Accounts Payable Specialist

Brook Street; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Brook Street is recruiting an Accounts Payable Specialist in Cambridge to own the purchase ledger, code and process supplier invoices, and manage payments within agreed timescales.

You will perform reconciliations, maintain effective cash flow administration, and support month-end and audit activities while building strong supplier relationships and providing prompt finance support.

Qualifications

• Previous experience within an Accounts Payable, Purchase Ledger, or Finance role.
• Strong experience with supplier reconciliations and bank reconciliations.
• Experience using finance systems and accounting software.
• Competent Excel user.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end purchase ledger process.
• Accurately code, match, and process supplier invoices.
• Review and prepare payment runs, ensuring payments are made within agreed timescales.
• Resolve invoice queries and discrepancies efficiently.
• Perform regular supplier statement reconciliations.
• Maintain and reconcile control accounts and general ledger balances.
• Investigate and resolve outstanding items and variances.
• Ensure financial records are accurate and up to date.
• Process and reconcile BACS payments, cash transactions, and cheque receipts.
• Manage petty cash, ensuring sufficient funds are maintained and accurately recorded.
• Support effective cash flow management through accurate financial administration.
• Assist departments with purchasing goods and services where supplier accounts are not available.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and colleagues.
• Provide prompt responses to supplier and internal finance queries.
• Prepare accounting schedules and supporting documentation.
• Assist with month-end processes and management reporting.
• Support year-end accounts preparation and external audit requirements.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Purchase Ledger

Bank Reconciliations

Excel

Accounting Software

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

AAT qualification in progress

Job description

Accounts Payable Specialist

Location: Cambridge
Reporting to: Finance Director

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Accounts Payable Specialist to take ownership of the purchase ledger function and ensure the accurate and timely processing of supplier payments. This role is ideal for a finance professional with strong reconciliation skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to build positive relationships with both suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities Accounts Payable & Invoice Processing

• Manage the end-to-end purchase ledger process.
• Accurately code, match, and process supplier invoices.
• Review and prepare payment runs, ensuring payments are made within agreed timescales.
• Resolve invoice queries and discrepancies efficiently.

Reconciliations & Financial Control

• Perform regular supplier statement reconciliations.
• Maintain and reconcile control accounts and general ledger balances.
• Investigate and resolve outstanding items and variances.
• Ensure financial records are accurate and up to date.

Banking & Cash Management

• Process and reconcile BACS payments, cash transactions, and cheque receipts.
• Manage petty cash, ensuring sufficient funds are maintained and accurately recorded.
• Support effective cash flow management through accurate financial administration.

Procurement & Stakeholder Support

• Assist departments with purchasing goods and services where supplier accounts are not available.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and colleagues.
• Provide prompt responses to supplier and internal finance queries.

Month-End & Audit Support

• Prepare accounting schedules and supporting documentation.
• Assist with month-end processes and management reporting.
• Support year-end accounts preparation and external audit requirements.

Skills & Experience Essential

• Previous experience within an Accounts Payable, Purchase Ledger, or Finance role.
• Strong experience with supplier reconciliations and bank reconciliations.
• Experience using finance systems and accounting software.
• Competent Excel user.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Desirable

• AAT qualified or currently studying towards a finance qualification.
• Experience supporting external audits.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience working within the education, charity, or not-for-profit sector.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and methodical.
• Professional and discreet when handling confidential information.
• Trustworthy with a high level of integrity.
• Able to build effective working relationships across all levels of an organisation.
• Proactive with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday

Brook Street NMR is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.