AP Manager

Whitbread PLC; Houghton Regis, Dunstable; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 20%

Pension up to 10%

Discounts on hotels

Job summary

Whitbread PLC is seeking an experienced Accounts Payable Manager to lead our end-to-end AP operations across markets. You will drive performance, controls and governance while guiding the AP team and coordinating with our outsourced partner and teams across Procurement, Operations, Treasury and Finance.

This role focuses on process improvement, automation opportunities and strong supplier relationships, delivering accurate reconciliations and timely payments in a high-volume shared service

Qualifications

• Experience in end-to-end Accounts Payable processes.
• Strong problem-solving and prioritisation skills with attention to detail.
• Experience with supplier statement and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Confident communication and stakeholder management with suppliers and internal teams.
• Good IT and Excel skills; Oracle ERP experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Accounts Payable team, ensuring an efficient and high-performing service across invoice processing and payments.
• Own the end-to-end Accounts Payable process, overseeing validation, approvals, payment runs, reconciliations and complex queries.
• Maintain strong financial controls and compliance, supporting audit readiness and accurate balance sheet reconciliations.
• Build relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and improve service delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement, using reporting and insights to identify automation opportunities and wider AP projects.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Communication

Tools

Oracle ERP

Excel

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced Accounts Payable Manager to lead our end-to-end AP operation across multiple markets. You’ll play a key role in ensuring an accurate, efficient and well-controlled service, while leading the AP team and working closely with our outsourced partner and teams across Procurement, Operations, Treasury, Tax and Finance.

With ownership of AP performance, controls and governance, you’ll also have the opportunity to drive continuous improvement, identify automation opportunities and strengthen the way we work, making this a great role for someone who enjoys combining operational leadership with process transformation.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and develop the Accounts Payable team, ensuring an efficient, collaborative and high-performing service across invoice processing and payments.
• Own the end-to-end Accounts Payable process, overseeing invoice validation, approvals, payment runs, reconciliations and the resolution of complex queries and exceptions.
• Maintain strong financial controls and compliance, ensuring AP activities meet internal control requirements, support audit readiness and deliver accurate balance sheet reconciliations.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, partnering with Procurement, Treasury, Finance and Operations to resolve issues and continually improve service delivery.

Drive continuous improvement across Accounts Payable, using performance reporting and insights to identify opportunities for process simplification, automation and wider AP projects.

Why you'll love it here

Bonus 20%

Pension up to 10% contributory

Branded discounts up to 60 % off Hotel stays at Premier inn and Hub

What you’ll need

• Previous Finance or Accounts Payable experience, with strong knowledge of end-to-end AP processes.
• Strong problem‑solving and prioritisation skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to resolve issues effectively.
• Experience of supplier statement and balance sheet reconciliations, taking discrepancies through to full resolution.
• Confident communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build professional relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Strong IT and Excel skills, ideally with experience of Oracle ERP and working within a shared service environment; German language skills would also be advantageous.