Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

apartmentHays Specialist Recruitment placeLeicester calendar_month 

Your new company

A leading global organisation is establishing a new Shared Services Centre in Leicestershire, bringing Accounts Payable operations in-house as part of a strategic transformation. Operating within a large corporate environment, the business handles high-volume transactions across multiple international entities and currencies.

This is an exciting opportunity to join at a pivotal stage, helping to shape processes and systems from the ground up as the function transitions.

Your new role

You will take ownership of the end-to-end Accounts Payable function, initially working as a standalone specialist responsible for the full AP life cycle. This is a highly hands-on role with exposure to multiple stakeholders and international operations.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Managing the full AP process from vendor setup through to payment
  • Vendor sourcing, onboarding, and maintaining supplier records
  • Processing high volumes of invoices using 2-way matching
  • Managing weekly payment runs and handling manual payments where required
  • Responding to vendor queries promptly and effectively
  • Producing and managing regular reporting
  • Working across multiple legal entities weekly (typically 4-5), including international regions such as China and France
  • Supporting transactions across multiple currencies (GBP, USD, INR, etc.)

This role also offers a clear progression path, with the opportunity to help build and lead an AP team as the function grows.

What you'll need to succeed
  • Proven experience in Accounts Payable, ideally within a large, global or corporate environment
  • Strong understanding of end-to-end AP processes
  • Experience working with SAP (essential)
  • Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and handling large datasets
  • Ability to manage high volumes efficiently and meet deadlines
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
  • A proactive mindset, with the ability to work independently and contribute to process improvements
  • A Bachelor's degree is preferred
  • Ambition to grow into a leadership or team management role
What you'll get in return
  • Salary of £35,000 - £40,000 + 5% annual bonus
  • The opportunity to play a key role in setting up a brand-new Shared Services function
  • Clear progression into AP Team Leader or Manager role as the team expands (if wanted)
  • Exposure to international operations and multi-entity finance structures
  • A dynamic and evolving environment where you can genuinely make an impact

This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior AP professional who is looking to step into a more strategic, developmental role with long-term career growth.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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