Vacancy NameAccounts Payable Process Automation Lead (6 Month FTC) Vacancy NoVN990 Job TypeFixed Term LocationHatfield Job Details
Accounts Payable Process Automation Lead
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (FTC) for 6 months
Location: Hatfield (Blended working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Level: Senior Analyst / Manager
Application closing date: Thursday 24th July
About us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value.
We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading, joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket. Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, but it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind, our same-day grocery delivery service.
About the team and the role
With a joint reporting line to both the Financial Controller, Finance Transformation and the Head of Finance Operations, this role is part of the Finance Operations team but will work hand in hand with the P2P Project team, focused on unlocking the potential of our systems and realising efficiency gains within Ocado Retail’s Accounts Payable processes.
The P2P project aims to strengthen cash management and tighten controls through fit-for-purpose system architecture, improved process efficiency and increased data integrity - ensuring that ORL achieves the industry standard and thus is operating on a platform for the future.
What you’ll do
The AP Process Automation Lead will focus on designing, implementing, and maintaining the P2P process within and around our core Oracle Fusion Cloud infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on efficiency and compliance. This may be directly in the system or by leveraging Excel, Gemini and/or other tools in a more optimal way to perform rules-based, methodical and repetitive processes that occur in high volume across the team.
The successful candidate will be intrinsically excited by the prospect of proactively seeking to utilise Oracle's inbuilt AI capabilities and process automation features to streamline the entire Accounts Payable lifecycle and collaborate with the team to explore and embed process improvements.
Key responsibilities of this role are expected to include:
Collaboration and partnership with the AP team:
1. Work side by side with the AP Manager and wider AP team to understand existing processes with an open and curious mindset
2. Build a strong relationship with the AP Manager as you explore automation opportunities and process improvements that will deliver efficiency gains
3. Ensure process changes and systems enhancements are delivered with the full support and partnership of the accounts payable team by ensuring buy-in and understanding of the benefits case and journey to realise those benefits
Become an expert in as-is processes:
4. Develop an expert working knowledge of the core AP processes performed across the team, including a thorough and detailed understanding of non-standard practices whereby rules-based / systemised approaches have the potential to fall over, so that solutions are built understanding the full end to end process and consider the exceptions
5. Where appropriate or potential automation has been identified then develop a working knowledge of AR (accounts receivable) processes to a level that allows for recommendations of process improvements and automation
Explore Oracle Fusion AI and process automation capabilities:
6. Proactively research Oracle Fusion AI and process automation capabilities taking accountability to fully understand and document functionality available to Ocado Retail
7. Take responsibility for proactively exploring tools and technology outside of Oracle Fusion that could deliver potential AI and automation benefits to the AP processes in scope
Business process redesign and documentation:
8. Defining and setting up AP processes to align with business needs, covering everything from requisitions and purchase orders to receiving, invoicing, and payments
9. Document existing time consuming, manual and repetitive tasks (e.g. creation of debit notes and credit notes / checking status notifications in one system/report to inform an action to be taken in another system)
10. Collaborate with the Finance Operations team to prepare fully formed, recommendations for business process redesign, including to-be / future state process maps / documentation
Configuration, implementation, integration and testing:
11. Where applicable and with the support of the Finance systems and transformation teams: Tailoring Oracle Fusion Cloud modules to meet specific business requirements and ensure adherence to regulationsIncorporating Oracle’s AI features, such as AI agents, or other tools and technology to automate tasks and processes, streamlining the operations of the AP teamEnsuring integrations/connections between systems are fully consideredThorough testing and confirming that AP processes are accurate and reliable
Training and Change Management:
12. Upskill and train the AP team to enable them to operate under the new ways of working
Who you are
Required:
13. Proactive, self-motivated individual who derives purpose and motivation from making an impact and delivering change through process excellence
14. A passion for and interest in process automation and the potential of AI
15. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify business needs and propose solutions
16. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document processes and communicate effectively with stakeholders
17. Familiarity and experience working on projects.
18. Experience of Finance Processes, ideally with prior knowledge of accounts payable
19. Great communicator who enjoys working with a variety of stakeholders across Finance
20. Ability to simplify complexity both in terms of communication style but also in terms of converting complex problem statements into simple, focused and clear solutions
21. Takes a hands-on approach to problem solving. It’s critical that the successful candidate is comfortable, willing and able to get under the hood of the systems and deliver results independently
22. Comfortable working within a medium to large, fast paced, complex, customer focussed environment
23. Proven track record of influencing change within an organisation
Desirable:
24. Strong knowledge of Oracle Cloud Fusion modules, particularly Procurement, Accounts Payable, and Supply Chain Planning.
25. Experience of working within an organisation that exhibits good practice / leading class P2P processes.
26. Experience of implementing AI within an organisation to deliver a tangible benefit
What’s in it for you
By joining Ocado Retail you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with the option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.
Spend & Save: Recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.
Never miss the moments that matter: Blended/Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy an extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.
Our Hiring Process
Lucky for us, we get loads of great applications and we really appreciate that so many people put the time and effort in to apply. To recognise that, we treat all applications respectfully and fairly. So, if yours stands out, you’ll follow our standard hiring process - one of our Talent Partners will talk you through this in an initial call.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunities employer. That means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.