Leadership & Team Management

Provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership to a team of 20 AP professionals across the UK and India.
Lead through a strong Team Leader layer - acting as "mini-managers" - who are essential to delivering performance, coaching their own teams, and maintaining operational control.
Develop and empower Team Leaders to take ownership of workflow management, quality, and people development.
Build capability across the function through coaching, structured development, and clear performance expectations.
Create a stable, high-performing environment with strong accountability and consistent communication.
Lead the team confidently through periods of change, including system implementations and restructuring.
Oversee all AP operations including invoice processing, payment runs, reconciliations, and complex query resolution.
Ensure strong delivery against KPIs, SLAs, and quality standards across multiple business units.
Maintain robust financial controls and manage departmental resources effectively.
Address operational challenges, reduce backlogs, and improve accuracy and efficiency.
Handle escalations and complex supplier issues with sound judgement and professionalism.
Lead month-end and year-end AP activities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely reporting.
Maintain strong governance and ensure adherence to internal policies and financial regulations.
Support audit requirements and ensure documentation and controls remain up to standard.
Drive continuous improvement across AP processes, identifying opportunities to streamline and enhance efficiency.
Support the implementation of automation tools, new systems, and process enhancements.
Lead change management activity, including training, communication, and embedding new ways of working across the team and Team Leader layer.
Work closely with Procurement, Finance, IT, and other business areas to ensure smooth end-to-end processes.
Support the onboarding and management of high-profile brands and suppliers.
Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment and effective communication.

Strong leadership experience within a large-scale, high-volume AP environment.
A proven track record of developing Team Leaders and building a strong operational leadership layer.
Experience driving process improvements and implementing automation.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Analytical, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to challenge and improve existing processes.
Adaptability, resilience, and the ability to lead teams through change.
A proactive, hands-on approach with the confidence to take ownership and deliver results.

I'm supporting a major UK retail group headquartered in Leicester - a well-known brand with a global customer base - in their search for an experienced Accounts Payable Operations Manager. This is a high-impact interim role leading a large AP function through a period of significant operational activity and change.

1 contract Executive / Management / Consulting jobs in Leicester