Description The Finance Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire Accounts Payable function, ensuring efficient, accurate, and timely processing of all payables. This role leads the Contract Costing team and the Payments team, drives high-quality standards, ensures strong internal controls, and supports commercial and operational teams with clear financial information. The Finance Operations Manager plays a key role in maintaining supplier relationships, ensuring impact of contract costing is understood, continuous process improvement, and ensuring compliance across the business. This role reports into the Finance Director of Farrans and has a team of 3 direct reports, each of whom have their own teams between 3-5 direct reports. Responsibilities Team Leadership & Development Lead, support, and motivate the team to deliver high-quality and timely work. Provide hands-on coaching, mentoring, and continuous development. Set clear expectations and lead by example in professionalism, accuracy, and work ethic. Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development plans. Build a collaborative, supportive, and accountable team culture. Finance Operations Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, ensuring all invoices are processed and paid accurately and on time. Manage invoice matching, approval workflows, and query resolution. Ensure correct coding to contracts, cost centres, and GL accounts. Resolve escalated invoice issues quickly and effectively. Maintain accurate supplier accounts and aged creditor reports. Ensure compliance with company policies, contracts, and financial controls. Own the regular and ad-hoc payment runs, ensuring accuracy, appropriate approvals and compliance with delegated authority limits. Ensure all payments comply with tax and regulatory requirements (CIS, RCT, VAT, BIK recoveries where applicable). Monitor and mitigate fraud risk, including validation of supplier bank detail changes and payment file controls. Process Improvement & Systems Continually review AP processes to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities. Implement best practices, automation, and workflow enhancements. Maintain accurate procedures, guidance notes, and training materials. Support ERP or finance system improvements and upgrades. Supplier Relationship Management Manage relationships with suppliers, ensuring queries are resolved quickly and professionally. Monitor supplier statements and ensure reconciliations are completed regularly. Escalate or negotiate where required to maintain strong supplier relationships. Ensure disputes or discrepancies are actioned promptly to avoid delays. Reporting & Controls Produce regular reports on AP status, aged creditors, payment forecasts, and KPIs. Identify risks, bottlenecks, or patterns of recurring issues and recommend solutions. Support month-end close processes and provide accurate figures to finance. Ensure strong internal controls and audit readiness. Work closely with finance, commercial, procurement, and operations teams. Maintain robust segregation of duties across invoice processing, payment preparation and payment authorisation. Qualifications Significant experience within an Accounts Payable team, including supervising or managing a team Strong understanding of AP processes, financial controls, and reconciliation Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach Excellent communication skills with both internal teams and external suppliers High level of accuracy, organisation, and attention to detail Strong Excel skills and experience with accounting/ERP systems Ability to work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment Desirable Experience within the construction industry or similar project-based environment. Experience improving or implementing AP processes or systems. Personal Attributes Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach Leads by example in quality, attitude, and professionalism Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach Calm under pressure and able to manage competing priorities Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills Committed to accuracy, quality, and continuous improvement