Accounts Payable Manager

Sage Homes; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + service-related add‑

Annual discretionary bonus

Health cash plan

Study support

Pension with employer contributions

Cycle to Work

Electric car scheme

Wellbeing support

Volunteer leave

Charity fundraising support

Job summary

Sage Homes is seeking an experienced Accounts Payable/Procure to Pay Manager to lead a high-volume P2P function from our Northampton office with a hybrid model (three days in the office, two from home).

You will drive end-to-end P2P delivery, develop a high-performing team of six, and implement improvements using automation and AI while ensuring robust controls and timely reporting.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a Purchase Ledger, Accounts Payable, or Procure to Pay environment.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams within a high-volume, customer-focused finance operation.
• Experience delivering service through KPIs, SLAs and performance metrics to drive operational excellence.
• Experience leading process improvement, transformation and automation initiatives (AI/tech-enabled).
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel; reporting tools such as Power BI; knowledge of ERP and P2P systems (Coupa preferred).
• Customer-focused with a commitment to high-quality service.
• Strong, credible leadership with development of others and continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end Procure to Pay function, managing invoices, payments, records, queries and controls to service standards.
• Provide leadership to the P2P team, set priorities, performance expectations and development goals.
• Drive performance via KPIs, SLAs and MI; use data to identify trends and improve service delivery.
• Lead continuous improvement and automation initiatives to enhance efficiency and controls.
• Act as subject matter expert for P2P activities and manage escalations with stakeholders.
• Maintain governance and compliance across procurement and payments processes.
• Oversee P2P reporting, month-end activities, audits and controls.
• Collaborate with Finance and wider business, providing coverage for the Assistant Financial Controller when needed.

Skills

Purchase Ledger

Team leadership

KPI/SLAs

Automation/AI

Stakeholder management

Excel

Power BI

Coupa

ERP systems

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Tools

Power BI

Coupa

ERP systems

Job description

Set up in 2017 and funded by Blackstone and Regis to help address the housing crisis in the UK, Sage Homes has now delivered more than 21,000 homes all of which are affordable. A further 2,500 new homes are in our construction pipeline.

Sage is proud to be England's largest provider of newly built affordable homes for five successive years, providing our customers with high-quality, energy efficient properties (98% of Sage homes are EPC A or B) to live in safe, secure and thriving communities.

At Sage Homes, we remain committed to our mission of making new homes affordable for those who need them most, while delivering great customer support.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, strategic and service delivery focused Accounts Payable/Procure to Pay (P2P) Manager to lead a high-volume, fast-paced Accounts Payable function. Responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the P2P service, you will provide strong leadership to a team of six, ensuring operational excellence, outstanding customer service and robust financial controls.

A key aspect of the role will be driving transformation and continuous improvement through the adoption of modern technologies, including automation and AI, while ensuring the team consistently delivers against service level agreements (SLAs) and customer expectations.

This role is ideally suited to a proactive leader with a continuous improvement mindset who can balance stakeholder support with appropriate challenge, championing best practice and ensuring compliance with agreed processes and controls.

The role is based in our Northampton office and offers hybrid working with three days per week in the office and two days from home.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Lead and be accountable for the end-to-end Procure to Pay function, ensuring supplier invoices, payments, supplier records, queries and controls are managed accurately, efficiently and in line with agreed service standards.
• Provide leadership and direction to the P2P team, setting clear priorities, performance expectations and development goals while fostering a high-performing, customer-focused culture.
• Drive operational performance through KPIs, SLAs and management information, using data and insight to identify trends, resolve issues, reduce aged creditors and improve service delivery.
• Lead continuous improvement and transformation initiatives, leveraging automation, AI and other technologies to enhance efficiency, strengthen controls and improve the customer experience.
• Act as the subject matter expert for all P2P activities, providing guidance on complex issues, managing escalations and serving as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders, suppliers and external partners.
• Maintain robust governance and compliance standards, ensuring procurement and payment processes are controlled, policies are adhered to, supplier data integrity is maintained and stakeholders are appropriately challenged where processes are not followed.
• Oversee P2P reporting, month-end activities, audits and controls, ensuring accurate reporting, completion of compliance requirements and delivery of key financial deadlines.
• Build effective relationships across Finance and the wider business, working collaboratively to improve processes, influence positive change, support key suppliers and provide operational support and cover for the Assistant Financial Controller when required.

About you

• Significant experience in a Purchase Ledger, Accounts Payable or Procure to Pay environment.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams within a high-volume, customer-focused finance operation.
• Demonstrable experience managing service delivery through KPIs, SLAs and performance metrics, with the focus on driving operational excellence.
• Experience leading process improvement, transformation and change initiatives, including the implementation of automation, AI or technology-enabled solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and challenge constructively at all levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, experience with reporting tools such as Power BI, and knowledge of ERP and P2P systems, ideally including Coupa.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to delivering a high-quality service.
• Strong and credible leader who can motivate, develop and inspire others.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a passion for innovation and efficiency.
• Resilient, adaptable and solutions focused.
• Confident in driving accountability and championing best practice.
• Collaborative and inclusive, with a commitment to teamwork and knowledge sharing.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and accuracy.

We are committed to ensuring you have the best career here at Sage. As well as regular support and guidance from your manager you can expect to receive a variety of learning and development opportunities to support you as you grow within our business. This may include internally and externally delivered development programmes and for permanent colleagues, opportunities to study for professional accreditations and qualifications.

Culture and benefits:

At Sage Homes, we want to empower diverse, ambitious people to thrive. We are fast-paced and inclusive, and encourage our people to use their passion, curiosity and inventiveness to help us create safe places for our customers to flourish.

To make sure our colleagues feel welcome and cared for, we provide a suite of excellent benefits, including:

• 25 days holiday, and an additional day for every year's service (up to five years)
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• A health cash plan, with financial support for a range of options including physiotherapy, opticians, dental and private online GP sessions
• Study support package, helping you achieve your personal and professional development ambitions
• Workplace Pension - matching personal contributions up to 5%
• Cycle to Work scheme, helping you save up to 40% on a new bike and accessories
• Electric car scheme, enabling you to rent a brand-new electric car at low-cost payments
• Wellbeing support through MyndUp
• Two days' paid volunteering leave a year, allowing you to support causes you care about
• Charity fundraising support, with match-funding up to £1,000 for good causes

We believe that investing in our people is key to our success. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance, ensuring you feel valued and empowered to make a difference every day.