Accounts Payable Manager

Great Western Railway (GWR); Swindon; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free rail travel across GWR network

Discounted travel with other TOCs

Defined benefit pension

Company-sponsored healthcare plan

Discounted shopping and gym membership

Employee Assistance Programme

Structured career development

Job summary

Great Western Railway (GWR) in Swindon is recruiting an Accounts Payable Manager to lead the AP function and develop a high-performing team of four. You will ensure invoices, approvals, payments and refunds are processed accurately, while upholding strong financial controls.

You will collaborate with Procurement and Finance to optimise cash flow, improve processes and drive efficiencies across Basware, RailSAP and end-to-end Procure-to-Pay operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading, managing and developing a team.
• Experience working in a high-volume Accounts Payable environment.
• Strong knowledge of AP processes, accounting principles, internal controls and double-entry accounting.
• Good Excel skills, with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail, with a strong focus on accuracy and delivering to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Leading the end-to-end Accounts Payable function, ensuring invoices, approvals, payments and refunds are processed accurately, efficiently and on time.
• Managing and developing a team of four, setting clear objectives, supporting performance and ensuring the team has the right resources to deliver key deadlines.
• Monitoring KPIs and aged creditor balances, including GRIR, driving improvements in first-time matching and reducing aged items across the ledgers and cockpit.
• Overseeing supplier statement reconciliations, period-end processes and balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Maintaining strong financial controls, including vendor master data, VAT compliance and processes that minimise the risk of error and fraud.
• Working closely with Procurement, Finance, suppliers and business stakeholders to resolve issues, strengthen relationships and improve the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process.
• Maximising the benefits of Basware and RailSAP, identifying opportunities to increase automation, improve efficiency and enhance the AP service.
• Leading continuous improvement across the function, while supporting audits, Payment Practices Reporting and other regulatory requirements as needed.

Skills

SAP S/4HANA

Team leadership

Accounts Payable

ERP systems

Excel skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Accounting qualification desirable

Tools

Basware

RailSAP

Job description

Salary: up to £47,500 depending on skills and experience

Location: Swindon.

Contract: Permanent - Full Time

As one of the largest train companies in Britain, more than 100 million customers a year join us on board. When the Great Western Railway was built, it opened the West and Wales to trade and tourism. And now, along with our partners at Network Rail, we're proud to have the chance to look after your railway.

As well as electrifying our main routes, and upgrading key stations, we have carried out the biggest upgrade of trains in the country. The Procurement team have an essential role to play in the success of GWR through our strategic sourcing and our approach to supplier management.

About the team:

Our Accounts Payable team is part of the wider Financial Controls team. They play an important role in keeping our financial processes running smoothly, making sure our suppliers are paid accurately and on time.

About the job:

As our Accounts Payable Manager, you’ll lead our Accounts Payable function, overseeing everything from supplier invoices and payments through to customer refunds.

You’ll manage a team of four, providing support and direction while making sure we maintain strong financial controls and deliver a high-quality service to our suppliers and colleagues.

You’ll also have the opportunity to improve the way we work, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, introduce efficiencies and make a real difference to how the AP function operates.

Working closely with Procurement, the wider Finance team and colleagues across the business, you’ll help ensure effective cash-flow management, financial accuracy and positive supplier relationships.

It’s a hands-on role with plenty of opportunity to make your mark, combining people leadership, financial control and continuous improvement.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the end-to-end Accounts Payable function, ensuring invoices, approvals, payments and refunds are processed accurately, efficiently and on time.
• Managing and developing a team of four, setting clear objectives, supporting performance and ensuring the team has the right resources to deliver key deadlines.
• Monitoring KPIs and aged creditor balances, including GRIR, driving improvements in first-time matching and reducing aged items across the ledgers and cockpit.
• Overseeing supplier statement reconciliations, period-end processes and balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Maintaining strong financial controls, including vendor master data, VAT compliance and processes that minimise the risk of error and fraud.
• Working closely with Procurement, Finance, suppliers and business stakeholders to resolve issues, strengthen relationships and improve the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process.
• Maximising the benefits of Basware and RailSAP, identifying opportunities to increase automation, improve efficiency and enhance the AP service.
• Leading continuous improvement across the function, while supporting audits, Payment Practices Reporting and other regulatory requirements as needed.

You’ll need to be:

• Experienced with ERP systems, ideally SAP S/4HANA, with a good understanding of how systems support the AP process.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A confident communicator and relationship builder, able to work effectively with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders across the business.

As a minimum, you’ll need to have:

• Proven experience leading, managing and developing a team.
• Experience working in a high-volume Accounts Payable environment.
• Strong knowledge of AP processes, accounting principles, internal controls and double-entry accounting.
• Good Excel skills, with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail, with a strong focus on accuracy and delivering to deadlines.

Additional Information:

An accounting qualification is desirable but not necessary.

Alongside your salary, you'll receive a fantastic benefits package, including:

• Free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family
• Discounted travel with other Train Operating Companies
• Defined benefit pension through the Railways Pension Scheme
• Company-sponsored healthcare plan
• Discounted shopping and gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Structured career development and progression opportunities

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/