Procurement & Accounts Payable Manager

East Surrey College; Redhill; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two excellent pension schemes

Brilliant holiday package

Free onsite parking

Access to gym

Discounted spa and salon treatments

Job summary

A UK further education institution is seeking a Procurement & Accounts Payable Manager to lead its procurement strategy and oversee accounts payable operations. This role involves negotiating with suppliers, ensuring compliance, and training staff. The ideal candidate will have finance department experience and relevant qualifications. The position offers competitive salary and staff benefits including excellent pensions, holiday package, free parking, gym access, and spa treatments.

Qualifications

• Previous experience of working within a finance department.
• Experienced Manager/Supervisor of Transactional Finance Staff.
• Experience as a manager/supervisor of transactional finance staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement strategy, manage suppliers, contracts, and purchase orders.
• Analyse spend to drive savings, efficiency, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, HMRC rules, and sustainability goals.
• Oversee accounts payable, including invoice processing, approvals, and payments.
• Resolve discrepancies, supplier queries, and monitor AP performance.
• Train and support staff on procurement and accounts payable best practices.

Skills

Supplier negotiation

Invoice processing

Process improvement

Spend analysis

Process improvements

Team leadership

Education

Qualified Accountant (CCAB/CIMA) or AAT Level 4

AAT Level 4

Job description

College location: East Surrey College (Redhill) and John Ruskin College (Selsdon)

Hours: Full time (37 hours/week) 08:45-17:00 Monday - Friday

Are you ready to lead our procure-to-pay function and make a real impact?

We are seeking a Procurement & Accounts Payable Manager to shape our procurement strategy, negotiate with suppliers, and manage purchase orders, while overseeing accounts payable operations to ensure timely and accurate payments. You will analyse spend, streamline processes, and maintain compliance, all while promoting sustainability and social value whilst training and supporting staff across the organisation.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & MIS, you will ensure efficient purchasing, accurate invoice processing, strong supplier relationships, and compliance with financial controls, while driving process improvements and cost efficiencies.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead procurement strategy, manage suppliers, contracts, and purchase orders
• Analyse spend to drive savings, efficiency, and process improvements
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, HMRC rules, and sustainability goals
• Oversee accounts payable, including invoice processing, approvals, and payments
• Resolve discrepancies, supplier queries, and monitor AP performance
• Train and support staff on procurement and accounts payable best practices

The successful candidate must have:

• Previous experience of working within a finance department
• Qualified Accountant (CCAB/CIMA), or completed AAT Level 4
• Experienced Manager/Supervisor of Transactional Finance Staff

If this sounds like you and you will enjoy working in a forward thinking, friendly, fast paced, changing environment with state of the art facilities, we would love to hear from you. In return, we offer a competitive salary, as well as staff benefits such a choice of two excellent pension schemes, a brilliant holiday package, free onsite parking and access to our fully equipped gym along with discounted in house Spa and Salon treatments.

*Applications will however be shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview and appoint before this closing date. We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. As much as we would love to respond to all applicants, due to the sheer volume of applications we receive we are unable to respond to all unsuccessful candidates. If you have not heard from us within 14 days of sending your CV, unfortunately you have not been selected for the position.