Operational Finance Lead (Accounts Payable)

SAGA; Folkestone; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel company based in Folkestone is seeking an Operational Finance Lead to oversee Accounts Payable and improve financial processes. You will manage a team of 4, support month-end activities, and drive efficiencies in reporting. The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, preferably with experience in travel finance. Join us to shape our finance operations in a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme matched up to 10%

Company performance related annual bonus

Colleague discounts on cruises and holidays

Qualifications

• Experience in travel sector preferred but not required.
• Ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in risk identification and mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Accounts Payable team and oversee outputs.
• Support month-end closing activities.
• Manage KPIs and ensure SLAs are adhered to.

Skills

Business partnering skills

Communication skills

Automation project experience

Supplier management

Proficiency in ERP Systems

Excel

Education

Experience leading a team

End to end Accounts Payable background

Tools

Reporting tools

OCR tools

Job description

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Operational Finance Lead (Accounts Payable), Folkestone

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Client:

SAGA

Location:

Folkestone, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

1921c7705eba

Job Views:

6

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

Job Introduction

Operational Finance Lead (Accounts Payable)

Salary from £36,000 - £41,000 depending on experience

Permanent

Folkestone Hybrid

Saga Travel Group are looking to recruit an Operational Finance Lead, to join us, helping to shape the future of our operational finance function.

While you will have day-to-day responsibility for the Accounts Payable team—including oversight of outputs, controls, and process improvements—you will also contribute more broadly across general finance operations.

You’ll support month-end close activities, improving transactional processes, and collaborate cross-functionally to drive efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.

Our travel business is award winning and on a growth trajectory, and as our Operational Finance Lead you will be at the heart of our fast-paced finance operations, working with suppliers across the globe.

It's an exciting time to join Saga’s Finance community as we work through the implementation of Workday for our general ledger. Reporting into the Head of Operational Finance you will lead your team of 4 through this change as we drive to continually improve.

We work in a hybrid way at Saga both at home and in the office. As our Operational Finance Lead you will be required to attend our Folkestone office 3 days a week to collaborate with the wider holidays finance team.

Role Responsibility

In this varied role, you would lead your team in transactional finance and financial review/reconciliations, all while working with a process improvement mindset.

Responsibilities will include:

• Producing statistics in invoice processing times and report each week.

• Managing a remote team, producing KPIs and tracking against them to ensure SLAs are adhered to.

• Working with the Finance Analyst to accurately post suppliers reclaims and engage with suppliers to confirm agreement

• Analysis of purchase order compliance and reporting to the Head of Finance where this hasn’t been adhered to.

• Reviewing aged creditors ensuring there is no duplication of invoices.

• Checking the invoices processed against the accrual posted by FR&C and work with the team to raise if the accrual has been exceeded.

• ReconcilingPax2Pay statements by extracting and reviewing reports, matching transactions to corresponding bookings, and resolving discrepancies.

• Analysing actuals against margin reports, identifying discrepancies, and communicating necessary corrections to the team as needed.

• Balance sheet reconciliations of Aged Creditors, BSP debtors

• Cancellation cost analysis - ensure costs have been accurately accounted for and accrue where required.

• Playing a pivotal role in the Accounts Payable automation project by ensuring data accuracy, validating system outputs, and supporting a smooth implementation of the new tool.

The Ideal Candidate

As our Operational Finance Lead, you will have a strong end to end Accounts Payable background, combined with experience in leading a team.

Experience within the travel sector would be desirable, however we are happy to consider candidates who have an eagerness to learn international payments and reporting regulations.

Other experience required include:

• Proven business partnering skills and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Leading automation projects (e.g., AP automation, OCR tools) and streamlining workflows

• Supplier management and query resolution

• Ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution

• Implementing and monitoring internal controls

• Ensuring adherence to audit, tax, and regulatory requirements

• Risk identification and mitigation

• Supplier and statement reconciliations

• Accuracy in transactional reporting and accruals and cost recognition

• Analysis of variances and margin performance

• Liaising with FR&C and FP&A teams

• Proficiency in ERP Systems, Excel and reporting tools

Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special

Package Description

At Saga we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO ALL COLLEAGUES:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
• Pension scheme matched up to 10%
• Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 5%
• Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
• Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Grandparents leave
• Income protection
• Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform