Accounts Payable Manager - Newcastle upon Tyne

Balfour Beatty; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and infrastructure company is seeking an Accounts Payable Manager to oversee a high-performing team, improve processes, and ensure compliance in Newcastle upon Tyne. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in accounts payable leadership and strong stakeholder management skills, contributing to crucial projects and developing a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits

Smart working arrangements

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior AP leadership role within a complex, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing mid to large teams.
• Strong background in process design, transformation, and systems implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing AP team.
• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end Accounts Payable process.
• Ensure strong financial controls are embedded across all AP activities.
• Support the Head of AP in shaping the long-term vision for the function.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tools

Oracle R12

Excel

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty are currently looking for an Accounts Payable Manager to join our Enabling Functions - Accounting Services team based in Quorum Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In your role you will be directly responsible for managing and developing a team of Accounts Payable Clerks, ensuring your team provide a first class payables service to the business and contribute to paying our supply chain on time whilst adhering to all processes and controls. You will play a vital role in our continuous improvement journey and work across functions to support our key project deliverables in the P2P space.

What you'll be doing

As an Accounts Payable Manager you'll:

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing AP team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a mentor and coach to team leaders and AP staff.
• Drive engagement and performance through clear objectives, feedback, and development plans.

Process Design & Optimisation

• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end Accounts Payable process, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and alignment with business needs.
• Lead automation and digitisation initiatives to streamline invoice processing, approvals, and payments.
• Implement KPIs and SLAS, driving performance in terms of quantitative and qualitative assessment against targets
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Procurement, Finance, IT) to enhance upstream and downstream processes.

Controls & Compliance

• Ensure strong financial controls are embedded across all AP activities, aligned with internal policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Oversee audit readiness, risk mitigation, and compliance key controls frameworks.
• Monitor and report on key AP metrics, SLAs, and KPIs to drive performance and transparency.

Strategic Contribution

• Support the Head of AP in shaping the long-term vision and roadmap for the AP function.
• Represent AP in senior finance forums and cross-functional projects.
• Act as a deputy to the Head of AP, stepping in as needed for leadership and decision-making

Who we're looking for

• Proven experience in a senior AP leadership role within a complex, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing mid to large teams.
• Strong background in process design, transformation, and systems implementation (e.g., Oracle)
• Strong understanding of financial controls, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• An ability to engage and motivate people through periods of change
• Analytic abilities, with high attention to detail and problem solving
• Ability to work under own initiative and prioritise tasks
• IT literate with strong to advanced Excel skills

Desirable

• Experience in shared services or centralised finance environments.
• Experience leading purchase to pay processes
• Oracle R12 system experience

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...

About us

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background.

Balfour Beatty is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.