Accounts Payable Operations Manager
Location: Leicester (Office-based)
Salary: Up to £59,000 per annum
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.
The business operates at serious scale, processing £1bn+ in supplier payments annually and serving over 8 million customers worldwide. They need a confident, hands-on leader who can stabilise performance, drive improvements, and guide the team through transformation.
The Role
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.
Operational Delivery
* 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.
Month-End, Year-End & Controls
* 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.
Process Improvement & Change
* 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.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
* 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.
What You’ll Bring
* 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.
Why This Role?
This is a chance to make a meaningful impact within a major retail organisation known for its scale, pace, and ambition. You’ll play a key role in shaping the AP function, improving performance, and supporting the business through a critical period of transformation — with a strong Team Leader layer to support delivery.
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