practices aligned with WGW principles. Key responsibilities include managing supplier invoice processing, maintaining supplier master data, operation of our global Concur expenses platform, whilst ensuring the design and operation of robust financial controls.

You’ll drive the transformation of our global Purchase to Pay Stock and Non-Stock Purchase Ordering processes, deliver accurate internal and external reporting, and ensure compliance with Travel & Expenses policies via Concur. The role also involves managing change initiatives, identifying process improvements, and promoting a unified, high-performing global finance function.

Our Ideal Candidate

You're a proven leader of large Accounts Payable teams preferably having experience of operating within a Shared Services environment. A recognised accounting qualification is desirable but not essential. You will have strong knowledge of financial controls (preferably including SOX), ERP systems (such as IFS), and expense platforms (preferably Concur). You excel at process optimisation, and driving continuous improvement, with a keen interest in "current best practice". Process improvement qualifications (eg Lean / Six Sigma) desirable but not essential. Comfortable with change and complexity, you bring analytical insight, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to building inclusive, high-performing teams within a global finance environment. You have the ability to influence the business and senior stakeholders to drive process compliance.

What we can offer you

• We offer a competitive salary and benefits which are designed to promote our employees financial wellbeing. Employees are also eligible to participate in a bonus plan.
• Our employees enjoy a generous holiday entitlement and an opportunity to 'buy' or 'sell' some holiday entitlement.
• Private Healthcare and Doctor@Hand (remote GP service).
• Our employees can join a defined contribution pension plan. Employees contribute either 4% or 5% of salary, the company contributes 8% or 10% depending on the employee contribution. Employee contributions can be made through salary sacrifice.
• Our Employee Assistance Programme offers practical, impartial support on everyday matters ranging from medical, financial and legal to home and family issues.
• Our Life Assurance cover is a multiple of eight times your annual basic salary.
• Product allocation so that you can enjoy our fantastic portfolio of brands.
• Our Cycle to Work scheme allows you to hire a bike for an agreed length of time, and then snap it up for a fraction of its original value. All while making savings (at least 25%) and spreading the cost.
• Every employee has the opportunity to claim up to £1,000 per year for a charity or charities for which they have raised money, volunteered their time or personally donated.
• Learning resources to help you be your best self.

About William Grant & Sons

A HOME FOR RARE CHARACTERS

William Grant & Sons: a home where Rare Characters thrive.

We value every employee for their rare character, distinctive skills, experience and perspectives. Every one of our colleagues has a role to play in helping us to achieve our growth ambitions.

At William Grant & Sons, our vision is to be A home where rare characters thrive. We value all colleagues for their rare character, distinctive skills, experience and perspectives. Diversity & Inclusion is at the heart of how we do things at William Grant & Sons, fully aligned to our purpose and our company values. We strive to create an environment where we can all be our best and bring our whole selves to work.

OUR AGILE WORKING PHILOSOPHY

Our agile working philosophy is to "Have your best work day everyday".

Built on trust, we empower our rare characters to have their best work day every day. Where flexibility and positive working experiences help employees to feel connected and release potential across our teams.

We are open to discussing possible agile/flexible working options as part of the recruitment process.

INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Diversity & Inclusion is at the heart of how we do things at William Grant & Sons, fully aligned to our purpose and our company values. We want to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive.