Project Accounts Payable & Operations Lead

Fidra Energy; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy company based in Edinburgh is seeking a Project Accounts Payable & Operations Lead to oversee the finance function related to construction projects. The role includes managing supplier relationships, ensuring financial compliance, and supporting operational cash management. Ideal candidates have over 3 years of experience in finance or operations, with strong skills in Excel and financial systems.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in finance or operations.
• Experience with AP and treasury lifecycle.
• AAT qualified or studying ACCA/CIMA is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end AP processes and ensure proper invoice validation.
• Support treasury function and cash management activities.
• Collaborate with project managers for accurate cost allocations.

Skills

End-to-end finance operations knowledge

Strong Excel and financial system skills

Excellent communication and organisational skills

Understanding of financial control environments

Education

3+ years' experience in a finance/operations role

Hands-on AP and treasury lifecycle exposure

Tools

Sage Intacct or similar ERP

Job description

Overview

Job Purpose / Overview: This role is critical to supporting construction operations and the wider business by ensuring a seamless, accurate, and well-controlled central finance function, with a primary focus on accounts payable, procurement support, and operational cash management. Working closely with construction and site teams, and suppliers, the Project Accounts Payable & Operations Lead ensures that central financial processes enable the timely and efficient delivery of construction projects. The role will manage the full lifecycle of the Accounts Payable function, with a particular focus on validating and processing construction-related costs as well as central costs incurred by the business, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining accurate cost tracking for ongoing site activities. It also plays a key role in ensuring financial control over procurement, invoice approval workflows, and VAT compliance. This position suits someone who thrives in a hands-on, high-growth, construction-centric environment and who is motivated to build strong working relationships with site staff, suppliers and the wider business.

Contextual Information

Operating Environment: The position works across finance, operations, procurement, and external contractors/vendors. It requires hybrid working between Edinburgh HQ and operational sites, with regular travel and the ability to manage competing priorities and workflows independently.

Principal Accountabilities

• Supply Chain & Procurement Support (End-to-End): Act as the primary finance point of contact for construction project teams and site-based personnel.
• Validate construction-related invoices, including subcontractor payments, materials, plant hire, and services, ensuring proper PO matching and budget coding.
• Collaborate with project managers to ensure accurate cost allocations and support monthly cost reporting.
• Manage purchase requisitions (PR) and purchase order (PO) processes, ensure budget, coding, and compliance checks are followed, confirm delivery of goods/services with site teams, and act as supplier contact for delivery and invoicing queries.
• Accounts Payable: Full ownership of AP lifecycle: invoice matching, processing, and reconciliation.
• Maintain accurate supplier master data, onboard new construction vendors, and perform compliance checks (e.g. insurance, CIS registration where applicable).
• Execute fortnightly payment runs and maintain supplier correspondence; ensure timely execution of payment runs, prioritising project-critical supplier payments and proactively addressing invoice holds.
• Review AP ageing reports and follow up on outstanding items.
• Treasury & Cash Management: Initiate bank payments and support cashbook reconciliations; assist with cash flow forecasts and facility planning; work closely with the Financial Controller and Project Finance to plan cash movements and drawdowns for construction funding.
• Financial Controls & Balance Sheet Ownership: Perform monthly reconciliations for AP, cash, and accruals; maintain documentation and escalate risks or anomalies; track and report liabilities related to ongoing construction commitments.
• VAT & Compliance Support: Support VAT return preparation and submission; reconcile VAT accounts at month-end; assist with CIS monthly submissions.
• Site Travel: Attend operational sites regularly (approx. every two weeks or more as needed) to assist with invoice validation, delivery confirmation, or financial discussions with site managers; build strong working relationships with site personnel, suppliers, and external contractors to ensure finance operations support field delivery.

This list is not exhaustive. All of the above activities require:

• Attention to detail
• Strong internal control awareness
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Independent task prioritisation

Dimensions

• Cross-site and cross-functional engagement
• Financial responsibility for AP processes and treasury support
• Working closely with Finance, Growth, and Site Operational teams

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• End-to-end finance operations knowledge (procurement, AP, treasury)
• Strong Excel and financial system skills
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Understanding of financial control environments

Desirable

• Experience with Sage Intacct or similar ERP
• Construction industry experience
• Understanding of HMRC VAT rules

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• 3+ years' experience in a finance/operations role
• Hands-on AP and treasury lifecycle exposure

Desirable

• AAT qualified or studying ACCA/CIMA
• VAT reporting and compliance experience

Key Competencies

• Financial accuracy and integrity
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Collaborative and proactive communication
• Prioritisation and workflow management