Finance Operations Lead — AP/AR, Cash Flow & Controls

National Physical Laboratory (NPL); Teddington; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) seeks a proactive Finance professional to lead AP/AR, ensure accurate ledgers, and drive cash flow reporting. You will coach the AP/AR team, manage reconciliations, and strengthen internal controls and anti-fraud practices across finance processes.

The role focuses on timely supplier payments, customer invoicing, and delivering performance metrics to monitor team efficiency and compliance, with involvement in external reporting and governance.

Qualifications

• ACCA or CIMA qualified or alternatively CICM, ILM or CMI qualified with strong knowledge of AP, AR, reconciliations, cashflow and financial controls.
• Proven experience leading AP/AR, transactional finance or finance operations teams.
• Experience managing payment cycles, supplier accounts, customer billing and aged debt.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills including formulas, lookups, pivot tables and reconciliations.
• Experience using Microsoft D365 Finance or a comparable ERP system.
• Strong reporting and analytical capability with ability to explain trends and identify improvements.
• Confident communicator with stakeholders across Finance and the business.
• Continuous improvement mindset for processes, reporting, controls and team capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the AP/AR team and drive performance.
• Provide technical expertise on accounting systems, payments, receipts and short-term cash flow forecasting.
• Report on AP/AR performance with analysis of payment practices, debtor and creditor positions and cash flow.
• Produce external performance reporting including payment practices.
• Ensure banking facilities and processes support efficient operations.
• Utilise Excel and D365 outputs to analyse trends and support decision-making.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and service.
• Ensure governance, quality, health, safety, security and environmental compliance.
• Monitor internal controls and fraud awareness to maintain a well-controlled workflow.
• Build relationships with suppliers, customers and stakeholders to support the mission.

Skills

AP/AR leadership

Financial controls

Cashflow forecasting

Excel proficiency

D365 Finance experience

KPIs & reporting

Stakeholder communication

Continuous improvement

Education

ACCA / CIMA / CICM / ILM / CMI qualified

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft D365 Finance

Job description

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) seeks a proactive Finance professional to lead AP/AR, ensure accurate ledgers, and drive cash flow reporting. You will coach the AP/AR team, manage reconciliations, and strengthen internal controls and anti-fraud practices across finance processes.

The role focuses on timely supplier payments, customer invoicing, and delivering performance metrics to monitor team efficiency and compliance, with involvement in external reporting and governance.